You put it across much better than I did, my sentiments exactly. [ how useless am I ]

To be fair, none of those friendships that you mention were anything like as tumultuous as James & Austin.

I disagree I thought you put it exactly right.

That just makes it deeper IMO. Austin has accepted that James is desperate to win and that he wanted his competition out. He was just caught off guard because he thought James was better than that. He was wrong.

It was quite sad to see on Austin's face the moment it dawned on him just how desperate James is to win.

He never saw it coming from James. Jenna tried to tell him but it didn't really sink in.
He's over the shock now.

He's a d**khead however I've found him quite entertaining in this series, couldn't stand him on the Apprentice which shows its all about the editing.

No I wouldn't want him as a friend, but that was my opinion before he nomminated Austin. I quite liked him for doing that as Austin has been mouthing off to Jenna about him anyway so it was hardly the most secure loving friendship of all time. Neither will see each other after this series ends & it's just one of those mutual relationships they were both happy to participate in because they know viewers love a bromance.

I really felt sad for Austin, I was not that keen on him at the start, but I have warmed to him. maybe because of his faults.

Seems he has a lot of pain but Austin lost me first night and he's not been able to change my mind. I've changed my mind on James but not Austin.

tbh the only one I'd want to see again is Sherrie. I find her very funny and a joy to be around.

James has been gaslighting Austin. Does a real friend tell you when you're acting like an ass? Of course. But they don't totally dismiss the cause of your reaction, the reasoning behind it. And they don't plow you over with damnation of your character and insist that you're wrong every 5 minutes while either glossing over or outright refusing to discuss the follies of your irritant.

Also, the "man to man" conversation that James made a show of wanting to have? He would have actually had it. For some reason, everyone is keen to call out Jenna on poisoning the well when it comes to James (yes, but she's right quite frankly.) Yet, over the last week we've literally seen James go to Bobby multiple times, Sherrie, Natasha multiple times, Jenna, FARRAH for goodness sakes when she was still there and in the bedroom after Janice had her nth row with Austin, literally everyone except Chloe (who he claims to be looking out for...) condemning Austin's behavior. James has spoken ill of Austin to the entire house. How is that friendship? It would be different if as a friend who presumably knows Austin a little better than some of the other hms , James made an attempt to provide insight into Austin and why he reacts the way he does. Not defend. Not even explain, just insight. But James literally doesn't care enough to be bothered. James knows Austin is popular and probably presumes he is close to if not just as popular as he is, so he has devised a way of sanctimoniously and platitudinously reprimanding and "guiding" Austin, so James can come out the better man. He's a weasel with no constitution.

Austin is temperamental, venomous hothead, before anyone remarks. However, what kind of friend takes those flaws and holds a magnifying glass up to them for everyone to see?

Fully agree. So glad not everyone is blind to what's going on

The friend you need but not the friend you want.

I have nothing to add, except to say this an excellent post.

youd have to show him your willy.

YES! I prefer my friends are honest, and have their own opinions rather than just kissing up to me to keep the peace. James didn't even blindside Austin. He's been becoming more and more vocal for the last two weeks about being disturbed by Austin's behavior. He's asked him to stop multiple times, and it fell on deaf ears. Austin and Jenna are literally the only people in the house who cause drama for James, and nag at him about every decision he makes... why wouldn't he nom them? Besides, people acting like James and Austin were ever more than bunkmates are crazy. James himself spelled it out - you can't know someone in that amount of time in that environment. So yeah, James can be my friend.

Yes!!!
He's a decent guy... and so am I..... unlike Austin

No you never should trust anyone with that name

LOL

Austin a bloke who yells abuse at women in their bed then turns on fake tears to make himself the injured party..I would cross the road to avoid him.

Jenna, a mature women with nasty school girl mentality, with zero sense of humour unless it involves calling other humans bitches and whores, I hope she dates my stalker.

James, by Aprentice standards, the coach trip he organised and sang wheels on a bus on showed how cheesey he is / desperate. But he looks for the fun and thats why he won back the above.

I love how Biggins hates him, I think he wants a mate like James really

Hmm...I don't like this one bit. James appears to be one of life's vultures.

Austin Powers, he's not.

Jame's only friend is himself.

It's brilliant that the forum has finally woken up to what a sneaky little snake James really is. I didn't see The Apprentice but had him pegged as a self-centred little creep from the very start; bitching and stirring and moving from group to group setting seeds of discontent. He was better than Austin at it - less obvious.


Excellent post. The only thing I'd add is that James, with previous convictions for assault - one of which involved biting a man's ear - is probably far more hotheaded than Austin in the real world.


A decent guy? Do you bite ears in fights too?

Or he's stopped being so aggressive thanks to some tough love by his Grand dad, and he's trying to do the same for Austin?

He used Austin for a bromance storyline. He doesn't even like him. His cold nonchalance in the face of Austin's upset was very telling. Now, he just wants him out of the way so that he can claim his rightful prize.