Jade's jaunts after Big Brother
PROOF, although few of us needed convincing, that Jade and not Kate, Jonny or Alex, was the real star of the most recent Big Brother is provided by What Jade Did Next.
The title is misleading as the hour-long documentary only shows us What Jade Did Immediately After Big Brother. While she's an undoubted star, the real surprise is her mother Jackie. Previously confined to the role of Jade's one-armed lesbian mother, she proves here that she's as much of a character as her daughter. There's little doubt from whom Jade gets her outgoing, larger-than-life personality.
Like any mum, Jackie is proud of her daughter's fame. She's collected every article and picture, both good and bad, that appeared during Jade's time in the house for her scrapbook. She admits that she learnt more about how Jade dealt with her accident and having to look after her than she did before.
"It made me cry," says Jackie. Not that she's an old softie. There's a marvellous moment as she shows a card Jade made at her first primary school. "I ended up knocking the headmaster out," says Jackie in a throwaway manner.
We follow Jade as she earns the £250,000 News International paid for a week's exclusive use of her with interviews, photographs and a bus tour of her home turf of Bermondsey. What's amazing is that Jade takes it all in her stride.
As for the future, she has four accounts - for house, car, spending and bills - and has said goodbye to being a dental nurse. Coronation Street's Toyah Battersby, actress Georgia Taylor, tells us that Jade is being recruited to play her long-lost sister. She's joking. Given Jade's extraordinary talent to adjust to whatever circumstances she finds herself in, I reckon she could probably do it.
The BBC's major new series Wild New World is giving 15 minutes of unexpected fame to the wildlife of North America at the end of the Ice Age. These creatures may be 14,000 years old but any bone or fossil is used to build up a picture of those beasts.
The irritating narration, though, forever asks questions along the lines of "Who did this titanic tusk belong to?" and "The lions' family tree begins in Africa, so how did they end up here?", instead of just telling us.
You do begins to wonder how much is guesswork. That's one question that's not answered satisfactorily.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article