Well I've only watched it twice but I reckon this programme is a pretty unprofessional hoax.

Does any one remember a similar show on Channel 4? I think it was called the Eden Project or something similar. The camp on that show was quite clearly in a clearing in the jungle/rainforest. This one has the size and appearance of something built on a studio set.

I cannot believe that everyone of these celebs has had absolutely no trouble adjusting to jungle life!!!!!!!!! For Gods Sake! They were all saying how well they slept on night one!!
Are we all expected to belive that there are no noises at night in this jungle, there are no creepy crawlies that scamper over your sleeping bag at night, there is no wildlife attracted to the camp at night?????????? Do me a favour!! There is no way that they would all have spent a stress free first night if this was for real.

The site is just supposed to have been cleared of snakes, including the Taipan (allegedly the world's second most deadly snake) so our intrepid celebs are equipped with putties to keep them safe yet our 2 host bufoons and the production staff prance in and out of camp dressed as if the were filming an item on the beach in Majorca!!!!!

When TPT took her shower did anyone see a single bug touch Tara????????? Did anyone see a single bug come to that??? No Way..........it was just a kiddies gunge tank .

Theres little footage of what the celebs do during the 24 hour periods. Why???? Cos they're in the hotel for most of the period.
All they have to do is get up early and sit around in the hotel grounds for the 2 buffoons to come and tell 'em the vote then provide another 5 or 10 minutes footage (arguing or doing limited stunts) and thats the days work.

Think about how hard a time they had trying to find celebs willing to take part in this charade.

What a load of Crap!!! How stupid do the production companies think the viewing public really are? Once they latched on to the fact that 'phone votes are a significant source of revenue it seems they will stop at nothing to try and lure us into picking up the telphone. I for one will send my money direct to a charity of MY choice and at least it will get the entire amount of the 50p.

When I started to watch the programme I wasnt even looking for inconsistencies and I am sure there are some sharper eyed forum members out there who can confirm my suspicions about the hoax.

Let's hear from you folks........all contributions gratefully received.

I was waiting for someone to come up with this theory.

It's clear that there is plenty of scope for fakery ... but then again it could all be genuine. I'm looking forward to seeing anything that's been spotted to back up your claim.

I've slept out in some strange places in my time (!) and I always got an incredibly good sleep ... it's just something about the great outdoors and the tropical air and doing 'stuff' all day. And never once have I been bothered by beasties during the night (although maybe that's just me!)

I was also a bit suspicious of the shower ... you never really did see a shot that had Tara AND a bug in it. My mind's racing now!!!

BTW - you'll look most stupid of all if it all turns out to be kosher

Hmm.I saw bugs..quite clearly, all down her back they were.

Really? That's making me feel a bit better then I must have been drinking my cocoa at that point

Cute outfit she had on yesterday Maybe she'll lend it to Nell (please!!!!! )

Agreed my ole Sesquadiddly but hopefully it will make for more interesting viewing trying to spot the phoney bits or prove my stupidity...............I am excited and I will eat my keyboard if I am proved wrong!!!!!!!!

The tank of snakes will be interesting tonight...............see if Nigels hands actually touch a real snake!

Sorry met................superimposed camera shot

True

I might even dig out a blank tape and record the show!!!

OBSESSED of North London, lol

I think that there is a conspiracy, albeit a bit different from what you propose.

TPT - A Favourite? There must be something going on!

She has been in almost every broadcasted scene. Why?

Creative Editing is being used. Tony Blackburn, Nell, have been given little airtime. Why?

TPT is just a boring pseudo-socialite. She isnt even good looking, her body has more of a boys torso . She definitely isnt model quality. Yuck.

So why all the attention? People say she comes across better on this show than the media portray her. Well, extrovert may be an improvement on 'C rate socialite, who tries and tries to be popular but fails pathetically'. But this doesn't merit the attention.

The fact that she is a nothing is probably the only thing she has going for her. Everyone else in the show is type-cast for their claim to fame, whereas she has none.

I think she is being portrayed as a 'poor humble me' via editing.
We know so much more about her, as compared to Nell for instance.

