Big Brother army marches towards nomination

If ever a plan was designed to create division, the current task is it.

11:41 12 July 2004

If ever a plan was designed to create division, the current task is it.

We may have thought that the Big Brother bedsit was as bad as it got, but the latest army task may well top it.

As the housemates that have been designated "privates" - Ahmed, Dan, Nadia, Shell, Stuart and Victor - have been slaving away and eating army rations; the "sergeants" - Michelle and Jason - have been living it up in a private room and eating good food.

What is worse is that, unbeknownst to the privates, every task they complete marches them one step nearer to eviction.

The way things pan out this week will see either the sergeants or the privates up for eviction, without any nominations by the housemates. If the task is failed then the two sergeants will be up for the public vote. If the task is passed then all six privates face the prospect of eviction.

So, as Jason and Michelle live it up in their private quarters, they know that every time their fellow contestants work harder for them they are furthering the prospect of their own eviction.

So far the unsuspecting majority have successfully peeled a mountain of potatoes, polished 200 pairs of boots, whitewashed a mound of coal, gone through a flag ceremony and had two guards on duty throughout the night.

In fact Michelle and Jason have formed a pretty tight motivational team - with good cop/bad cop routines, team talks and carrots and sticks galore.

However, for all their efforts Ahmed has proved pretty much uncontrollable. Suffering from a head-cold the Somalian housemate has dodged duties, slept in, and generally refused to play along.

In creating Ahmania (not to mention the accompanying theme song) Jason thought he had a willing pawn, but he may have been the author of his own downfall if Ahmed and the rest of the privates fail the task and the muscly Scot faces eviction.