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Analysing the house: Week 2

12/01/2007

Corinne Sweet (www.corinnesweet.com) is a regular psychologist, writer and broadcaster on Big Brother's Big Brain.

She's been an avid fan of Big Brother since the very first show - here's her weekly view on the housemates in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

This first week has been about bonding and power struggles, playing with status, experiencing discomfort and working out what fame really means.

The housemates were just settling in to a life of luxury when Big Brother played its first mean trick on Day 2.

The celebs had to choose three people to stay in the BB house, while the other eight were to live next door in a revolting 'scullery' and serve 'the family' next door.

Passing the task would mean getting a luxury shopping budget for the next week - so the stakes were high.

Ken, Shilpa, and Jermaine were nominated by the group to stay, so the 'servants' trooped out. Living in Victorian 'squalor', the servants found out they were to serve Jade Goody, partner Jack Tweed and Jade's mum, Jackiey.

Jade and her family would adopt the three remaining CBB housemates.

Interestingly, housemates referred to 'upstairs' and 'downstairs' even though they were all living on a horizontal plain next door. This shows the power of suggestive psychological role-play - they felt they were in Gosford Park!

Donning Victorian uniforms housemates took up their positions - and in true rock 'n' roll style Donny legged it over the fence with Ian's help, saying he wouldn't serve Jade and her family on Day 3. Either the rocker was lazy, or he needed to retain his Alpha Male Celebrity status.

The irony of celebrities serving non-celebrities (especially Jade's gran and granddad, market stall-holders Sylvie and John) wasn't lost on either group. The family fared worse, (bickering and being bored) while the servants bonded through deprivation.

'Upstairs' tempers soon frayed and conflict arose, particularly between Shilpa (a regal celeb usually with an entourage) and Jackiey (certainly no entourage).

Ken could not stomach Jade and co, and walked out himself on Day 5 when he broke the rules by getting his own snack. More importantly, he couldn't bear being shouted at by Jade.

Ironically, class was a major cause of his exit - he played his upper-class role too genuinely, which upset Jade's working-class values.

By Day 6, the task was complete. Leo found it the hardest and had became mute and sulky in protest. He had a power struggle with BB about his contract (needing to exert his authority) and threatened to leave.

Although Leo and Jo failed the task, the group as a whole passed, to whoops of joy and plenty of booze and food.

On Day 7, Jackiey was voted out by the public, causing tidal waves of grief among the women - particularly Jade and Cleo. The men were more philosophical, especially Dirk and Jermaine.

Jackiey's abrupt departure was a wake-up call, showing the celebs how ruthless BB can be - Jade wanted to leave in protest and Jack decided he hated Shilpa (out of loyalty to Jackiey).

Although very difficult to live with, many had warmed to Jackiey's rough diamond honesty and bizarre personality and many housemates thought she'd win, due to her freshness (and farting?).

Post-Jackiey, housemates had to readjust and new allegiances were formed.

Then on Day 9, BB made the group choose between Cleo and Carole for eviction, as chastisement for talking about nominations. They chose Carole (probably not trusted for being a journalist, also very bossy).

Meanwhile, the housemates find it hard to listen to Leo, whose automatic talking and self-obsession is driving people mad. So Leo joins Carole and Dirk (nominated because of his crush on Shilpa rocking the CBB boat).

Now war is raging between Alpha Females Carole and Shilpa about the unfairness of Carole's nomination. Tonight the public will decide who goes.

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