The modern media attaches a remarkably flexible definition to the word ‘celebrity’, as shown by the most recent inhabitants of the Celebrity Big Brother house, whom the Telegraph has helpfully listed for those of us who would otherwise be ignorant of this important cultural phenomenon.
But honest now – how many *you* heard of? Extra points for creative snarkiness.
Who’s in the house?
1. Christopher Biggins – Tick
2. Saira Khan – I think so. Was she a contestant in the Apprentice?
3. Frankie Grande – Nope
4. Ricky Norwood – Not a Scoobie
5. Renee Graziano – Never heard of her
6. Marnie Simpson – Who?
7. James Whale – Yes! Radio talk show host wasn’t he?
8. Aubrey O’Day – You’re making that up
9. Stephen Bear – Search me
10. Katie Waissel – My years of watching X Factor pay off at last
11. Lewis Bloor – Rings a bell, but no
12. Grant Bovey – Used to be (still is?) married to Anthea Turner, I think
13. Chloe Khan – You’ve lost me again
14. Heavy D – I’m guessing rap/hip hop. Not my area
15. Samantha Fox – Finally! A housemate guaranteed to be recognised by the Massive demographic!
I’ve heard of 4 of them, but calling Biggins a tick is a bit unfair. He was marvellous in Porridge.
Though he was the most unconvincing womanising priest in the original Poldark.
Biggins, Whale and Fox only names I recognise and would include in the “celebrity” bracket (whatever that means? ).
Grant Bovey was a property developer (Ithink?) and/or TV producer/bankrupt media mogul (again, what does that mean?) who got known by dint of eating chocolate with Anthea Turner at their wedding
Only other name I recognised is Heavy D – knobhead shouty bloke from Storage Hunters UK.
You missed Helen Lederer.
Is he in there? I just copied the Telegraph list. If she’s in the house then she’s another addition to the ones I have heard of, and pushes me towards 50%.
*She* not he.
Has Anthea split up with Bruno Brooks then? Or was it Peder Powell?
I remember James Whale on a late night TV show some years ago. He affects the same kind of gruff, no nonsense punditry as Nick Ferrari
Yeh. He’s another one needing a good slapping.
Whale occasionally had some good music on that TV show. I bought the first Duke Spirit album after seeing them there.
Apparently, according to the production team, having unknowns on BB is a deliberate strategy since it provokes and maintains social media comments along the lines of ‘who she/he’, which in itself actively perpetrates the show’s popularity.
That’s a convenient-sounding justification. He said smugly.
I’m amazed anyone watches this drivel. See also I’m A Celebrity. I recognised 5 including Helen Lederer. I had no idea James Whale was still round. I used to watch the TV show around 1988 after the pub on a Friday or Saturday night, before The Hitman and Her.
Jeez, what a waste of my life…….
I recall the James Whale Show with “dancing dollies” as well.
It was dire,
Pity Iain Lee didn’t get the nod.
Met him at a friend’s party when he was ‘big ‘ on local radio back in the eighties. No idea who he was then, no idea who he is now.
I only remember his as the poor man’s Alan Beswick when he took over the late night phone in show on Red Rose Radio in Lancashire
I seem to remember Whale’s shtick was being abusive to phone-in callers (on a TV show!) when such a thing was still a novelty