Writing in yesterday's Daily Mirror Alex Sibley, star of BB3, says ...

''I KNOW they're all 18 and old enough to do what they want, but I think it's really wrong to let two contestants have sex in the Big Brother house.

When we went in there we were given psychological tests but no HIV tests and these are two strangers having unprotected sex. What kind of message is that sending out to young people watching this?

I know that lots of youngsters enjoy the show. I saw a group of nine-year-olds today who knew exactly who I was. I've never really understood why they look up to us, but lots of them do.

I was having sex at 15 but it's wrong to show it on TV. They say that HIV is rising among heterosexuals and yet they're showing two teenagers having unprotected sex.

These guys know how big BB is and it may be that they think they can make a name for themselves by having sex on it. But it's scary. There was a lot of swearing, too, but maybe that's just normal teenage behaviour. There also seemed to be a lot more confrontations and I think that's because they know they're not relying on the public vote.

They come across as kids even though they would be the first to tell you they were adults.....''

Read the full article here.

Thanks Eejay, Alex is spot on , once again!

As always, telling it like it is

Alex is a miserable old fuddy duddy.........

Shutup moaning Sibley.

I thought Alex made some very salient points.

I don't think he's moaning at all, in fact he's raised some serious issues there regarding unprotected sex, etc.

I think the points Alex makes about unprotected sex are pertinent ones but I draw different conclusions.

C4 place this mixed group youngsters in the same bedroom for 2 weeks, yet provide no condoms. Come on guys, that's not on..... protection should have been made available as well as lubricants etc. The producers damn well knew that there was a strong possibility of a sexual encounter taking place.

I disagree with Alex's assertion that sex should not be allowed to take place .... period ! How can C4, Endemol or anyone else for that matter, prevent this from happening ?
Last edited by EddyBee : 16-10-2003 at 10:07

I understand they can't prevent it, but I do condem their motives for showing it, especially as this particular group is so very young.

I also agree with Eejay, in that, as it was fairly obvious there was going to be some sexual activity, condoms should have been made available!

Still remember that memorable time when Jade Alison and Kate were talking about sex and stuff, and Kate admitted she'd had it up the bum a few times but hadn't really liked it? It shocked even JAde, and that's saying something!

Has Alex got a column in the Daily Mail then? I hope so because now I can avoid two nasty, vicious out of touch things in one go, simply by not buying that rag.

I think condoms should have been made available in every BB series - without the contestants having to ask. Technically - shouldn't they be in the First Aid box? Or should that be Aids box?

I'm glad the unprotected sex was shown. It highlights just how flippant teenagers are about unprotected sex these days in a country where heterosexual HIV infection is on the increase, we have a Chlamydia (and therefore infertility) time bomb on our hands and we have the worst record of teen pregnancy in Europe.

I doubt it will shock teenagers into protecting themselves though - I fear showing unprotected sex without consequence will send the wrong message to to teenagers...that sex without planning and protection is acceptable.

I was reading the article and trying to find the bit where Alex said 'Teen sex is discusting', but he didn't say that. First of all as has been stated time and time again we have to choose what we believe from reading these papers, especially the Sun or Mirror as words seem to get twisted.

Alex seems to have stated not that they shouldn't have sex, but is it really neccessary on the show, even the teenagers themselves weren't happy with their behaviour, I think he is also maybe lying the blame on the shows executives and producers, as they must have cotemplated this could happen, especially chucking them all in the same bedroom, surely they could have provided them with some kind of protection, they must have foreseen this possibility, so they are at fault more than the teenagers.

On the whole, I think I gather where Alex is going on this one, and must say I agree with him, if that makes me a prude, then so be it.

Lastly Claret I think you will find the article is in the Mirror not the Mail.

