Mad About Celebrity

Last night ex-Footballers’ Wives star Laila Rouass and her partner Anton du Beke went out of Strictly Come Dancing after facing the dance off with Ricky Whittle and his partner Natalie Lowe. It was no contest really. Had they faced Chris and Ola they might have stood a tiny chance, but not against Ricky. I thought the judges were unfair to criticize her dancing, particularly Darcey Bussell, who as the newcomer surprised me with her remarks.

With all racist accusations against Anton put firmly behind them, I thought they looked better and better together each time and have given us weeks of entertainment. I am truly sorry to see them go. And I’m not remotely biased because Laila’s cousin is a friend of my son.

Then tonight we had the X Factor quarter final. At last we are left with four people who can actually sing and no longer have to endure the ‘entertainment’ factor of the likes of Jedward – a polite way of saying they just can’t sing. In fact I can sing better with two glasses of wine and a karaoke tape.

When the results were announced and it was clear we were losing Danyl, I have to confess I shed a tear. Only a small one I hasten to add, but a tear nevertheless. He was so gracious in defeat, no shouting or crying or the usual X Factor histrionics. Maybe he knows they’ll be queueing up to give him a recording contract anyway. Lots of runners up have done better than the eventual winners – Leon where are you now? And Steve er what was his name? Michelle McManus – or was that Pop Idol. Hey, what’s the difference. My money’s on Ollie.

Finally. Is this a wind up? Apparently the bella Gino and Stuart ‘Hollyoaks’ Manning have been arrested on animal cruelty charges after killing and eating a rat on the I’m a Celebrity show.

Ch Insp David Oshannessy, from the RSPCA in New South Wales, told BBC Radio 5 live there was a “code of practice” which dictated how animals could be used in theatrical productions and films. The rat murder happened on a day no animals were featuring in the show, so there wasn’t an officer there. He went onto say, “The killing of a rat for a performance is not acceptable. The concern is this was done purely for the cameras.” I suppose eating live insects, squashing them to death in small enclosed spaces and eating kangaroos testicles (well someone killed it first) don’t count.

Danyl and Simon on X Factor

Katie Price left the jungle after being voted by the GBP (Great British Public) seven times in a row to do the bushtucker trial. Stupid thing was that the last trial which she refused to do only involved her manoevering Joe Bugner around over a snake pit using some kind of pulley system. Ok, it was hard work, but there were no bugs involved for a change.

She said when she came out that she had gone in to find closure and that she had succeeded and could now move on. It had been emotionally hard for her, revisiting all the places where she met and spent time with Peter Andre, now her ex-husband. She said at least twice that she was only ‘a human being’ and could only take so much.

I have to admit that I couldn’t really bring myself to dislike her. The girl has balls, so to speak, and I admire her for that if little else.

First person voted out was diminutive ex-Eastender Lucy Benjamin, but then the GPBP only had three to choose from and they were never going to get rid of Gino or Sam Fox (who is looking a bit rough without the war paint). Question is whether it will be a bit boring now Katie has gone. I suppose there’s how-clean-is-your-house-Kim who talks to her pants (will they start talking back we wonder), Joe Bugner who was horrible but now isn’t, the aforementioned Gino and Sam and, erm, I can’t remember the rest. Oh yes, George Hamilton who can’t do any trials on medical grounds. Can we stand the excitement?