I haven't watched BB in ages, and the last time I watched a celebrity one was when Latoya Jackson was in it i think. I just by chance happened to turn on for this season and was hooked, I then stopped watching for a while but couldn't help myself and start watching again.

Not only has the show been fascinating but so has the debates and the dividing lines on here and twitter. BB has always had a finger on the pulse of popular culture. Certain seasons have always been insightful into the current cultural trends or the mood of the moment. This season has been no different

This season imo it's been all about political correctness/"telling it as it is"

UKIPs rise in popularity clearly indicates that there is a dissatisfaction in a large segment of the English population. This is reflected in our current political discourse, the media and I would say in BB. There is a section of society that is sick to the teeth of what they consider the left wing liberal do-gooder elite that rules us. They feel their views are not heard and that they are suppressed.

Hence why when Ken was making what seemed racist and sexist remarks, a lot of people felt he should be allowed to say what he felt and that those offended shouldn't be offended and if they were offended should lump it. Or they felt there was hypocrisy by the elites, in this case exhibited by the epitomy of left wing liberals: Nadia. She showed double standards by thinking it is ok for her colleagues to salivate/leer over men but not for men like Ken to do so over Chloe and Cami

There was a similar reaction when Jade and her friends were making comments to Shilpa, but the opposing reaction to those comments was pretty strong too. In the case of Ken's comments and Alex's Fag comments/Gay bashing comments, the reaction was minimal in fact there was more of a reaction to the fact they had been thrown out.

Similarly when Katie Hopkins, who was loathed during her stints in the Apprentice and her appearances on This morning, made comments which could be considered offensive (and would have a few years ago) instead of being censured was lauded as an honest straight speaker who told people as it was and wasn't scared of being politically correct.

I feel this is a huge cultural shift. The New Labour liberal/multicultural/"politically correct" years have gone. BB is just reflecting that. As is Ken's and Katie H's popularity. I'd never thought i'd see the day people would say "I love you", or claim she was the Nations sweetheart, or that her views reflected theirs but i have seen it on here and twitter regularly. As seen by her votes and her celebrity backers, Philip Schofield, Eamonn Holmes, and James Jordan her views and she herself are quite popular.

Some of the reaction or what has happened on big brother could be simply explained by the fact that Perez was hated before he went into the house, his actions in the house didn't enamour him to the British public, and the reaction he got from the housemates and the British public was seen as Schadenfreude. So his partner in crime Nadia was hated by association and his main enemy Katie H elevated to a national treasure. Philip Schofield tweets during the final I believe demonstrated some of this.

But overall I do think there has been a shift in public opinion, and it's towards more of Katie's views and less of Nadias. And BB as it always does, reflects cultural changes in Britain. This shift may be temporary, and due to the austerity years, or there could be the beginnings a profound change in British society. The coming election will give us more insight.

Or I have too much time on my hands, and have nothing better to do and bore you with a lecture...

Umm..... your specified location is quite accurate.

Seriously though, I see your point. But I don't think it's a new thing - people have been banging on about 'pc gawn mad' for some time now. Years and years, in fact.
I don't think anyone is being 'suppressed' though. Unless they want the right to openly incite hatred and violence? And UKIP has come along to allow all the pc gawn madders a place to congregate and exchange the hrrmpphs.
So it's all good, no?

I think it's a temporary phase OP. By that I mean it's the symptom of a ripple of discontent at the establishment, but it will be temporary, and normal respectful service will be resumed, once people have had their little protest against what they perceive as political correctness.

It always takes time for changes to filter through society and Katie Hopkins and her ilk are a mere flash in the pan in evolutionary terms - if that.

Not quite, totally accurate

I don't feel they're suppressed. But they feel they're . They feel their losing their country, and in their eyes although immigrants are to blame too, more of that blame lies at the feet of the liberal elite

I've recently the past few months had a number of people, question me on why the term **** is considered offensive, when it's just short for Pakistani. It's not curiosity, more why can they not use that word to describe me, when that's what I am! I've never had this question asked so regularly before, I've been called **** before, but no-ones ever questioned why I find it offensive, and indicate that I shouldn't. Now these people always held these views, or would have always wanted to ask me this but have only done so now, because the current atmosphere and environment means it is tolerable.

I personally prefer this new found openness to be offensive, because these views never went they were just hidden under the carpet from public view. It makes it easier for me to know who to avoid lol

I hope so. Or we'll end up being as divided and having cultural wars like the USA