Conspiracy, oh yes. It's all in the editor's hands.

Bit of a sideways jump off-topic there PSPlay

I wonder why Do you REALLY think that there's a conspiracy for Tara to win???

I think that TPT was featuring largely mainly because of the task that she had to do. Also, given that this is ITV, I'm sure the fact that she was scantily clad (I LOVE that expression ) was a natural draw to the editors. Note also that the only time you really saw Nell was when she was in her cute bikini

A point that I will agree on is that the limited amount of time devoted to footage of the HMs (oops! Make that JMs (jungle mates!)) means that there will be little time to show the quiet ones such as Tony ... instead we'll get a mix of tasks/arguments/pratfalls and flesh (not necessarily a bad thing).

Tara is coming across amazingly well. Compared to what I know of her she seems to be a complete opposite (although there are no common people to upset her). She does have a lot coverage. In fact - being in that first "challenge" was the best thing for her. She escaped the snakes for one thing and it was fantastic for her image. Luck lucky lucky.

Well I've only watched it twice but I reckon this programme is a pretty unprofessional hoax... This one has the size and appearance of something built on a studio set

They are based at the Australian rainforest location used for the second series of the American Survivor.

Ant & Dec's area does look almost too studio-like, but they are most assuredly in the rainforest. What they need are some establishing crane shots that begin above the forest canopy, showing the full expanse of the trees, and then jib down to reveal A&D in a single move.

Creative Editing is being used. Tony Blackburn, Nell, have been given little airtime. Why?

Because they haven't yet done anything of any real interest?

It's not rocket science - on a show like this you stick with the people who are loudmouthed and/or are falling out with each other - and so far that's Tara, Nigel, Uri, Rhona and Christine.

They don't sweat a lot or even look particularly warm...but suppose it is the winter there isn't it?

I'll bet the flies don’t much of a chance to land on you, eh

<PEDANTIC>In what way is TP-T not a real socialite? Has she ever failed to go to a party?</PEDANTIC>

And I'm not sure, assuming that she's a (C-Rate) and/or (Pseudo) socialite, that she should be judged as a model. Or indeed, on her looks. Let alone on the size of her breasts.

Nell, yes. Christine, Tara and Rhona -- probably not. S'not what they're paid for, really. And -- on the whole, they've been more amusing for it.

Unless, and this may be what you're driving at, TP-T is - in fact - a conspiracy -- a media construct who may not *actually* exist. Like Michael Knight, but with with a zebra-skin crombie.

Maybe she's really portrayed (like, say, Mr. Blobby) by a resting RSC actor, whose words and actions are controlled by a cabal of scientists in a mountain-top hideaway in Austria (unlike Mr. Blobby)

It would explain so much. Do you have any evidence to suggest this?
Last edited by mediaczar : 28-08-2002 at 15:11

Tamara Beckwith as Dr Evil, anyone?

"I call her 'Mini Cooper S with Leather Interior Me' "

[b]The tank of snakes will be interesting tonight...............see if Nigels hands actually touch a real snake! [/B

Well I have to say I didn't. At the business end (actually picking up the stars) all we saw a disembodied hand plunging into the snakes then cut back to long shot of the Dark Destroyer withdrawing his hand from the top of the tank with said star.

What a load of Cobblers!!

BTW the snakes had no teeth!!

all we saw a disembodied hand plunging into the snakes then cut back to long shot of the Dark Destroyer withdrawing his hand from the top of the tank with said star

Well... yes. That's the way any competent director would shoot it. When the hand is in the tank you want to be close up to see exactly what's going on.

Note, however, that after the snake struck at Nigel the shot changed in time for us to see him pull his arm from the tank and run off.

BTW the snakes had no teeth!!

What makes you think that?

In any event, despite what was said, it's clear that the snake didn't actually *bite* Nigel, it struck him with a warning shot - even venomous snakes do this (venom's precious, and snakes don't waste it on animals that are too big to eat without good reason).

Hmmmmmmm!!!!! (Pedro wonders whether he might be dealing with a TV professional, a herpetologist or a combination of both!!!)

