All hail King Richard (BBUK)

So, curtain down for another year, and the neeeeeew champion and indeed the new oldest civilian winner goes to Richard, but boy did that final week was a long slog to get to that point. 

Pointless task after pointless task, with the usual tedious shit stirring thrown in for good measure. When was the last time we have had a happy final week, and why are Big Brother determined to make the finalists go home miserable. Answers on a postcard please

Right, let's get this flat final week done before some down tools, and I'm A Celebrity takes over the airwaves....

The fallout from the double eviction began with Emily saying she really liked Nancy and Caroline, she must have been the minority, although there are some pretty loyal Caroline fans right up to her demise. 

Back to Emily, who's basically done NOTHING since she's been back apart from talk about the outside world to them. Just sitting there fading into the wallpaper is not a good look at all, all in all bringing back her and Farida felt like a big waste of everyone's time.

Back to the boring showmance where Elsa is constantly in fantasy land, and nauseatingly says she's never cooked a breakfast with a man before to put alongside the ridiculous notion she can't cut her own food. Elusive Emily then put some stupid idea in her head, about the L word. Dear god, Emily, don't encourage that girl, she's only known Marcus for 7 weeks.

Then a pointless task for letters from home, yes we are at that point with letters from people they will see anyway in the next few days anyway. Basically another one in involving those eyes and this is thankfully the final one for this series, thank eff for that. 

Cameron - Had to catch the eyes being thrown over the wall, however many he caught would be added to his final total

Marcus - Involved stirring as he was asked who was the most jarring housemate with the prize being 20 eyes, big sigh as BB just can't help themselves, even in the final week

Teja - More stirring as she was asked to identify who nominated her the most this series, prize being 20 eyes....

And so it went on, adding absolutely nothing apart from that little bit more tension, do we really care how many eyes they have left to play with? Hell no.....

The mini mart opened for the final time, as everyone got their letter anyway including Emily, to which Richard sellotaped her shredded letter back together, and this episode just went on and on and on and on..... Think you get the picture with this one. Just feels by now this series has run out of ideas and we all want it to be over, always the case with the final week, it just drags as the housemates have mentally checked out and out here is no different, and the constant stirring to send them home miserable just drags everything down.

Oh boy, it just gets better....not. More stirring as they now face more decisions as that one thing nobody wanted, as in the pass to the final. 3 days before the end, and they roll this out. So to cut a long story short, the housemates competed in several challenges and the last two standing would be eligible for the pass. Unfortunately the dominoes didn't fall right and Jenny and Cameron were the last two standing on this occasion. Complete waste of time in whoever got it, as both were locked in finalists anyway and were going nowhere in the backdoor double eviction planned for the week, to get it down to 6.

Anyway, the housemates decided to award the pass to Cameron. Yawn, next.....

Oh dear, just put us and them out of their misery as we now head into a completely pointless task involving 'King Cameron', basically another pointless exercise to fill out the whole episode. Think this goes into the 'less said the better' file. 

Oh, must we? Last task of the series and some very subtle Wicked For Good promotion as the house is transformed into the Emerald City, and the housemates take on the role of Ozians, while BB becomes the Wizard. What they don't know is two of them will be turfed out at the end of the task when two will receive their marching orders in the shape of gifts.

Yes, some more stirring, BB being so original as usual. Just let them leave happy for a change. It isn't that difficult. Anyway, on to the gifts and it's Marcus and Teja getting the dubious honour of leaving via the backdoor. This inevitably sets off Elsa, who has a bit of a OTT meltdown and threatens to leave. I will say if this had been a normal eviction, she would have probably legged it out of the door with him. Remember when Imran left and Sukhvinder decided to run out after him? Something like that....

You'll be seeing him in 24 hours, you silly girl. Pull yourself together, 'nuff said....

Now the moment we have all been waiting for, crowning Richard. As predicted for most weeks now....

But first, the Last Supper nonsense with all the usual tears and speeches, so moving swiftly on.....

6th place went to Tate, and 5th to Emily. No surprises there really, although Tate did slightly more than Emily. As said earlier, waste of time putting her back in. Some will say she can now walk out to a crowd, something which she was denied in fairness but she did NOTHING on returning.

