Nobody who has sneaked even just a five minute peak at Celebrity Big Brother could have failed to notice that this time round, the show has more bile, back-biting and friction than ever before. Gone is any semblance of a jolly hockey sticks, we're-all-in-this-together joviality in favour of a strangely sinister atmosphere of barely-concealed hatred with varied dysfunction and addiction on prominent display.
Germaine Greer, who walked out of the series last year believing she was being drawn in to complicity with bullying, writes in defence of contestant Jodie Marsh in today's Guardian, likening the other contestants' behaviour to that of a pack of apes.
Greer believes that
"the celebs in the Big Brother house have sniffed out the person they think is the weakest of their number and are steadily, gratuitously, dismembering her."
Yesterday Marsh's parents voiced similar concerns for their daughter, who works for her nominated Big Brother charity, Beatbullying, as an ambassador after suffering years of bullying at school.
What do you reckon? Is Marsh being punished for being an intelligent but difficult female? And is watching people being bullied valid entertainment from a public service broadcaster?
Meanwhile Galloway was acting like a cat on national TV, drinking pretend milk from the cupped hands of the petting Rula Lenska. Is he just game for a laugh and a good egg, or dragging his office and reputation into further disrepute?
Tonight is the first eviction, with Marsh and two of her detractors - Galloway and Burns - up for the boot. Which of the three, if any, will be happy to gain their freedom?
