CHANNEL FLAW

23-01-2007

Last night Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson apologised forany offence caused by the latest Big Brother series but insisted that "the show must go on" until its scheduled end on Sunday. DerrickCampbell reckons theprogramme is the symptom of a disturbingBritish condition - and he ain't talking about racism.

Last night we finally saw Channel 4 directors - including the Blues chief executive Karren Brady - finally coming to termswith what they've been responsible for overthese past few weeks.

It will be interesting to see whether their apology has come too lateto win back sponsors lost as aresult of their catastrophic miscalculation on Ms Goody.

Herbackward, bullying and clumsy attempt at being clever, classy and culturedhas put her among the ranksof the Gerald Ratners andRon Atkinsons -folk who'veopened their mouth and finally confirmed what we'd all suspected all along.The evidence literally speaks for itself.

Jade's excuses are that she isn't a racist or a bully andthat it was all done in fun. Butthat's the excuse bullies always come out with isn't it? It's the kind of "fun" no one laughs at - especially the victim.

The fact that it was upsetting Shilpa more and more was plain for all to see. But Goody and her pals carried on doing it, and it began to get worse.Anyone who saw Jade's appalling and aggressive tirade at Shilpa last Tuesday would knowthat there was no 'humour' behind her attacks at all. It was just plain nasty.

She's now admitted her guilt, but Channel 4 are just as much to blame as they seem to have only been concerned with ratings. They couldhave put a stop tothe intimidation immediately but chose instead tolet it run.

But what lessons have we all learnt? Well, not just the obvious ones about bullying and racism, important though they are.

Equallysignificant - though it's an issue no one else seems to have noticed - is that this whole embarrassing episode has stemmed from the Great British Tradition ofcelebrating losersand underdogs.

In what other country could such an ill-educated, talentless slob as Jade Goody have become a cultural icon. And she's not the only undeserving recipient of fame. We have seenit time after time where no hopers have suddenly become household names forachieving nothing.

Frank Bruno got battered by Mike Tyson; England's footballers come home early from every major football tournament; Eddie the Eaglewas a rubbish ski-jumper. Never mind, get out the flags and bunting and wavethem by on an open-top bus parade.

What is wrong with people? How did we develop this appetite for celebrating second-raters? What did we expect when we put ournational dunce Jade up againstthe class and beauty of Shilpa?