Forgive me for my question which may well betray my naivety but would a competent director not have two cameras running? One close in and one a long shot. I say this since I believe it would be far more dramatic to show the reaction of the individual to the strike rather than the individual's hand. Realistically the reaction of the hand is predictable...it will move away at some speed from the striking serpent. (Mine would anyway)

I dont believe that the snake had any teeth cos I didnt see any. Also there was no attempt to show the hand that had been struck and the effect of the strike. Having travelled and worked pretty extensively on the Asian sub-continent I never saw a venomous snake strike that didnt mean business. And yes I have seen a few strike. However I am not an expert and I will defer to you and your theory that these creature give warning shots.

I still reckon the whole show is pretty unconvincing

would a competent director not have two cameras running? One close in and one a long shot

Yes - which is exactly what happened!

I say this since I believe it would be far more dramatic to show the reaction of the individual to the strike rather than the individual's hand

Which is exactly what happened!

Think about the grammar of television. It's all about cause and effect. Effect without cause isn't anywhere near as dramatic.

We saw the cause - the snake striking - in close-up. Then there was an immediate cut, in register, to the effect, which was the WS of Nigel pulling his hand out of the tank and running off.

They may have had a camera close on Nigel's face but it wouldn't have been much good for the reaction, because he jerked away so quickly they'd have lost the frame.

And before you ask, yes, I direct!

I dont believe that the snake had any teeth cos I didnt see any

You won't see the teeth on constrictors (which all those snakes were) of the size used on the show because they (the teeth) would be too small. You'd have to open the snake's mouth and stick a camera with a macro lens virtually down its throat.

Constrictor teeth aren't huge fangs for injecting venom, they are more akin to molars - they're for gripping the prey once it's caught. Bigger constrictors have bigger teeth, however, and they *can* give you a very painful bite!

Also there was no attempt to show the hand that had been struck and the effect of the strike

Almost certainly because there was nothing to show - saying he'd actually been bitten was probably just dramatic licence.

I've been struck at by a few non-venomous snakes in my time (comes of having friends who keep them!) and unless they're seriously freaked out, they'll often take a warning shot first in the hope that it'll be enough to make you reconsider - snakes aren't dumb, they don't want to engage fully with a potential enemy (and maybe get injured themselves) if they don't have to.

I never saw a venomous snake strike that didnt mean business

A surprising percentage of bites on humans from venomous snakes every year don't actually involve the injection of any venom - snakes are choosy about how and when they use up their poison!

Additionally I saw a programme on Discovery showing that certain types of snakes can hide their fangs by folding them back putting them under small flaps of skin.... quite cool really.

I forget the name, but the woman presenting the NOW edition last night addressed an email to the show on exactly this subject...was it a fake, being played out in some studio...

Her answer was to turn the camera around and show all the aussie camera crew standing behind the screen. You could see more forest (I'd hesitate to call it Jungle ) in the background.

BTW, she also read out an email questioning DD's 'mockney' accent... are there people on here who are emailing the show???

yawn...............

Zzzzzz..............

We work in an office which is directly opposite Tara's house in Holland Park.

She is, without a doubt, the loudest, most irratating person on the planet, with no discretion and an enourmous ego who truly believes that the world revolves utterly around her.

We've known about her 'going off to the jungle' for absolutely ages as she regularly tells anyone who's passing.

It is no act - she really is like that 24/7 - she's not astute enough to be involved in a fake or descreet enough to have kept it quiet.

She also spent ages telling her maid (very loudly) that she thinks Daren Day is a ****, that she's doing this to raise her profile, to make people like her and to get a presenting job.

All of us here in the office are utterly convinced that the whole 'move in on Darren' thing is purely for attention as she knows the papers will LOVE it.

There we go - that's my TPT rant, I'll be quiet now.

No, please go on!!!

I dont live near her (thank God). Met her once at a fashion show, yes, seriously D-list psuedo celebrity.

IQ of a marshmallow, and as Meso put it: Thick and Thin at the same time, although not sure about the thin part, she has a very odd shaped tummy.

Anyway, like I said, please carry on. The world needs to know about her.

I'm sure you all got a laugh off her poem though, she will never live that down.