Anti-war MP takes politics and religion into Big Brother
-06/01/06
Politics and religi
Anti-war MP takes politics and religion into Big Brother
-06/01/06
Politics and religion rarely get a high profile in the Big Brother ëreality TVí show on UKís Channel 4 ñ but that is unlikely to remain the case following the remarkable decision of media savvy anti-Iraq war MP George Galloway to enter the 2006 Celebrity Big Brother contest.
Viewers soared from 6 to 8 million near 22.00 GMT last night when Galloway, who won a sensational general election victory for the Respect Party against sitting Labour MP Oona King in May 2005, took to the podium.
Booed and cheered with equal fervour, ëGorgeous Georgeí, a practicing Catholic who won thousands of Muslim votes in Londonís Bethnal Green and Bow constituency, gave a victory salute and shouted ìStop the War!î before entering the BB house.
Among the other housemates in what culture commentators are describing as a ìdignity free zoneî are fallen light entertainment star Michael Barrymore, model Jodie Marsh, Maggot of Welsh rappers Goldie Lookiní Chain, actress Rula Lenska, cross-dressing ë80s popster Pete Burns, Baywatch ëbabeí Traci Bingham, US basketball player Dennis Rodman, Samuel Preston from hip band the Ordinary Boys, and Faria Alam ñ best known so far for her affair with England soccer boss Sven Goran Eriksson.
Fellow politicians and constituents of Mr Galloway are already kicking up a furore about his appearance in Big Brother, and some Muslims backers say he is bringing shame on his cause. But his agent says they are missing the point ñ or just jealous.
Said Mr Galloway himself: ìItís good for politics. I believe that politicians should use every opportunity to communicate with people.î
He continued: ìIím a great believer in the democratic process. Big Brother is watched by millions. More young people vote during Big Brother than in the General Election. I hope theyíll all be voting for me over the next few weeksÖIf I win, it will be my greatest election victory since, well, since my last one!î
The MP was kicked out of the Labour Party after ferocious attacks on Tony Blair and George Bush over the 2003 Iraq war, when he called them ìwolvesî and ìwar criminalsî. But he then humiliated the PM in one of the partyís safest seats.
His Catholicism means that he tempers an outspoken social justice agenda with being anti-abortion and anti-drinking. But he still lists ësunshine and sexí as among his hobbies.
Galloway has been accused by enemies of being a friend of Saddam Hussein and of profiting from the UN oil-for-food programme for Iraq. But the anti-war activist, aged 51, rigorously denies both charges.
He won a £150,000 libel case against the Daily Telegraph for claims that he received money from Saddamís regime, forced Labour MP (now minister) Ben Bradshaw to withdraw accusations of supporting the dictator, and says he was a founder member of an anti-Saddam human rights group over 20 years ago.
He famously commented: “I have met Saddam Hussein exactly the same number of times as Donald Rumsfeld met him. The difference is Donald Rumsfeld met him to sell him guns and to give him maps the better to target those guns.”
In addition to overturning a Labour majority of more than 10,000 to win his east London parliamentary seat, Galloway gained international fame (and notoriety) by using a US senate hearing in Washington DC to dress-down congressional investigators over the ìimmoral, deceitful, murderous and disastrousî American and British-led war in Iraq.
He is rated as the best orator in the House of Commons, but is accused of spending far more time on speaking tours and pro-Palestine work than on parliamentary duty or working for his constituents.
However, Mr Gallowayís media agent, Wendy Bailey, said his presence on Big Brother was a ìterrific opportunity for politicsî. He had already been discussing low-pay issues and racism with other contestants, she said.
She added: ìThese are all issues that affect people in his constituency. Itís an opportunity for all of these issues to be discussed at a wider level to a huge audience.î
ìI think heís doing an amazing job at representing his constituents and politics in general. Itís a phenomenal opportunity.î
Concluded Ms Bailey: ìI think his critics are only disappointed that they did not think of it first.î Local Respect activists say they are covering his ësurgeryí duties.
Big Brother is a popularity contest between different personalities voted on by the public. They live together in isolation from the rest of the world until they are de-selected.
This celebrity version will last for up to 23 days. Mr Galloway already seems to have struck up a good relationship with Barrymore, Lenska and Alam. And he has helped uncover a ëfakeí celebrity called Chantelle, masquerading as a girl band member.
Meanwhile Ordinary Boysí lead singer Preston says his favourite book is the Bible. And the viewing public is reported to be having a tough time figuring out who most of the ëcelebritiesí are.
ìMy gran is more famous than many of themî, a TV critic told Ekklesia.
