Missing Jade… missing Di?
On reading (on BBC news website) about Jade’s funeral, small tears appeared in my eyes. Same thing happened when I read of her death. Yes, this is freaky. What’s even more freaky is that such ‘leakage’ didn’t come as any surprise to me.
I have only ever watched one series of Big Brother; the one where Jade came fourth. Yes, forth. The winner was Kate… someone, who I think now does some presenting work for an obscure channel. And I didn’t just ‘watch’ the series; observe it now and then. Oh no. I was hooked. Once a friend had informed me about the magic red button, that if pressed, took you right to the BB house, so you could watch it all live (well, almost)… yikes! Hooked!
Even at that time, before the end of the series, I was amazed at how much attention she was being paid, compared to the others. When it was all over, Graham Norton had her on his show. Only her though – none of the others, not even those who came 1st, 2nd or 3rd! He displayed a map of the British Isles, gave her a pointer and taunted her: Show us ‘East Anguler’ (or whatever it was she called it).
I’ve not watched the other stuff she’s been on, not really being a ‘telly’ kind of person (apart from the freak blip that was BB) but cannot deny having always being slightly drawn to articles or news items about her. Perhaps it’s due to having watched her for so long on BB, being… err… herself. Had there been news items about the other contestants (of that series) I may well have been drawn to them to, but I have a feeling there weren’t any.
As soon as I heard she was dying, I was quite gutted. Should… errr… Brad Pitt or Kate Winslet… drop down dead tomorrow, I would be sad, but not particularly effected. Sorry to sound heartless!
The whole thing has made me re-think about the loss of Princess Di. When the nation ‘mourned’ her, I got a bit cross. Yes, it was tragic that she died. Sure. But people die all the time, and generally, unless we know them, it doesn’t effect us. Only a handful of the mourners (out of the trillions of them) actually knew her or had even met her; how could people be crying and wailing about the loss of someone they’d never met?
Finally I think I get it. I’d never met Jade and didn’t know her in the slightest, but having watched her story unfold, first on BB and then in the media at large, I felt some sort of connection. Sure, I might not be a big fan of some of the things she’s done/said, but then I’m sure you wouldn’t be a fan of everything I’ve done/said… it’s just that you are currently unaware of it! The whole Jade media parade aside, I sincerely think her death is tragic. When I saw pictures of the hundreds (thousands?) of mourners who turned up to watch her funeral on the big screens outside the church, and who left flowers at her house, I got it.
I wonder what other things will happen in my life that might make me back-track, and suddenly ‘get it’… understand why so-and-so acted in such a way when such-and-such happened, etc. After all, it’s been 11 years since Di died.
April 7th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I think you’re right, it is about feeling some sense of connection; in some way identifying with such people. Jade’s death at such a young age, leaving young children behind, was extremely tragic, and something we are not used to these days. However, I knew less about her than you, so can’t claim any shed tears.
Diana, was another story: she was a few months younger than me and someone I had admired when I was younger. I also identified with her to some extent and her death was so unexpected.
April 8th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Yes, I suppose that Di’s death being so sudden, dramatic and shocking perhaps hit people harder than Jade’s predicted departure.
Another thought – I didn’t have children when Di died (although I was expecting my 1st) so perhaps I didn’t see how very tragic it was for a Mum to die and leave her kids behind.
April 8th, 2009 at 10:29 am
If you grew up in the 50s, you mourned the passing of Elvis.
If you grew up in the 60s, you mourned the passing of Lennon.
If you grew up in the 70s, you mourned the passing of Mercury.
If you grew up in the 80s, you mourned the passing of Diana.
If you grew up in the 90s, you mourned the passing of Sonic the Hedgehog…..
April 9th, 2009 at 9:12 am
So to grow up in the 80s and be missing jade more than Di must make me a bit freakish then…?! (don’t answer that!)
someone in the press yesterday said that anyone who mourns the loss of a celebrity must be a bit psychotic, and we should save our mourning for the death of our own loved ones.
I disagree. Fine, it’s not the same type of mourning, clearly, but it’s all part of being human. Isn’t it?
When did Sonic the hedgehog die anyway… i just asked the kids but they just thought I’d gone loopy. More info please…!
April 9th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Apparently Sonic is NOT dead; a recent ‘where are they now?’ feature confirmed that Sonic has retired from the Entertainment industry & is now running a B & B – in Partnership with the Super Mario Bros – just off the seafront at Skegness. Reasonable out of Season rates guaranteed (although one of the Guest bedrooms only has Ginger Nut biscuits as part of the tea & coffee making facilities….)
Seriously though, I do think you’re right that celebrity deaths DO affect us (in a different way to loved ones) – even the case of deaths in Soap Operas (just this week, there has been a huge outcry over a recent ‘death’ in Eastenders (or should that be ‘Easterenders’ at this time of year..).
I say thank goodness we ARE affected by deaths of people we don’t know; if we weren’t, would anyone be concerned by famine appeals?
Which brings me on to a final point; Mother Theresa died in the same weeks as Princess Di……..
April 9th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Ah… Skegness… such happy childhood holiday memories (butlins, very off season!).
Yes, I seem to recall hearing that last point you made, re Mother Theresa… interesting.
June 6th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Just been listening to your generous interview, which was interesting.