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THE OLD SKOOL VALENTINES BALL
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FEBRUARY 2014
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Is Jim representing of today’s Britain?
Reality really bites on Benefits Street
B
illed as revealing the harsh realities of benefit-dependant life, Channel 4’s ‘Benefits Street’ has not only unveiled the true hardships that many feel is ignored, but, on the other hand, has created a fresh
breed of characters who, with due time and extended exposure, will be household names as the newest set of TV “Reality Stars.” Derided by many, especially in the city where it is set, there are those who see the much-watched ‘Benefits Street,’ set in Birmingham, as ‘mustwatch’ TV. Following the lives of residents on Winson Green’s James Turner Street, it highlights the trials and tribulations of
people like ‘White Dee,’ ‘Black Dee,’ ‘Fungi,’ SB, and Caitlin among others as they struggle to make their everyday life bearable at the very least. As viewers take to radio phone-ins and newspaper letter pages, to be-goad their collective ‘spleens’ at the mere thought that these ‘ne’er-do-wells’ are ‘bigging themselves up’ on national TV, they are, after all, the next set of television’s ‘Reality Stars.’ As the characters on
Benefits Street who, whilst keeping viewers intrigued, also have us asking the question; “Is this really happening in Britain, today?” you have to say it is compelling viewing. Breaking it down, though, you have to look at each individuals circumstances and, instead of looking down our noses at the less fortunate, why not look at the efforts they are making to
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O
f all the housemates this year, it was the controversial comedian Jim Davidson whom the public found the most adorable. So is he a changed man? Was he really the best of the ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ bunch? Better than one-time squeaky-
clean former girlie popster; Linda Nolan, overly-charming Chelsea-setter, Ollie Loche, more female eye-candy than Blue’s Lee Ryan, Dappy from NDubz, or Lionel Blair (Whatever takes your fancy). As the grumpy old man of the house, whose said to be sexist, homophobic and has a gripe with just about everybody who’s not like him, perhaps he deserves the accolade, after all, he is a changed man. Or, is his win a reality check on the state of today’s Britain.
Costas, THE star of CBB
I
t was so close for Costadinos Contostavlos, but, for him this is perhaps a new begginning for the ‘hard-core’ frontman, Dappy, of N-Dubz. The little cutey-Did you see the pic of him as a child?-cut a charming figure on Celebrity Big Brother, so, we might be seeing a new man cutting a dash on this year’s celebrity scene. Good on ya, Costas!