BB FANS

Day three in the Big Brother house, and Germaine Greer is wallowing in offal. Yesterday, her reputation as Britain's most celebrated feminist and academic was at risk of being eviscerated too. Her television colleagues warned she may be making the biggest mistake of her career - instead of being known as the author of The Female Eunuch, she is now in danger of becoming famous to a younger generation as a grumpy old woman from a downmarket reality television programme.

Bonnie Greer, a co-panellist on the BBC's highbrow arts review show Newsnight Review, told The Independent on Sunday: "It's a shame for her admirers and a shame for her. If she had asked for my advice I would have said 'don't do it'. Germaine is one of the icons of my life, but because of the way culture is, she will now be known for Big Brother rather than for everything else she's done.

"The first time I heard Orson Welles's name he was advertising Gallo wine. I had no idea he was one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema. I spent my childhood thinking he was the fat man who advertised wine."

Rosie Boycott, also a panellist on Newsnight Review, the founder of the feminist magazine Spare Rib and a former editor of The Independent on Sunday, agreed. "I'm devoted to Germaine; I think she's wonderful," she said. "But ... it concerns me that younger people will see her as a grumpy, cantankerous, argumentative person rather than the inspirational woman that she is. They've cast her and John McCririck as the old farts. There is a danger that her legacy will become that. She won't be able to preach feminism in the BB house."

As her friends, contemporaries and sparring partners revealed their fears yesterday, the iconic feminist and inspirational author was joining her fellow "celebrities" in a Big Brother task called "Spin for your Dinner". While her housemates wobbled dizzily on a roundabout behind her, one of Britain's leading Shakespeare scholars and most controversial writers launched herself gamely at an assault course made up of "the abattoir", "the compost skip", "the ashtray" and other gruesome obstacles in order to win food for her housemates. The ashtray was full of stale alcohol and cigarette butts; the abattoir consisted of a vat containing a blood-like substance; the compost was just that: a heap of rotting vegetables - not something that impressed fans who admire Greer for her lofty intellectualism and outspoken views. "Big Brother is not set up for a person like Germaine to do her thing," added Greer. "She's going to be defeated by the editing suite. If they see something that's dramatic or ridicules her they will use it. She's not as smart as television."

Even at this early stage in the 18-day TV show, Greer has made her presence felt. For her argumentative ways in the kitchen and her intolerance of smoking, she has already earned the nickname "the Gorgon". During negotiations over the shopping list yesterday, she interrogated the DJ Lisa I'Anson, asking: "How fatty is it? How many in a packet? Do they have pumpernickel?" However, she has also earned a grudging respect. "I disagree with everything she says," announced the racing presenter John McCririck, who said before entering the house that his nightmare housemate would be "flat-chested, bossy women. Someone like Germaine Greer". "She's a left-winger and trendy and environmentalist and women's equality and all that nonsense," he added. "But she's saved us in this house."

Outside the house, she does have support. The feminist writer Beatrix Campbell described her as "quixotic, anarchic, impressive, surprising, game, witty and up for a laugh". "She's full of curiosity and she'll want to make it work," she added, "to show us how a mature, radical woman can be: funny, sexy, serious and capable of managing a complex congregation of people having a good time."

The writer Tim Lott is also a fan. "I couldn't believe it when I heard, but when I thought about it, it made perfect sense," he said. "It's typically eccentric of her. She's wonderfully loopy." But like Campbell, Lott thinks Greer will have a hard time keeping her patience and dealing with the crushing boredom of life in the Big Brother house. "I very much hope she wins it but I can't imagine what she's doing in there with all those losers," he said. "It's like there are all these minnows and this brilliant icon has appeared among them. She's very impatient with people who aren't very clever."

While her supporters are wishing her the very best of luck, the suspicion that Greer has sold her soul to the reality TV devil is gaining currency. Even Ann Widdecombe, the star of ITV's Celebrity Fit Club, sneers at the format. "I hope she'll be herself but I won't be cheering anybody on because I shan't watch Big Brother," she said. "Fit Club has a point because you lose weight. But there's no point to Big Brother. I don't know why she's doing it, whether she's dumbing down. Well, that she must answer for herself."

Celebrity housemates faced a stomach-churning Big Brother task tonight as they clambered over a vat of blood and braved a shower of rancid milk to win weekly rations.

The contestants were forced to climb into a compost heap and wade through a concoction of eggs, alcohol and cigarette butts to complete a gruesome obstacle course,

Germaine Greer, who threw up before she had even begun the challenge, John McCririck, Bez and Caprice all failed to finish on time, losing the house valuable supplies of food.

