I'm not a huge fan of BB (sensational stuff aside, such as celeb BB), but for years I've argued that BB should be shown in schools of all kinds as part of 'social skills', or 'life studies' (in my day, 'Forum') or whatever they call it now. Kids (oops!) and 'young people' would learn far more from a couple of episodes than they would any amount of literature or conventional discussion. It provides a Rubick Cube of emotional / socio / economic / political / sexual and media topics for discussion with each other and teachers. It's a bit like a reality Video Arts training film for life and relationships. Therein lies it's value. Kids & YP's are not thick and they are quite able to 'reality check' themselves: they are more than able to identify who is playing to the crowd, or what is acceptable or not. As to Robert Holroyd, It's obviously too late for him. At least BB has balance by virtue of the different sensibilities within the house. The Telegraph, however, wouldn't recognise balance if it smacked it between the eyes. Besides, you wouldn't want to be responsible for all the nightmares the poor sods would have having read it. Imagine having Simon Heffer in your bonce when the lights are off.

I agree Sue. BB is pretty turgid stuff but holding the Daily Telegraph up as a beacon of right-minded thinking is absurd. These are public school boys remember and its outraged page 3 lead about 'compulsory gypsy awareness lessons' shows just how narrow-minded it is. Just the sort of stuff to reinforce their stereotypes.

If I had forked-out to send my cherub(s) to his school I'd be making plans to remove them right now. Not everyone who sends their kids to public school is a default Telegraph reader (thank feck) and even those who are should be worried about a headmaster who spouts such crap. I bet that IF the poor buggers who go there are allowed to watch telly at all, they are restricted to the 'proper channels', they being BBC 1 and 2.

Hmmm.  Interesting.  A head of a school that was founded to isolate those tender young uns of wealthy Midlanders from the great unwashed is having a pop at TV shows that isolate the great unwashed in their own little world.

Although I'm not a fan of 90% or more of the reality TV programming we get, you need to get a balance in life.  These little angels that are being educated in isolation in their cosseted £24K a year school need to realise that not everything in this world gets handed to them on a plate, and that there are people out there who are the dregs of society.  Just because the Daily Get-A-Laff doesn't feature them it doesn't mean they don't exist.