Katie Price’s Bushtucker Terror

November 19, 2009 |

Author sholto

It’s been some year for Katie Price (aka Jordan) and in the process she has done untold damage to her celebrity reputation. Her split from Peter Andre divided the nation between a majority who hate her and a minority who see her as a female hero. In so far as she lives her life in the spotlight, it is hard to know what she is really like. Does she even have a life outside of that cruel spotlight?

The behaviour of Peter has been a critical ingredient. He seems so decent, such a “new man” with his love for the children and his calm in comparison to her stormy, sharp mouthed personality.

Her decision to return to “I’m a celebrity…” looks like a mistake. The public seem to be relishing the opportunity to vote her onto every nasty task every single day. The other contestants seem almost irrelevant in the process. They sit an watch as she has to do the dirty work. You have to have a sneaking admiration for her as she grits her teeth and plunges her face into something truly nasty. Will it move the public? Let’s see.

I think the real issue for her is that even choosing to do this removes her from her prime role as the public see it: being a mother. We see her in the jungle and wonder about the child-care. Oh yes, good old Peter is doing that even for the kids that are not his – but whom he loves.

Her key problem: people perceive her as a bad mum and a real “catty” number. Being a good mother is sacrosanct. She needs to select her tasks carefully and focus on improving the perception of her as a mother in the same way Pete Andre has foregrounded his role as father. She needs to win the parent fight.

She also needs to reduce her exposure for a while. We are tired of her and want to punish her. Will punishment be redemption or the end for her?