By Cameron Stout
Sunday Post
IT seems incredible that the rather colourless Orlaith should manage to upstage flamboyant flouncer Kemal
But by carrying out her oft-repeated intention to leave the Big Brother House yesterday she has achieved just that.
This should have been Kemal’s week — a whirlwind of interviews, appearances and photo opportunities. Cameras clicking, flashbulbs popping, with Kemal bathed in the limelight.
And judging by his exit on Friday he was fully prepared to revel in the attention.
Eclipsed
Even Davina was eclipsed by the boy. She looked as though she was going for a job interview when sat opposite him, overshadowed by his manic presence.
He swished his way through the half-hour conversation, gabbing 10 to the dozen. It wasn’t a de-briefing, it was a performance.
The first inklings of Makosi’s full treachery couldn’t really take the lip-gloss off the evening.
But yesterday morning, the focus had already switched to Orlaith who hasn’t been doing much revelling recently.
Wallowing, more like. In self-pity.
By mid-morning she had already had an audience with Big Brother in the Diary Room and was on her way.
And it’s horrendous. Shockingly selfish.
I’ve always said I don’t approve of “runners” and have been quick to have a pop at Derek when he’s moaned that he wants to quit the “ghastly” place.
Miserable
If Orlaith was so miserable, she could have left any time. It’s the Big Brother House, after all — not Guantanamo Bay.
Instead, Kemal has been needlessly deprived of his place in the House. Orlaith could have left on Friday and Kemal could have lived to bitch another day.
Yet it’s not only Kemal, who, let’s face it, was never my cup of tea, who I feel sorry for. What must Kinga be feeling?
Kinga, you’ll remember, was the third party rejected by Makosi as a housemate in favour of Orlaith and Eugene.
The lusty lass is probably spitting blood that the opportunity she was desperate to take advantage of has been squandered.
Yet there’s a bit of cynicism running alongside the sympathy too. If Orlaith’s departure had counted as this week’s “eviction”, Endemol might have lost the revenue from the telephone vote. Something to ponder.
Moonlight flit
I really hope Orlaith’s decision to do a mid-morning moonlight flit won’t steal Kemal’s thunder this week.
Past “runners” like Sandy and Sunita, both in 2002, didn’t want any publicity and didn’t get it.
They had both left for their own reasons — Sunita because she was training to be a barrister and felt her decision to go on the show would have an adverse affect on her career, Sandy because the other housemates were getting on his wick.
The only mitigating factor with Orlaith’s leaving is that she has said she can’t bear to spend another week in the House with Grandad Derek.
That I can understand, believe me. But whether Orlaith is able to get any mileage out for her premature departure remains to be seen.
The silver lining on Orlaith’s cloud will be that she’s emerging to glad tidings.
Whereas Maxwell rejoined the real world in the immediate aftermath of the July 7 bombings. Ulster girl, Orlaith will have better news, as it looks as though The Troubles in the Province may finally be over for good.
Present
That’s surely the best home-coming present she could possibly wish for.
Back at the ranch, the rest of the House seem to bearing up in her absence. From the live feed, it looked as if most of them commemorated her passing by going back to bed.
Derek is one who will sleep as snug as a smug bug in a rug. Too bad they couldn’t have tied him to Orlaith’s strappy top and got rid of them together.
Has this man a memory or any sort of self-recognition?
He has complained about Orlaith’s constant bleating about wanting to leave, something he has been guilty of in the past.
He wondered aloud why Anthony didn’t get more nominations and was still in the House. I wonder that every week about Derek.
However, I do detect a feeling amongst Big Brother fans against Anthony, who is being accused of leading Craig on.
Their shenanigans this week have been painful to watch. Insecure, possessive and immature, Craig is doing a lot of his growing up on national TV.
I’ve heard that when people go through a detox routine their skin breaks out in all sorts of blemishes as the poisons work their way out of the system.
With Craig, it’s like the Big Brother House is his detox routine. His poisons and insecurities are coming to the surface and let’s hope they can all be cleansed away, so he’ll feel a lot better when the show is over.
Bond
Interestingly Davina in Kemal’s eviction interview touched on why he and Craig, both young gay men who have come out in public, didn’t bond more.
But why should they? Did Maxwell bond with Roberto because they were both straight? Personal relationships are so much more complex than that.
You need look no further than Kemal and Makosi for proof. Why did she not vote to save her mate this week?
Probably because they are the mirror of each other and so she suspects he’s as devious a diva as she is.
Still, I thought Anthony’s comment that he wanted to get cosy with Makosi was hilarious and I suspect she wouldn’t object.
Her other favourite this week was Eugene, who is exactly as I remember him. Will the man ever tell a story with a point, or finish an anecdote without leaving everyone just staring at him?
Nomination predictions never get any easier, but I’ll plump for Craig and Derek this week. And if that’s the case, I’ll be voting for the second time ever . . . for Grandad.