Ah, serves me right for skim reading all threads that involve Alex

I did wonder what Eejay was doing reading the Mail

I agree with Susann, Alex wasn't saying that teenage sex was disgusting at all, he clearly said he was 15.
He was saying that it is hardly educational or a good example to other teens to show unplanned, unprotected sex on national TV, the key word being unprotected.
I have to agree with him there.

He makes some excellent points, chlamydia and HIV are on the increase in the country and to show unprotected teen sex to teenagers sends out a message that this is ok and there are no dangers. These kids may be old enough to consent but their behaviour is hardly that of adults and their naivety is being taken advantage of in the most distasteful of ways.

This is pure exploitation on the part of channel 4, I didn't think they'd go this low to get viewers, but if all I can expect from them these days is cheap titillation, I may as well just watch channel 5.

Yes. This is indeed downright low - very much like the sight of Jade pleasuring PJ under the bed covers in BB3 and Ray masturbating under a duvet and the women's talking about the size of Federico's penis in BB4. The content of the series overall really is sinking down to the lowest common denominator.

I disagree with all of you........These are 18 year old adults, not children.....It isn't underage sex that was shown and it was totally consual....What do you think happens on Club 18-30 Holidays? Closing your eyes and pretending it doesn't happen isn't a prevention for any diseases. Whether it's a good example or not it happened and it was relevant to the show that it did.....We are going to see some of the emotional fall out from what happened and they have hardly got away with it unaffected....They are in an alien enviroment and we can't expect them to behave in a normal way.....besides which...who said the educational side of this program was to teach kids how to behave.....I was of the understanding it was all about how they behave........

You ********. We know how they behave. Have you read Lord of the Flies? Ok, there's no sex, but if the kids had been co-ed, there would have been... gang rapes anyone?

Fact is that young adults are all nasty little buggers. If it wasn't for the fact that they've got to keep me in my old age, I'd say gas the lot of em.

I agree with you Mesostim. I think this showing this will be far more educational than any number of government campaigns with posters, videos, leaflets, etc. This actually happened and I think quite a number of teenage viewers will appreciate the dangers of casual sex both morally and physically.

I find it much easier to speak to my own teenage daughters with a television programme they are watching as a starting point, it is much more relaxed and informal and they do not feel like they are being preached at.

Interesting... DS is Censoring posts?? I didn't think ******** er... make that d i c k h e a d was that strong...

I actually agree with this post. They are 18 and legally adults. At that age the vast majority of people have had sex and its nothing new. How many of us hadnt had sex at that age?

I turned over to E4 and watched tonights show and you do actually see how it affects both the two hms involved and also others in the house.

it happened and ignoring it doesnt make it go away.

Yes I do agree with you, at 18 they are legally adults and if you put a group in a mixed room then at that age it is bound to happen I would say, as they are adults in that sense but not sufficiently enough to say.....hey, we are on camera, no condoms.....etc - we have all been there I'm sure.

At this age some have gone to universtity OK, others are constricted by being at home / more limited opportunities. For those who have moved away, there is always the chemist, hopefully. 18 year olds are adults in a sense but are a world away from those 20-plus.

In this situation the irresponsibility to me was:
1) they stuck a load of 18 year olds in the same room and this was pretty much bound to happen
2) bearing in mind the above they did not provide condoms
3) responsible adults were watching and did not intervene until the following day - why weren't they called in to the diary room to at least be asked - are you sure? and if not - give them some condoms? (TV ratings).

Rather than waiting until the next morning and giving Jade the morning-after pill.
Message - ok this is fine, we want to do it right now so we will, we'll get a pill tomorrow.
Voyeurism - great - this incident publicised the programme, like it or not. Responsibility - nil and does not reflect well on Endemol I think.

Aside from that there is the suffering that the 18 year olds may have to endure following that 'I want to do it so what the hell' moment. As I said, normal but not on National TV.

The BB contestants so far have been older and more able to cope with the aftermath. Hopefully it will be forgotton rather then them having to endure the finger pointing in the street and being labelled as 'the one that....'