When housemates are so desperate that their kids, their family etc are 'proud' of them ... what do they mean? It's not like they've endured the elements or climbed Everest. They are in a house, kept warm, fed, given drinks, played games and been filmed. When Danniella cries about how she made her kids proud ... by effing and blinding and losing her rag and trying to bust her way out? I don't see what sort of 'accomplishment' this game is.
What really is there to be 'proud of'?
I can see how people like Daniella and perhaps Darren would now appreciate that the media and the public have more of an insight to them as people rather than headlines. But then again it all depends on their behaviours in the house. Darren pretty much sailed through it quietly, so he didn't show much character other than the nice guy persona, and he became worried about his portrayal when Tiff told him he was sexy. He was so laid back that he couldn't tell Stephanie not to wear his jumper. 
Remember when David Gest went in the jungle, everyone thought he was a freak and he became beloved and is still a big hit with the British public. That is was a successful reality tv show stint, something to be proud of I'd say. But the jungle is alot different.
I don't get this whole "She did a full circle" notion about Steph, as if somehow cheating on tv was a growing experience to be proud of. It's cheesy nonsense. The fact that Steph in her interview said it was the hardest thing in the world & challenged anyone to live in that house was ridiculous. I'm sure many would and could accept that challenge considering the state of some parts of the world at present.
Remember when David Gest went in the jungle, everyone thought he was a freak and he became beloved and is still a big hit with the British public. That is was a successful reality tv show stint, something to be proud of I'd say. But the jungle is alot different.
I don't get this whole "She did a full circle" notion about Steph, as if somehow cheating on tv was a growing experience to be proud of. It's cheesy nonsense. The fact that Steph in her interview said it was the hardest thing in the world & challenged anyone to live in that house was ridiculous. I'm sure many would and could accept that challenge considering the state of some parts of the world at present.
Yes, I do understand a bit of what you say but is 'being yourself' really such a great accomplishment? The show, perhaps, allows us to see people like David Gest and Darren as 'normal' people but they themselves haven't done anything remarkable. The suggestion is that 'being yourself' is some amazing accomplishment and I suppose that is what I've never understood. If were Danniella's son, for example, I'm not sure exactly what I would be proud of ... other than just seeing my mum 'being herself' which is what we all are every day! (and they get paid for it ....) 
Originally Posted by radiofree:
“Yes, I do understand a bit of what you say but is 'being yourself' really such a great accomplishment?”
“Yes, I do understand a bit of what you say but is 'being yourself' really such a great accomplishment?”
You have to have a self to be, though
That's why the Reality TV mob are usually a let-down on things like this; they just stay "in character" all the time.
Originally Posted by radiofree:
“Yes, I do understand a bit of what you say but is 'being yourself' really such a great accomplishment? The show, perhaps, allows us to see people like David Gest and Darren as 'normal' people but they themselves haven't done anything remarkable. The suggestion is that 'being yourself' is some amazing accomplishment and I suppose that is what I've never understood. If were Danniella's son, for example, I'm not sure exactly what I would be proud of ... other than just seeing my mum 'being herself' which is what we all are every day! (and they get paid for it ....)”
“Yes, I do understand a bit of what you say but is 'being yourself' really such a great accomplishment? The show, perhaps, allows us to see people like David Gest and Darren as 'normal' people but they themselves haven't done anything remarkable. The suggestion is that 'being yourself' is some amazing accomplishment and I suppose that is what I've never understood. If were Danniella's son, for example, I'm not sure exactly what I would be proud of ... other than just seeing my mum 'being herself' which is what we all are every day! (and they get paid for it ....)
”
Danniella is infamous for being a coke-head, having to have her septum rebuilt, and being unable to hold down her Eastenders job due to drug issues. Going into CBB gave her the opportunity to be been seen as more that that, so her children won't be ashamed of her. She achieved precisely that. To me, she came over like a rough diamond: heart of gold, warm, very funny, friendly and outgoing, emotional and loving. She went through all the stress, ups and downs, stayed sober, made friends, laughed, cried and reached the final, being truthful and real. I'd be proud of her if I'd been her daughter. My mother would have been carted out in a straight-jacket. (joke)
Darren has been infamous as a love-rat who was permanently spaced out on drink and drugs, and abandoned his lover and his 3-month old son saying "I don't do family". Any recovering addict and womaniser who can stay sober and be faithful and loyal to his wife and kids for four weeks in all that tension and stress, with alcohol and gorgeous women flirting with him or coming onto him, has a lot to be proud of.
Originally Posted by Flora_McDonald:
“Danniella is infamous for being a coke-head, having to have her septum rebuilt, and being unable to hold down her Eastenders job due to drug issues. Going into CBB gave her the opportunity to be been seen as more that that, so her children won't be ashamed of her. She achieved precisely that. To me, she came over like a rough diamond: heart of gold, warm, very funny, friendly and outgoing, emotional and loving. She went through all the stress, ups and downs, stayed sober, made friends, laughed, cried and reached the final, being truthful and real. I'd be proud of her if I'd been her daughter. My mother would have been carted out in a straight-jacket. (joke)
Darren has been infamous as a love-rat who was permanently spaced out on drink and drugs, and abandoned his lover and his 3-month old son saying "I don't do family". Any recovering addict and womaniser who can stay sober and be faithful and loyal to his wife and kids for four weeks in all that tension and stress, with alcohol and gorgeous women flirting with him or coming onto him, has a lot to be proud of.”