[Also on Ekklesia: Anti-war Catholic MP to court Muslim voters; Big brother cut down to size; Neighbourhood reality TV show ignites religious ire]
Anti-war MP takes politics and religion into Big Brother
-06/01/06
Politics and religion rarely get a high profile in the Big Brother ëreality TV’ show on UK’s Channel 4 – but that is unlikely to remain the case following the remarkable decision of media savvy anti-Iraq war MP George Galloway to enter the 2006 Celebrity Big Brother contest.
Viewers soared from 6 to 8 million near 22.00 GMT last night when Galloway, who won a sensational general election victory for the Respect Party against sitting Labour MP Oona King in May 2005, took to the podium.
Booed and cheered with equal fervour, ëGorgeous George’, a practicing Catholic who won thousands of Muslim votes in London’s Bethnal Green and Bow constituency, gave a victory salute and shouted ‘Stop the War!’ before entering the BB house.
Among the other housemates in what culture commentators are describing as a ‘dignity free zone’ are fallen light entertainment star Michael Barrymore, model Jodie Marsh, Maggot of Welsh rappers Goldie Lookin’ Chain, actress Rula Lenska, cross-dressing ë80s popster Pete Burns, Baywatch ëbabe’ Traci Bingham, US basketball player Dennis Rodman, Samuel Preston from hip band the Ordinary Boys, and Faria Alam – best known so far for her affair with England soccer boss Sven Goran Eriksson.
Fellow politicians and constituents of Mr Galloway are already kicking up a furore about his appearance in Big Brother, and some Muslims backers say he is bringing shame on his cause. But his agent says they are missing the point – or just jealous.
Said Mr Galloway himself: ‘It’s good for politics. I believe that politicians should use every opportunity to communicate with people.’
He continued: ‘I’m a great believer in the democratic process. Big Brother is watched by millions. More young people vote during Big Brother than in the General Election. I hope they’ll all be voting for me over the next few weeksÖIf I win, it will be my greatest election victory since, well, since my last one!’
The MP was kicked out of the Labour Party after ferocious attacks on Tony Blair and George Bush over the 2003 Iraq war, when he called them ‘wolves’ and ‘war criminals’. But he then humiliated the PM in one of the party’s safest seats.
His Catholicism means that he tempers an outspoken social justice agenda with being anti-abortion and anti-drinking. But he still lists ësunshine and sex’ as among his hobbies.
Galloway has been accused by enemies of being a friend of Saddam Hussein and of profiting from the UN oil-for-food programme for Iraq. But the anti-war activist, aged 51, rigorously denies both charges.
He won a £150,000 libel case against the Daily Telegraph for claims that he received money from Saddam’s regime, forced Labour MP (now minister) Ben Bradshaw to withdraw accusations of supporting the dictator, and says he was a founder member of an anti-Saddam human rights group over 20 years ago.
He famously commented: “I have met Saddam Hussein exactly the same number of times as Donald Rumsfeld met him. The difference is Donald Rumsfeld met him to sell him guns and to give him maps the better to target those guns.”
In addition to overturning a Labour majority of more than 10,000 to win his east London parliamentary seat, Galloway gained international fame (and notoriety) by using a US senate hearing in Washington DC to dress-down congressional investigators over the ‘immoral, deceitful, murderous and disastrous’ American and British-led war in Iraq.
He is rated as the best orator in the House of Commons, but is accused of spending far more time on speaking tours and pro-Palestine work than on parliamentary duty or working for his constituents.
However, Mr Galloway’s media agent, Wendy Bailey, said his presence on Big Brother was a ‘terrific opportunity for politics’. He had already been discussing low-pay issues and racism with other contestants, she said.
She added: ‘These are all issues that affect people in his constituency. It’s an opportunity for all of these issues to be discussed at a wider level to a huge audience.’
‘I think he’s doing an amazing job at representing his constituents and politics in general. It’s a phenomenal opportunity.’
Concluded Ms Bailey: ‘I think his critics are only disappointed that they did not think of it first.’ Local Respect activists say they are covering his ësurgery’ duties.
Big Brother is a popularity contest between different personalities voted on by the public. They live together in isolation from the rest of the world until they are de-selected.
This celebrity version will last for up to 23 days. Mr Galloway already seems to have struck up a good relationship with Barrymore, Lenska and Alam. And he has helped uncover a ëfake’ celebrity called Chantelle, masquerading as a girl band member.
Meanwhile Ordinary Boys’ lead singer Preston says his favourite book is the Bible. And the viewing public is reported to be having a tough time figuring out who most of the ëcelebrities’ are.
‘My gran is more famous than many of them’, a TV critic told Ekklesia.
[Also on Ekklesia: Anti-war Catholic MP to court Muslim voters; Big brother cut down to size; Neighbourhood reality TV show ignites religious ire]