4th went to Cameron.... Didn't really need the money to be honest, so moving swiftly on

Bronze medal went to Jenny.... Bit of a surprise, as most were expecting her and Richard in the final 2

Silver medal to Elsa.... Guess she could give thanks to the demons, dragons, unicorns and Santa Claus for helping her to get this far

And of course, Richard is crowned winner. An all round good egg even if he was in bed really early. Took all of Caroline's barbs on the chin, and won the war when she was booted.

Less said of the final sideshow the better, nothing but stirring and bitterness right to the end. Let's leave it there. Speaking of the sideshow, strong rumours it has now been cancelled. ITV will announce future plans in due course, hopefully those plans will include the live feed which is also rumoured for the chop. I am just worried, will it be total Love Island type control in 2026 with no sideshow and possibly no live feed?

Anyway, a just above average series, with way too much stirring for my liking which bought the general mood down. No qualms about the cast, the right winner although it was a toss up between Richard and Jenny right to finale night and very nervy the longer Jenny stayed in.

So it was a long slog, so I'm going to go about 6.5 for this series, maybe not a series that will be largely talked about in 10 years when we look back. 'nuff said....

Won't be commenting on BBAU, as I will be focusing on I'm A Celebrity for the duration, but will watch BBAU back at my own pace, due to real life commitments. My name is Richard, and yes I am a hoarder, the clean up with Hoarding UK is continuing as I write this. Can't thank them enough for helping me, and a shout out to Helen who is my case worker.

Speaking of shout outs, a big one to BB on Blast for everything they do and continue to do for the Big Brother community in general, with their great pods for UK and now Australia. Click right here

The door closes on the 2025 run, and hopefully I will be back in 2026 as we welcome in new celebrities and new civilians....

Until then, thank you everyone who has read these recaps and ramblings, and leave a comment if you wish. See everyone in 2026.....

Keep on rocking.....

Week 6 ramblings (BBUK)

3 in one week, or to put it simply bye bye Sam, Nancy and Caroline

Most of the UK fanbase joined as one to say a not so fond farewell to the terrible trio, Sam on Bonfire Night and then the other two horrors two days later. Well, I say horrors but Nancy could have had potential had she not fallen in with the wrong crowd, and to be fair leading up to her exit after Sam left she was kind of likeable on the feed from what we were allowed to hear.

Right, are we all sitting comfortably as we sift through the rubble of Week 6, and yes Caroline was sulking about Richard not going and yes they did hear the 'Get Caroline out' chanting no matter how much they tried to deny it.

Big Brother then, as they usually do, rolled out yet another shit stirring task which again involved their eye currency, this time with a video call from home up for grabs. Oh joy, more outside information for someone. One thing I will not miss when this series is done is this eye currency nonsense, just a complete waste of time in my opinion.

Teja was the lucky recipient of the video call eventually, but first stop the presses as there is ANOTHER rule break, and you've guessed it the terrible trio are at it again, with Big Brother reading in full their latest transgression, and *yawn* the jail is rolled out again, which they do not take seriously with the noise emanating from there over time. HOWEVER, there is a small crumb of comfort when the terrible trio are stripped of all their eye currency and left bankrupt. So some justice if not complete justice.

As stated, Teja got the video call from home, but like Jenny she asked her mum who to look for, which Big Brother completely ignored again. Shame they can get outside information just by asking for it. Sets a bad precedence for next year, and Big Brother should really clamp down on that.

Anyway, Teja's mum said to watch out for Caroline, which didn't go down well for the lady who's 56 going on 21 most of the time

A sad day for the show next, as Ben from series 11 sadly passed away. Who can forget his argument with the Tree of Temptation, a short but amusing clip..... 

On to nominations, or the first nominations of the week I should say as Sam and Nancy are announced on the chopping block, and needless to say Sam goes straight into 'how dare they nominate me' mode. Best thing is that this is a flash vote, and the housemate who goes, will go in a backdoor eviction with NO crowd on Bonfire Night.