“It’s disgusting, urghhhh. This is so gross,” shrieked Caprice as she began the course, which featured slabs of raw meat and offal hung in a mock abattoir.

Actress Brigitte Nielson complained of feeling “really dizzy” after the challenge, which saw seven of the eight constantly spun around by John on a roundabout.

Bez repeatedly wretched and singer Kenzie was almost sick, though current favourite Jeremy Edwards, an ex-Holby City actor, appeared untroubled.

Racing commentator McCririck later surprised his fellow competitors by taking on an individual task to secure alcohol for the night.

He was forced to delve into vile mixtures of waste to retrieve ping-poll balls, collecting three to win a key to a fridge stocked with drinks.

A Big Brother spokesman said: “While at times John hasn’t been the most popular housemate, the group rallied round him, shouting encouragement from the sidelines.

“A huge cheer went up when he emerged triumphant.

Ladbrokes said Edwards remains the 2/1 favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother, though noted a flurry of support for teenager Kenzie, whose odds have been cut from 5/1 to 5/2.

McCririck is now 12/1 from 16/1, though the pundit is also the 5/4 favourite to be evicted first.

Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush said: “Jeremy is setting the early pace though we have seen good support for Kenzie in recent hours. Lisa I’Anson is the rank outsider at 33/1.

“We have been forced to cut the odds on McCririck winning from 16/1 to 12/1 though he remains 5/4 hot favourite to go first.

“As bookmakers, we want to keep him in the house for as long as possible because all he’s ever done is throw mud at us for decades.”

He said the odds on two housemates having sex had been slashed from 5/1 to 4/1, with Jeremy and Caprice the best bet.

The women in the Celebrity Big Brother house are fighting back against the sound of John's voice.

And there are signs that Caprice, Lisa and Germaine aren't going to put up with his gob for too much longer.

"People who talk loudly are so boring," railed Caprice after another monologue from the talking sideburns.

Unsolicited, John had told everyone about some of his pet hates: People in dark suits, ties, bad fan mail, and music in swimming pools.
After his extraordinary rants Caprice asked him about his likes; what entertained him?

"I love footie..." "And talking," added Caprice. "And racing," he said. "And talking," said Caprice again, suggesting she might have had enough of his continual chatter. "John, you're being ignorant," said Lisa when he claimed not to know what a PlayStation was. But the laughter and disbelief soared to new heights when John claimed to have blown his chances with Kylie thanks to a careless remark. Caprice said how lovely she thought Kylie and Danni Minogue were. "Is there anyone you don't think is lovely?" asked Germaine.

"That one, sometimes," she replied, gesturing to John. And then Germaine took her turn at a pot shot. First she asked John who had half-eaten an apple, which he took as an accusation.

"It means you have a low opinion of me," he complained, after Bez had owned up to wasting the fruit. "You have worked so hard for me to have a low opinion of you," she said.

Medieval Big Brother




Queen for the day (or three)
The Big Brother housemates were set their first weekly task this morning and it's set to be three days of medieval torture in The Court Of Big Brother.


Ex Radio 1 DJ Lisa I'Anson is to be waited on hand and foot by her fellow housemates after she was chosen to read a scroll attached to an arrow fired into the garden at 11.00am.


Queen Lisa's first job was to assign specific roles to her fellow housemates who had now become her ‘courtiers’.


As Queen, Lisa is not permitted to lift a royal finger for the duration of the task.


Caprice has become the Royal Dresser and will dress and undress the Queen every morning and evening. In addition to tasting her food.


Germaine Greer was assigned as Royal Cook and will prepare all the royal meals.


The role of Court Jester went to John McCririck who will attempt to amuse the Court with jokes and merriment. John's penchant for ridiculous outfits has cast doubts over the need for a costume.


Kenzie was selected as Royal Minstrel, although how he will cope without his junior chav massive remains to be seen.


Jeremy and Bez claimed the unenviable role of Royal Footmen, they are required to carry the Queen on the royal sedan chair whenever she enters the ‘courtyard’ (the garden). To Bez's horror a Royal maraca shaker was apparently not a requirement.


Finally Brigitte is set to become The Royal Warmer, she will warm the royal toilet seat before the queen wishes to use the toilet and must also warm the queen’s bed at night. One can only imagine how it feels to see Ms Nielsen sprawled across your bed last thing at night, Mr Stallone our heart goes out to you.

Caprice revealed she fantasised about lesbian sex as the celebs played a truth game.
She confessed during a boozy game of spin the bottle:
Sun