I don’t know if anyone heard this earlier, but Alex was recalling stories about his school days to Adele this morning, in particular when he was 7 years old. He conveyed a touching story about a time when homework was set for the class that required the children to visit a DIY store [with parents] and ask questions regarding the length [as I understood it] of some cable [measurements, etc] and for the results to be taken back to school.

It would appear that something happened [as only it could in Alex’s world] whilst in the store that caused the owner to be a little abrupt with a young Alex and his father.. causing them to leave minus required information; so much so that his father wrote a letter to the school informing that Alex would not be completing his homework.

Alex went to School and as the homework was being collected was found to have none. The teacher grabbed him by his ‘hair’ and ‘dragged, pulling him up the stairs’ shouting and screaming at him … there was, he recalled, ‘some little **** by the name of....’ [some boy, name given] who observed this taking place.. particular the dragging up the stairs by hair. Alex, who was in so much pain at the time, managed to blurt out that his father had ‘written a letter explaining..’ .. which caused the teacher to release him..

He went home, tearful and conveyed what had happened to his father.. who came to the school to have it out with the abusive teacher. Witnesses were asked for .. Alex pointed out to the boy who had seen everything…. but he denied having seen anything, smirking as he did .. and the case fell through.. Alex then went on to say how he saw the boy [could have been the teacher] 10 years later when out with his mother and wished that he had had the courage to confront him about the incident .. but never did..

One of the teachers was allegedly a ‘pervert’ too who also watched the boys shower..

Its all starting to make sense that his childhood experiences, of which there seems to be many, were the making of his ‘peculiar ways’ and how he lost faith in others and found he could only trust his parents..

Yes but didn't most of us have pervy/abusive teachers at some point in our school careers? I could tell you stories that would make your hair curl - I've always got my own back by meeting them in town and making some snidey comment after I'd left!!!

Alex is sweet but it seems he's led a very sheltered life...

I agree that it is sad, but I bet most people can come up with similar or even worse, especially the older generation and deal with it.

yes but alex does not seem to be an aggresive character so has probably dealt with this situation differently to some.it has obviously affected him as he still remembers it so vivdly.
i wonder if his father has fought his battles for him all his life?
its hardly alexs fault if this is the case as he seems to find confrontation difficult,
everyon is different ihave 2 boys whilst one faces up to people and battles it out the other is far more sensitive and doesnt want to hurt anyones feelings.neither are right or wrong they are just different personalities.

Alex is just a very sensitive, caring chap. This doesn't make him camp or gay, he obviously takes a lot of things to heart and cares passionatley and things that matter to him. I think this makes him a good person which makes not-so good people uncomfortable.

You may well have something there, it could explain a lot.

On a lighter note, I would ask he's Dad if he keeps Toads, then I would know where 'The League of Gentleman' got their ideas from.

One thing that is true is that when you are different people don't like it and are threatened. Alex is definately different, which is why I think he is an outsider in the house.

I respect his decision to not try to adjust himself to fit in, not because it makes for a more entertaining show, but because it shows that he is proud of who he is no matter how much ribbing he gets for it.

hear hear!
alex can hold his head up high when he walks out of that house as he has as you say stuck to his beliefs and been ribbed for it from the word go.that shows an amazing strength of character and would seem to prove that he is not as weak as some people seem to think he is.

keep alex in......

ive got tickets for eviction night tomorrow and im going to be screaming his name as loud as i can so put your fingers in your ears......

So you'll be supporting spencer then.

i don't know anything about alex's dad, but clearly lots of you do. can someone fill me in? what is his dad like? how does he influence the alex that we are seeing?

none of us know much about alexs dad but he has been on tv supporting him a couple of times and the impression you get is that he doesnt like people to get one over on him.i cant tell you much as it would only be based on my opinion of him but you know how you get a feel for a person.
he was originally on bblb and dom joly was taking the piss out of him it was around the time of jonny and alison peeing in tha shower.dom joly came on really strong and kept refering to his german heritage and hitler it was actually quite painful to watch as he ripped into alex and was quite sarcy to his parents.they stood up for alex but without the humour of dom joly and looked like real sticklers for it saying they were proud of alex for finding some of the other housemates behaviour distasteful.but his dad got wound up from jolys comments although he stayed and fought till the end.
however if we were to be brutally honest how many of our parents would be able to get the laughs when trying to have a debate with a famous comic?
alexs dad was just sticking up for his son and lets face it i bet most of our parents would have done just that.

I too had a pervy teacher at school ... encouraged us primary school kids to bring in our mums underwear and took great delight in hitting us kids with a cane am sure he got a hard on everytime he caned one of us, and you could get caned for almost anything!

If you too had a pervy teacher .. sympathise with Alex and keep him in!

He was on E4 the first week when Alex was up with Sandy and Alison... he seemed a bit weird, whoever the guy E4 had on that day took the mick for 5 minutes or so.