“Danniella is infamous for being a coke-head, having to have her septum rebuilt, and being unable to hold down her Eastenders job due to drug issues. Going into CBB gave her the opportunity to be been seen as more that that, so her children won't be ashamed of her. She achieved precisely that. To me, she came over like a rough diamond: heart of gold, warm, very funny, friendly and outgoing, emotional and loving. She went through all the stress, ups and downs, stayed sober, made friends, laughed, cried and reached the final, being truthful and real. I'd be proud of her if I'd been her daughter. My mother would have been carted out in a straight-jacket. (joke)
Darren has been infamous as a love-rat who was permanently spaced out on drink and drugs, and abandoned his lover and his 3-month old son saying "I don't do family". Any recovering addict and womaniser who can stay sober and be faithful and loyal to his wife and kids for four weeks in all that tension and stress, with alcohol and gorgeous women flirting with him or coming onto him, has a lot to be proud of.”
Lovely post
I agree
I think if you went in there, and it was a mad-house with arguments all over the place ... and you tried to keep your sense of humour, didn't get involved in any of the spite but tried to act as a peacekeeper or at least a shoulder to cry on, had a few laughs in the face of adversity (and I use that term loosely, I know it's frivolous compared with real world problems) and basically acted with intelligence and integrity then your family and loved ones have a good reason to be 'proud' of you ... for surviving a stressful situation without hurting anyone and trying to care for people.
(Mind you, the viewers would probably see you as a boring fence-sitter with a 'nice guy gameplan' and vote you off straight away, but at least you made your family proud )
But I know what you're saying, if I'd acted less than impeccably and I got a phone call/letter from a loved one saying how proud they were of me then I'd be
and thinking they should have a word with themselves.
Oh, edited to add: I do agree that I think Daniella's and Darren's loved ones do have a case to be proud of them in certain respects - it can't be easy being in that pressure cooker (and we all know production staff deliberately ramp up the tension) with drink flowing every night and people around you getting drunk and partying and you can't. I would struggle doing Dry January in that place, and I'm not even that much of a drinker!
(Mind you, the viewers would probably see you as a boring fence-sitter with a 'nice guy gameplan' and vote you off straight away, but at least you made your family proud
)But I know what you're saying, if I'd acted less than impeccably and I got a phone call/letter from a loved one saying how proud they were of me then I'd be
and thinking they should have a word with themselves.Oh, edited to add: I do agree that I think Daniella's and Darren's loved ones do have a case to be proud of them in certain respects - it can't be easy being in that pressure cooker (and we all know production staff deliberately ramp up the tension) with drink flowing every night and people around you getting drunk and partying and you can't. I would struggle doing Dry January in that place, and I'm not even that much of a drinker!
Originally Posted by JT Effect:
“Oh, edited to add: I do agree that I think Daniella's and Darren's loved ones do have a case to be proud of them in certain respects - it can't be easy being in that pressure cooker (and we all know production staff deliberately ramp up the tension) with drink flowing every night and people around you getting drunk and partying and you can't. I would struggle doing Dry January in that place, and I'm not even that much of a drinker!”
“Oh, edited to add: I do agree that I think Daniella's and Darren's loved ones do have a case to be proud of them in certain respects - it can't be easy being in that pressure cooker (and we all know production staff deliberately ramp up the tension) with drink flowing every night and people around you getting drunk and partying and you can't. I would struggle doing Dry January in that place, and I'm not even that much of a drinker!”
It would be fascinating to see a dry CBB just once - the older ones could hack it I think, but I'm not sure the younger ones could handle drying out for a month!
I agree with several of you here, for me Darren and Danniella needed this CBB more than anybody as they had extremely tarnished reputations they really wanted to lay to bed, I think they achieved that. Of course they wanted the money too, but for them I think, more than any other HM, CBB meant a hell of a lot more.
Originally Posted by Flora_McDonald:
“Any recovering addict and womaniser who can stay sober and be faithful and loyal to his wife and kids for four weeks in all that tension and stress, with alcohol and gorgeous women flirting with him or coming onto him, has a lot to be proud of.”
“Any recovering addict and womaniser who can stay sober and be faithful and loyal to his wife and kids for four weeks in all that tension and stress, with alcohol and gorgeous women flirting with him or coming onto him, has a lot to be proud of.”
Hmmm. Of course I knew the headlines about Darren and Danniella but all i've learned via CBB is that they are able to get up in the morning, dress themselves, eat, make conversation, etc. I assumed they could do these things anyway! I still don't see how that is an accomplishment. And that Darren can stay sober and faithful for 4 weeks is an accomplishment? To me, that sets a very low bar for 'accomplishment'.
If Gemma went in and lost 10 pounds or Danniella went in and kicked a habit then, yes, that is something to take pride in but to say 'Hey, I didn't drink or screw anyone for 4 whole weeks so aren't I great?' is not a great achievement to me.
