BB FANS

Comments on John

from Scotland on Sunday


And here Daily Record

MANCHESTER musical greats the Happy Mondays are enjoying a revival in record sales 15 years after their peak - and it's all down to reality TV.

The appearance of dancer Bez on Celebrity Big Brother, following on from backing singer Rowetta's performances on the X-Factor, has boosted sales of the band's old albums by more than 100 per cent.

But the unhappy truth for Bez and Rowetta is that they are unlikely to profit from the Mondays revival. The band was one of the major players in the "Madchester" scene of the late Eighties and early Nineties, with the Stone Roses, James and Inspiral Carpets, before collapsing in 1993 amid stories of feuding, drugs and debts.

A series of comebacks by the band have failed to make a serious impact on the charts. But the current wave of reality TV has done the trick.

Bez, alias Mark Berry, is now favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother. The revival in his fortunes comes just two months after ex-backing singer Rowetta became one of the hits of the ITV talent show X-Factor.

Manchesteronline

Dead ringer for Victor?


Jeremy compared John to Victor Meldrew over dinner, but the House grouch didn't seem too offended.

"Me?" he said in mock-shock. "But he's a miserable, complaining, grumpy old berk. ... I see what you mean," he conceded.

John then began talking about politics, not that the subject gripped the other housemates.

Bez suggested that he could become a politician, "You'd be good at it. You're opinionated enough," he said.

"He's not informed [enough]," chipped in Lisa.
Jeremy laughing
"I knew I'd seen you somewhere before!"

"Only problem is," said Jeremy. "He hates so many kinds of people, and you've ruled out so many sections of society."

John agreed entirely. "It's the same here," he said of the coming eviction night. "That's why I'm banking on getting out."

But John had words of sympathy for his fellow nominee. "Poor little Bez has hurt no one, and you vote against him with a monster like me in the House," he said.

"I'm not hurt," said Bez, missing the point, but perhaps revealing his hurt is on his mind.

"You're a nice chap," John reiterated.

"It's just a bloody game," said Lisa.

It is until you're nominated... Ch4

Blame Game

Housemates waiting for the second part of their hippy task are worried they've already failed.

"You went out with your dressing gown over your thing, John," said Kenzie. "Over your rag."

"Oh my God, was that wrong? Well, I had to keep warm while I was out there. Otherwise what's the point?" said John defensively.

Lisa suggested that meant they had failed the task which really lit John's fuse and raised his voice.

"I forgot! You should have told me!" he barked, pointing at Kenzie.

"Well, you done it," said Kenzie quietly.

"You should've come out and told me to take it off," snapped John. "What's wrong with you?"
Brigitte enters the Blue Room
Beware, all ye who enter!

Suddenly John's mistake was Kenzie's fault. But given a moment to consider, he realised it was down to him.

"Oh well, I'm sorry."

Lisa told everyone they needed a rethink because they had failed.

"I did NOT do it on purpose," said John, not for the first time.

But the time for truth is approaching because the Housemates are to encounter the secret chamber where they will find a water feature and a 'hat of truth'.

In the water feature are six stones, each with a question. Wearing the hat they must share their feelings by answering the questions... truthfully!

Let's just hope John's blunder doesn't render their honesty pointless.
Ch4

Hippy housemates - minus Bez - shared their feelings with each other as part of a Rejuvenation Retreat task.

Each took turns to don the fetching 'Hat of Truth' and answer questions. Among the highlights was Lisa telling John he'd been a "waste of a life".

The first question asked what their biggest vices were. For John, it was overeating. Jeremy: Drinking coffee. Kenzie: Alcohol. Caprice: Not being able to let people in. Lisa: Smoking, and Brigitte: Being too outgoing.

Stone 2 then asked which sense would they lose if they had to. Brigitte said that after sleeping next to John, she had considered sight, but went for smell. But John responded by saying, "Could your lives be the same without the smell of my farts?"

Stone 3 asked which emotion was more important. Kenzie and Jeremy went for happiness, while Brigitte, Caprice and Lisa all said love. John said satisfaction, claiming that work was more important than families, "babies and all that stuff."
Caprice
Caprice contemplates her vices

Asked to name their greatest shortcomings, Lisa and Brigitte talked about their impatience. Caprice said it was her inability to communicate what she was thinking, while Kenzie talked of his lack of motivation.

For John it was his inability to forgive. "That's why I've got no friends," he said. While Jeremy was equally frank, revealing his "constant need for attention".

On the subject of whether it's best to love or be loved, John found it impossible to answer. All the girls went for loving someone, while Jeremy and Kenzie said it was best to be loved. "One, because of my need for attention," said Jeremy. "Two, because I'm a boy."

The last question was 'When did you last feel inner harmony?'

For Brigitte it was in bed with her kids, boyfriend and dog, watching a movie. Jeremy felt it in Mexico in a beautiful nature reserve. Kenzie last had it as a kid of 11, while Caprice felt it being with her mum.

Lisa felt sorry for John who had never found it, but experienced it herself, "When the cleaner's been in, the cat's been fed and I'm having some wine with my man."

They didn't exactly have a group hug, but they seemed to enjoy 'talking feelings'.

Bunch of hippies.

Ch4