Caroline then thought it would be funny to hide a bottle of Prosecco on the eve of Teja's 19th birthday, didn't really go down well with the birthday girl and Tate. Frustration eventually turned to happiness though, and Teja did get her party started eventually, well the housemates version first.

On to the first eviction of the week, but first the cringey showmance where Elsa thought Marcus was 'the one'. Come on young lady, you've only known the guy 6 weeks and he's looking pretty uncomfortable when you are latching on to him. Can only think she will ramp things up once the Friday eviction is done, as they will both be there for the final week. Please, if there is a midweek eviction in the final week can they be separated even if it is only for 48 hours.

Another stirring task is rolled out, fairly pointless though as it was unfailable with what BB had in mind for the backdoor eviction, and shock horror they did win the fireworks party. At least they had to earn this one, unlike the Halloween party where it was just handed to them.

Basically, Sam and Nancy had to wear a red and blue costume respectively, and whichever colour the fireworks were that housemate was evicted. The result was never in doubt however, as the fireworks were RED, and bye bye Sam.

In the latest irrelevant budget task, aka the shopping task, it was Groundhog Day where they had to complete 'the perfect day'. In order, it went:

1. Waking up and finding 10 alarm clocks within 2 minutes
2. Eating a full English breakfast, apart from Tate who had to catch his, piece by piece
3. Speed nominations within 7 minutes
4. Put the eye into a bucket in the garden, involving a lot of balance without dropping it 

15 takes later, and they were no closer and BB announced they had failed and on economy budget

Facing the public vote for the Friday show would be Caroline, Nancy and Jenny. Jenny's first time on the chopping block I might add. No immunity to save Caroline this time, so her goose should be cooked.

Cue Friday, and Caroline seems determined to cause havoc in terms of the shopping list, to which Tate has major reservations. This does take up most of the episode leading up to the next two exits, yes another double with only 3 up.

To no surprise, Nancy was first to go, so she can go and twerk with Sam all she likes now.... FINALLY, Caroline is shown the door, and let's just say her interviews are either 'watch with caution' or 'less said the better', complete disaster as she wasn't even dragged for her behaviour towards Richard

Does seem to heading towards a Richard victory and the crown of 'oldest civilian BBUK winner', but he won the war against Caroline, that's good enough for me. Will be fun on finale night to see Caroline's face if he does win. Just remember though, when it was thought Yinrun would win she only finished 4th, so not everything set in stone just yet.

Really hope the rumours of live feed getting chopped after this series are not true, but the signs are pointing to just that with housemates getting locked in earlier and earlier and lights off shortly afterward....

So into the last week now, and we down to:

Richard

Marcus

Teja

Tate

Elsa

Jenny

Emily

Who wins, hopefully WE decide if the edit and producers don't

Another warning, letters from home incoming in the mini mart from people they will see in midweek or the final Friday anyway, and even worse the dreaded pass to the final WILL be up for grabs in the Tuesday episode..... Who gets it, who cares. Needless waste of time when they should be trying to get past Wednesday and then on to Friday on their own merits 

'nuff said.....

To be concluded post Friday, keep on rocking

Week 5 ramblings (BBUK)

Off we go again, citizens, as the end gets a step closer....

Everywhere gets more feisty whether it is something production have done, or what the housemates have done

We get started with more crappy punishments which of course the housemates don't take seriously, as in hot water and hair appliances off and the hot tub out of bounds.... No wonder the housemates laugh all the time, when they know they can break a rule or two and can get some airtime with a puerile punishment

Time for another Elsa in Fantasy Land where she talked to Jenny about demons, needless to say it caused Jenny and others to be open mouthed. How did Elsa pass the psych test to get in there, answers on a postcard please.

Speaking of fantasy worlds, Sam got it into his head that Zelah had a crush on him. Oh please, not another manufactured nomance for this series. Moving swiftly on, and the mini mart was open for business, with a phone call from home and more importantly a Save and Replace up for grabs for the highest bidder.

