Watching a couple of episodes of ITV reality TV show I'm a celebrity...get me out of here! has been a real education for this particular public relations student.
Former glamour model Katie Price, aka Jordan, has been giving a masterclass for any aspiring celebrities since her arrival in the Australian jungle this week.
Of course she already enjoyed all the publicity she could handle with a TV show, also featuring her estranged husband Peter Andre, best-selling novels (all of which she admits she doesn't actually write) and a residency on the front pages of our tabloid newspapers.
Add to that the multi-page colour spreads in magazines and her range of equestrian clothing and accessories and it seems that Miss Price is one very busy lady.
So why has she pitched up on the other side of the world to a camp where the only food appears to be a menu of jungle bugs and where they sleep in the open air next to rats and snakes?
No prizes for guessing...it's all about publicity. Public opinion appeared to have turned against her as her messy divorce was played out on television and in the newspapers.
So what better way to win back that lost sympathy with the public than do a series of horrific bushtucker trials. It was clear from the moment she arrived in the camp -it's actually the second time she has been on the show - that viewers were going to vote for her to do every trial.
Now, Katie looks horrified every time presenters Ant and Dec break the news that she has been picked again but am I alone in thinking her reactions are less than genuine?
This is exactly what her press agent would have wanted. Prime time exposure on national television and, even better, people feeling sorry for her.
Fittingly, given the location of the programme, she has cried floods of crocodile tears as buckets of cockroaches have been emptied on her head every evening.
But there always appears to be a smile playing on those surgically-enhanced lips and a suspicion that she's actually enjoying it.
Every time a rat bites her ultimately means more cash from media interviews and publicity for her books and merchandise.
The show is dominated by Katie Price so how will ITV react if she is first to be voted off? It certainly won't bother her as it will give her yet another chance to cry buckets and finally regain the public's sympathy.
The secret of celebrity is to polarise opinions - get the public to hate you or love you. Just don't make them ignore you.
Loving this blog! I have to admit though I am a former fan of Katie Price, and I am still to a certain extent, I mean you have to admire her shrew business mannor and tanacity at doing anything possible to attract media attention.
ReplyDeleteI was watching GMTV this moirning, which played a clip of Lucy Benjeman,(a former Eastender) meeting Jordan in her hotel room after being the first person to be evicted by the public from the jungle,(oooh the shame of it.) After sharing a celeb style hug and kiss, Lucy announces she has to go downstairs for interviews with the 'journo's'. "What you mean? You ain't gon an exclusive?" the Price exclaims in horror, "well no" replies Lucy, the obvious amateur that she is, "you got mug on your face or summat!"
This is why Katie Price has to admired somewhat, she is riding a gravy train and she is gonna milk it for all its worth, well good on ya girl, think if I was put in the same position I would do the same.
There is no doubt Katie Price knows how to play the media. You have to admire the money she has made despite having very few obvious talents. The one thing you can say for certain is that a lot of people clearly like her or the media would not give her so much coverage in the first place!
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