If you see Sid, tell him

I could be wrong but I think David Dickinson was truly gutted to be out of the jungle. If anyone was trying to win the show, it appeared to be him, so in a way I was sad to see him go because along with him disappeared any chance of plotting or machinations.

Despite the sodden conditions and the tensions raised by the food isssues, the remaining campers seem to get on remarkably well and seem to have bonded in adversity. In short, they are far too nice a bunch to provide the fireworks we’ve enjoyed in previous series.

Having waited a age to get her first bush tucker trial, Jenny’s was probably the easiest so far. Cannon and Ball were dangled from a bumble bee over a hundred-foot ravine while Sheree and Kimberley were made to drop from a chopper with disastrous results. All Jenny had to do was plug up a few holes while creepy crawlies were thrown at her. It hardly seems fair. Perhaps producers just thought they needed an easy task to ensure the campers actually got fed.

If Jenny’s task was easy, the bowling task seemed ridiculously difficult. More difficult for Bobby and Antony though seems to be cooking and the tensions created by Sid’s ribbing which seemed to get under Bobby’s remarkably thin skin. Indeed, Sid was either unaware how much he was irking the red-braced one or merely kept going because he was enjoying the effect.

As we head towards the end of the series, a quick reappraisal of this year’s intake.

Carol

As the days have gone on, more of the witty side of Carol that I’d been aware of before the show has come through. C. Thatch has been the find of the series and her so-called eccentricities are mild enough not to have irritated during the run of show.

Sid

He has come across as Mr. Nice Guy throughout the show and now the numbers are diminishing, we are getting to see more of his fun side too. He seems to have remained remarkably calm when others have flapped and has been a stabilising influence on the camp.

Antony

He seems to have come across as a bit of a whinger and a bit of a wimp. He’s probably neither but when a day’s occurrences are condensed into a hour they can seem more significant than perhaps they actually were.

Who am I kidding? He’s been a big baby, hasn’t he?

Bobby

Now the Duke’s out, Bobby has taken on the mantle of the old grump but has done so with charm and humour, something Dickinson never managed. Despite some of his old-fashioned attitudes, there’s just something lovable about him. He has that quality so lacking in so many “celebs???, charisma.

Sheree

For someone who seems scared of everything, Sheree has certainly proved to be game. She seems to have thrown herself into everything and certainly has lived the jungle experience to the max. You just have to feel sorry for husband Harry, who is bound to get stick from his teammates and from the stands following her revelations.

Jimmy

Hilarious

Jimmy’s lily pad trial was one of the funniest things I’ve seen on television for a long time. He has taken the whole experience in his stride and his cheery disposition must have had a positive effect on the mood of the camp. He puts me in mind of Chorlton the happiness dragon (Jilly puts me in mind of Fenella for some reason) and I really hope he wins.