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From AfterElton.com

Big Brother UK Embraces Gay Men

by Matthew Weiss, August 3, 2005

anthony-craig.jpgderek2.jpgkemal.jpg

If television is an indication of social mores, the British are much more open-minded then Americans.

Take their hit series, Big Brother, which is currently airing its sixth season. Incredibly popular in the UK (averaging between 3 and 4 million viewers), and fodder for daily gossip, the show seems to capitalize on something the American version ignores: homosexuality. In the past, not only has Brian Dowling, a gay flight attendant, won the show, but so has a transgender person, Nadia Almada.

This season there have been a record three gay men on the show: Kemal, a 19-year-old Turkish belly dancer; Craig, a 20-year-old hairdresser, and Derek, a black British 40-year-old politician. There is also another man, Anthony (a 70s-style dancer), whose sexual orientation viewers and contestants are constantly debating; his friendship with Craig has led to an entire storyline devoted to whether they are a couple.

The sixth season kicked off at the end of May, when thirteen contestants entered the house, each one determined to be the last one standing when the show ends on August 13, in order to collect the cash prize.

But they were immediately met with secrets all around. Unbeknownst to the others, Kemal was the show's double agent: he could hear and see what others say in the diary room about him. Three new contestants unexpectedly entered the house after the show had started--though only one, Orlaith, was picked to stay.

Orlaith was up against Kemal to go last week, and unfortunately, Kemal got the boot, becoming the ninth person to leave the show. When asked about his sexuality by reporters upon leaving the house, Kemal said: "I don't even know. Bisexual, gay, this, that. Honestly darling, I don't know. I'm looking for a man."

But the gay male contestants aren't the only ones on this show to steal the spotlight.

Makosi, a 24 year old bisexual Zimbabwe nurse, suggested that she and Anthony had sex, and now she thinks she might be pregnant! The drama continues to unfold as she waits for her period. Contestant Mary, the first to exit the house, told everyone she was abducted by aliens, and overweight contestant Kinga flashed her boobs to the camera the second she entered the house. This type of behavior barely compares to anything in the American version.

A relationship has developed between Saskia and Maxwell. Contestants Makosi, Sam, and Craig have all fought for Anthony

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That article is full of so many inaccuracies I gave up even trying to list them!

It is obviously written from a US perspective - and only the most naive of viewers will believe the stuff the article suggests the whole of Britain are discussing.

Viewers are clear that Anthony is straight and Craig is nothing short of a psychopath (looking after a drunken Anthony involved stripping him to his pants, not allowing any other HM near him and jumping on top of him hugging him and kissing him everytime he passed out! BB had to intervene to stop Craig!).

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I'm waiting for a download so I'll correct this in the meantime:

From AfterElton.com

Big Brother UK Embraces Gay Men

by Matthew Weiss, August 3, 2005  

Take their hit series, Big Brother, which is currently airing its sixth season. Incredibly popular in the UK (averaging between 4.5 and 6 million + viewers), and fodder for daily gossip, the show seems to capitalize on something the American version ignores: homosexuality.  

...

This season there have been a record three gay men on the show: Kemal, a 19-year-old Turkish belly dancer; Craig, a 20-year-old hairdresser, and Derek, a black British 40-year-old politician. There is also another man, Anthony (a 70s-style dancer), whose sexual orientation viewers and contestants are constantly debating; his friendship with Craig has led to an entire storyline devoted to whether they are a couple.

Initially Anthony's sexuality was questioned by some HMs and viewers - but it became quite clear to viewers and HMs that Anthony was 100% straight. The storyline hasn't been about Anthony and Craig being a couple - but Craig's secret crush on Anthony which has taken an increasingly worryingly turn with Craig becoming overly protective - and quite frankly psychopathic - towards him.

But they were immediately met with secrets all around. Unbeknownst to the others, Kemal was the show's double agent: he could hear and see what others say in the diary room about him.

This happened ONCE as part of a two-day task. Kemal got to ask Makosi questions in the diary room. Earlier in the series Saskia had a similar reward, asking Maxwell questions in the diary room.

Three new contestants unexpectedly entered the house after the show had started--though only one, Orlaith, was picked to stay.

Two, Eugene and Orlaith got to stay. Orlaith later quit and the third late arrival Kinga returned to replace her.

Makosi, a 24 year old bisexual Zimbabwe nurse, suggested that she and Anthony had sex, and now she thinks she might be pregnant! The drama continues to unfold as she waits for her period.

This did happen, but has cleared up a few weeks ago. Most viewers suspect it was a lie (she earlier said Anthony only pleasured her with two fingers) - and it lost her alot of support, not so much as she lied to her HMs about it, but she lied to viewers about it.

In the UK version, it is the television audience who votes to evict a house member, not the guests themselves, and a new episode airs on Channel 4 every day (vs. only three times a week in the U.S.).  

68 days into the game, there are only six people left in the house, four of them men, including Craig and Derek. Which means there's a decent chance that a gay man will win it all--although this week, Derek and straight contestant Eugene have been nominated for potential eviction, so Derek will have to survive that first.

Well, Derek has now gone - and I've got more chance of winning than Craig. He's not seen as a gay man - he's seen as a psychopath!

What accounts for the greater number of gay men on the British Big Brother than on the U.S. version?

First, censors in Europe are much less strict. Frank adult discussions and visuals caught on camera can be aired on TV; no topic is off limits. The UK contestants are even required to shower in front of each other in the garden (some of the women won

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