Big Brother

I was never into Big Brother until George Galloway made an appearance in the celebrity version a couple of years back. It was essentially some the best TV that has ever been broadcast rivalling even The Wire, another show about surveillance, and the series had me hooked. It then went back to the ordinary version where fools have rows with each about how much toast they eat or whatever and I turned away again.

Anyway, it's with great delight that I just watched (online) the moment left wing Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan (right) entered the house.

With the crowd booing something rotten (they didn't seem to do this for the others, I'm surprised they knew who he was) Sheridan made a brisk walk to the entrance in what must have been extremely intimidating circumstances. I'm fascinated by the idea that he'll be spending the next however long chatting to LaToya Jackson (who eyed him skeptically when he entered the house), and Mini-Me from Austin Powers (hearty handshake), who incidentally must be a shoe in for the winner.

His BB biog says that apart from being a socialist politician he's "a qualified gym instructor and describes himself as a control freak. He enjoys sunbeds, touching his nose and scratching his bum." Well I never. The touching his nose thing made it very tempting to make a remark about Pinocchio, as he's on bail for perjury, but see... I've resisted! (see what I've said about him in the past here...)

Whether Tommy will be able to top Galloway's performance it's hard to tell. Galloway was superb (sometimes for good reasons, sometimes for the horror of it) and I can see the spark of greatness in Sheridan. Unfortunately, I'm unlikely to have the time to follow his antics properly but I will definitely make an effort to see the many highlights that I'm sure are to come.

Almost the first thing he said to his fellow housemates had me in stitches. "Let the madness begin!" I couldn't agree more Tommy, could not agree more.