It’s very rare for me to venture into the world of Celebrity Big Brother.
However, as I have genuinely lost the Broadchurch plot, and I was a bit brain dead anyway, CBB seemed the most appropriate thing to watch, given that my powers of concentration were somewhat lacking.
Let’s see what other brain dead people are up to this evening I thought!
Being female, I am of course capable of doing two things at once, and I had one eye on the telly, and one eye on Twitter, which almost went into overdrive when one of the occupants of the house was asked to leave immediately, instead of going through the normal eviction process.
He has in short been given the Celebrity Big Brother boot up his arse.
To be frank, you don’t actually have to watch ANY controversial television programme these days, you can just read around 20 tweets, and get the gist of what’s gone on.
So bloody convenient for us busy, creative people, who need something to write about!
Celebrity Big Brother housemate of 2015, 71 year old Ken Morley, an old timer actor on Coronation Street, has found himself in BIG trouble, because of his very unfortunate choice of phrase. 
He’s upset or insulted just about everyone in the house, and is judged to be racist, homophobic, sexist, rude, disgusting, despicable and offensive to name but a few.
And I agree with all those opinions, he is guilty as charged.
But the issue for me, and I suspect anyone over the age of 60, is that he probably has NO idea that he is doing or saying anything offensive, and a high percentage of people who were merrily Tweeting away while the programme was being shown, had exactly the same thoughts as me.
I know a lot of ‘Ken Morley’ type men, I reckon many readers of this blog know a ‘Ken Morley’ type man too. There is usually one in most families.
A bonkers old Grandad or an opinionated Uncle. They are everywhere. Still.
They use the same terminology today that they have been using for 50 years and in my opinion, simply don’t recognise the Politically Correct party anthem.
In the 50’s and 60’s the unacceptable, ‘N’ word that he uttered in two different forms WAS what black people were regularly called, one version was usually used to describe a black person’s colour, the other was a slang term for the same word. And back then, it was not deemed to be particularly offensive. Indeed, many black people used to mock their white friends, and call them ‘Chalkey’.
It’s just how it was. But you know, I know, and the media knows that things have moved on.
These days, it is wholly offensive to use these words. Despicable Ken knows this too, but he says what HE thinks anyway, and has perfected a curmudgeonly attitude that also says, ‘and if you don’t like it then YOU can bugger off’.
In a way, I have a certain sympathy for him. The look of sheer confusion on his face was SO indicative as he was ‘charged’ with the offending behaviour.
I wouldn’t mind betting that he was just being himself, talking to everyone in the Big Brother house, just as he talks indoors to family and friends, as he has done for decades, he either doesn’t accept he is being offensive, or simply doesn’t care!
His Celebrity Big Brother BIG mistake was underestimating the power of a group of Politically Correct ‘P’ list questionable c’lebs, who trod a fine line between bullying a pensioner, and casting themselves as judge and jury. They clearly felt it necessary to beat the drum very loudly and relentlessly to make some ‘good telly’ for the baying CBB crowds.
In my opinion, and if Twitter is anything to go by, the opinion of many viewers, is that Ken Morley was just as much a victim of offensive behaviour, as those he was accused of offending, BY those he was accused of offending.
Of course not everyone will agree with me, either way, if you’ve been watching Celebrity Big Brother, tell me what you think.
My father-in-law used ‘that’ term at dinner once and then declared ‘I can say what I like in my house… anyway it’s just a word for a piece of coal’.
Have to say I wasn’t overly impressed, but I do have a little sympathy for the generational thing. I remember my late grandfather desperately trying to be PC by using the term ‘negroid’!!
I think that is a stock phrase for the opinionated older generation. I can say what I like in my own house. Errr yes, you can, but the Big Brother house is not YOUR house!
Thanks Lotte, I feel as if ‘royalty’ has visited my blog !!
Haven’t watched it – never watch it, but can’t stand Ken Morley. He’s no longer a celebrity – just a tiresome old man, and I think he probably did this to get media coverage in the hope of reviving his career.
That said, I totally agree with you. He’s been hung out to dry, and it shouldn’t have happened. However, while people are prepared to be offended on behalf of others – whether those others give a toss or not – it will continue to happen with depressing regularity.
I think you are right Sandra, most reality TV shows are occupied by ‘has beens’ trying to revive careers, some more successfully than others, and there is ALWAYS someone who wants to be offended on behalf of others, possibly to give themselves a platform to be heard whether they are offended themselves or not. Spot on as usual.