After 2 weeks immune, Caroline was first to bid for the Save and Replace while the majority of them were only thinking about their stomachs, leaving the way open for Caroline to get a third week of immunity. In my opinion, she should have been ineligible to go for it as she's just had 2 weeks immunity. But hey ho, what does it matter as BB are happy to ignore the little things. Speaking of ignoring stuff, Jenny bought the phone call from home, and proceeded to ask her mum on who to be careful of.

Shame BB are ignoring the things that make this show important, and taking it down a very dark route which effectively killed the second era of the show

3 guesses to who her mum said, yep it was Caroline. That little thing called outside information, the bane of every series where it happens.

However, the pizza party that was bought was strewn with rule breaks when BB asked them to return the leftover pizza. Everyone except Richard and Cameron were punished, as in the previously mentioned hot water blah blah blah, and also everyone except the above two had to return their food bought from the mini mart, but Caroline got to keep her Save and Replace. What's up with that, seriously?

In case you missed it, it was face to face nominations for Week 5

Richard, Farida and Tate were originally on the chopping block, but Caroline used her Save and Replace

on Tate, choosing Zelah to replace him. Seems pretty straight forward to who will go. Oh and it's a Double Eviction. With only 3 up, doesn't make sense. Then again not much about this series has made sense production wise.

Nancy, Sam and Caroline then discussed who would win... One hint to you three, it won't be any of you.

ANOTHER rule break to report as Sam was a naughty boy in hiding some honey, and being made to douse himself in honey. Another puerile punishment for the books.

Farida was given a secret mission to make them believe she has had a string of jobs which included a zookeeper, hand model, martial arts instructor and lollipop lady. Needless to say she passed and it won the housemates a takeaway each. Guess they had to give her something to do in case she leaves in the double, but what about Richard and Zelah. Do they get to do something as well? Stay tuned....

On to the latest task, refuse to call it shopping task as the budget is irrelevant pass or fail, and Bad Brother have taken over. Apparently they have to pass 'tests' to win keys to free Big Brother from the crate in the garden.

Farida, Richard and Teja have been selected as Bad Brother's henchmen..... No Zelah as the third henchman? No? Shouldn't he be getting some airtime as he is on the block after all?

Anyway, lots of gunge, Emily's 'letter from home' getting shredded, and many menial tests later and shock horror, they find the right key to get Big Brother out of the crate and the luxury budget is theirs. £1000 no less, wish I had that much to spend on food.

They should know by now they will get their letters anyway if they are still there near to the end, so no big deal.

On to Halloween, and no marking it this year apart from the task previously mentioned and the party they received. 13 about to become 11, and once again this Sam and Zelah nonsense takes up most of the show, along with 'bowlgate' where Sam didn't clean up his bowl of beans, which in turn set Tate off. More airtime for Sam, even though he does not deserve it.

On to said party, they got ANOTHER takeaway along with the party. Like a hotel for this lot. Outside information on tap, parties without earning them. Of course it wouldn't be the UK version without some shit stirring thrown in, and they didn't disappoint but it didn't affect the party too much.

To finish things off, Tate put the dampeners on a last minute showmance with Emily with the no chemistry. One showmance is enough and THAT needs to be knocked on the head. 11 left with 2 weeks to go, almost certainly a few flash evictions coming up I would think to get those numbers down.

Eviction time, and it's Farida and Zelah as expected who are shown the door, Richard lives to fight another week and is another step closer to possibly being the new oldest civilian winner in the UK version. 

Still sad there have been no Welsh housemates this year, fingers crossed for next year. Hopefully all those rumours about the live feed being chopped are just that. But just lately it does feel the feed is being phased out with all the unnecessary birdsong. Not allowed to hear anything with the excuse of saving it for the highlights, or the usual excuse of it being too expensive? Answers on a postcard, please

Into the penultimate week we go, bang average series but it is flying by, and nearly time to say g'day to the next coming of BB Australia... Original voice, 24/7 feed, all the bells and whistles that made it great back in the day. May write about it, watch this space.

Anyway, that is enough rambling for Week 5.... Hope you enjoyed reading this current effort, and pass it on to others if you wish, and as always enjoy, complain or both. YOU decide.

'Nuff said, and keep on rocking

Until next time...