Watching the video when he said he came in the house not to have fun but to change the public's perception of him. What does it matter what the public think of him? I have never understood when people say that. Granted we might have been interested what he was like before he became a has been but why now?

I have to say I've never been a fan of Darren and it has more to do with how he comes across on the shows he used to do rather than anything to do with his personal life so for me coming back on a tv shows just makes me have to endure him again and also find out just how dull he is in reality. So if anything, for me, my perception of him is worse than it was before because I thought he was a fun, bit of a rogue kinda person... how wrong was I

Also why oh why does he constantly have to go on about his constipation or his poo

Public perception can make the difference between working and not working, which he clearly stated the other night. He was selling out gigs and then got bad press and ticket sales plummeted and you become almost unemployable.
There are many reasons you would not want to be perceived as a horrible person if your not

I thought Darren would possibly be the most boring housemate ever on his entrance. Then I thought he showed a bit of himself that was interesting. Then he turned into an immature little boy who takes offence at everything along with his cohort Danniella.

He wants more than just work now, he wants TV or bigger stage shows again and this is a platform to get his name back in the running.

I saw him singing last summer and he was ok, he sang and did impressions of other singers, I think he'd be better in musicals but he was ok.

I understand and I don't expect anyone would want to. What was he getting bad press about? I doubt it would be because of being a love rat. People don't just stop going to your gigs because you've cheated on someone, it would make you more eligible if anything in some people's minds.

People stop selling out gigs for lots of reasons, usually because they start to get dated or they don't perform as well as they once did. Could also be that there are better acts that come on the scene. Either way coming onto Big Brother isn't going to change that perception is it. It would be better to come on the show, be yourself which he has clearly said he hasn't been. Who knows the public might like you for just being yourself and that might open up new opportunities. I doubt he'll be getting many offers to do anything at this rate.

Drink and drugs too, I would imagine it took its toll on his performances. The love rat tag was a huge thing at the time, he was double triple dating tv actresses who were well known at the time and it was big news.

Ahhhh, I get it now

I still don't think he should pretend to be something completely different. He could still have fun in the house surely, instead he just comes across as a bitchy, moaning bore. Oh well, that's just my opinion though and who am I?

I still find myself not liking nor disliking him. There are times when, like in yesterday's show, I can understand and slightly warm to him but mostly I just find him rather without back bone. We can also have a bit of a cowardly streak which I find unappealing....

I like the reserved quiet side he seems to have in there... I dont like his past and as soon as i saw him go into the house I thought, OH hear we go bighead Day... thankfully hes not.. and just hope that if he does find fame again he wont change again and let his family down... all in all I like him... but if he stood up to others more he could be in with a chance.. I wanted him to say to Steph.... Piss off Steph, your getting no jumper. you treat peoples clothes like rags.. but he didnt..

I thought he would be a bit full of himself, quite loud and cocky when he entered the house, I do like him he now seems like a nice genuine guy, if he had stood up for himself more he would've had a chance of winning.

Oh I think he probably still has moments of being loud and cocky, but he's keeping a VERY tight rein on it in there, if you watch carefully, you can still see a very tiny flash of loud and cocky, but then he closes it up again very fast.

I've recently been thinking that it is all an act to stay so far under the radar because he is has now come out and said that he wants the public to see another side of him. I for one only have the perception of him from when he was much younger and behaviour like that is expected. I would imagine many people don't know what he is like now and he hasn't really given us anything to go on by appearing in the house either.

I always think that when you are a celebrity maybe the perception is better than the reality in some people's minds.

I thought I would really like Darren. He was my favourite in the first few days. He is just bland, though. He doesn't let himself go at all. I hate how he talks about people while watching the door in case they catch him. He hasn't been involves in any serious conflict but has so much angst about not being able to say no or not being able to let go of things that have annoyed him.

I'm also sick of hearing about his toilet troubles.

Yes. All I knew of him wax that he was a musical performer and dated a few people. Now I think how did he manage that.

I don't know what he thinks "the changed Darren" will get out of all this... He's not going to be hosting a game-show any time soon is he?

I think Darren's career only fell apart in his own head to be honest. He's not Daniella is he? He never ended up having to leave showbiz and pull pints... The guy has worked consistently throughout... He's done theatre tours and plays and the whole shebang all the way through... Buggers never off the stage!

The only thing that really changed was 'Saturday night tv' which he was something of a mainstay at during the 90's... But so what? He's not heading back there with his new grumpy persona anyway.

He can sing and he can act and the theatre rolls will keep coming the same way they always have until he simply gets too old to do them anymore. This is NOT about his career.

The only thing I can think is that he's burdened with guilt and has decided that he can only alleviate it by having the public tell him he's a changed man now. That's quite sad, because a stronger individual would just be able to tell themselves that. What he thinks of himself should be what matters.

Oh Darren...

I've warmed to him.

First time I ever saw him on TV was something like Pebble Mill at one (BBC early afternoon show) where I think he had just taken over from Jason Donavan in Joseph, The strange thing was at the time he looked the spitting image of Jason too, He came on stage and did a set where he sang brilliant impersonations of Jason, Cliff Richard, David Essex and many others, There was no doubt he was a very talented, funny guy and you'd have thought he'd have been destined to be one of our 'greats'.

However, as time went by it seemed it all went to his head and he was more likely to be remembered as one of our biggest tossers than one of our greatest talents.

I really do feel like I'm looking at a guy thats made mistakes, and has grown up & wants to show the world he is a better person now. Good on him, will be interesting to see his next move after CBB, If he can rebuild a career then good for him.

I know- I thought I was a worrier until Darren. Very uptight underneath it all. I doubt he's relaxed once since he set foot in the house.

I'm not a big Darren fan and find he's been pretty bland in the house. However, he was good at what he done (musicals) and if he's trying to get back on the circuit, fair play to him. To be fair, Scotty T is on a Reality TV show earning a living doing what Darren got hammered for in his hey 'day'.

Isn't that the truth?

Darren should be seen as some kind of Godfather to the chav generation

Not sure he ever lost control of his bowels though, I know this is important to them.

Quite the opposite!

Yes, indeed.

Darren bored and annoyed me for most of his time in the house.

But the past week he has been more relaxed, he made up with John, he twigged about Gemma, he apologised quite graciously to Tiff, and was right to do it.

He's okay for me now. Not any favourite, but he's okay. And I'm glad he is, he's a very anxious man, and still in recovery I think.

As a former addict I can see Darren is still very weak and has not really sorted out his addictive behaviour.
What John told him was right on point (although he should have done this in private and not nominated him for that.

Darren is so hurt by it because in his heart he knows it is true.
Worst case scenario for me was if Darren would win.

They are all there to show a different side to themselves, to change people's perceptions
Everyone in that house needs work

Actually Darren is one who I like more now that I did when he went in, but that nit saying much, I expected to hate him but he's ok. Not too bright. But not thick, not a drama queen, but not wildly interesting.
He's been quite fair in the house so overall he's nicer than I thought he would be.

A former addict?
Really

Anyway, Darren has said he is always going to be fighting his issues, he is in recovery and he knows how fragile that can be. But he's doing brilliantly.

John was way off point when he discussed the cigarettes and anybody on a 12 step programme would know that.
So I'm saying that you are way off, way, way, way off.