Near the start of the programme, the psychologists rated Ziggy as the most Machiavellian housemate, and it's one of the few times I didn't think they were talking bollocks. Ziggy is particularly ingenious at turning self-criticism into a tactical coup. Apparently attacking himself, he succeeds in undermining someone else. Remember how he berated himself with Chanelle ("It's not you, it's me"), but managed to imply that the solution was in her hands. "Maybe one of us should leave," he said solemnly. But which? He never said. The suggestion was just somehow left hanging in the air...
Last night we had another splendid example of Ziggy beating himself up for his bad thoughts, and doing it with impeccable timing - i.e. the night before nominations. Read on:
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(Ziggy, Liam and Brian in caravan)
Ziggy: Carole is just, kind of, arguing a little bit...I feel like I'm constantly putting stuff out there, and she's not liking it, you know...
Liam: You're not cool for the time being?
Ziggy: For this second, I'm constantly, I feel like, you know, you feel wrong if you're actually not kind of agreeing with how someone is at the moment.
Liam: I know what you mean, like.
Ziggy: I've got this kind of bubble that I put round her in this place. D'you know what I mean?
Liam: Yeah
Ziggy: But isn't that a strange feeling to have in here?
Liam: And then sometimes...
Ziggy: Some things really irritate me
Liam: It's like Brian saying it's not a charity show.
Ziggy: It's not, though
Brian: I've always said that. I'm not being horrible when I say that either. And I'm not being horrible.
Ziggy: I feel really, really, really... I think it's that I feel bad or sorry...but then she's in a better position than so many other people there is.
Brian: I know people a lot worst off.
Ziggy: Oh God I know people are worse off, but why am I thinking this?
(They go out to smoking bench)
Brian: The worst thing you can do in this house is apologise for what you're actually thinking.
Ziggy: You feel like you're wrong sometimes, I feel wrong for speaking up last night...
Brian: You're wrong the boss...Oh, the worst thing you can do in this house is apologise for what you're actually thinking.
Liam: But, everybody does it, Brian.
Brian: Does What?
Liam: Apologise for what they're thinking.
Brian: Oh yeah, I've done it.
Liam: Everybody does it. Every day.
Brian: You've got a lot of time for Carole, and I don't think...
Liam: Sometimes when people have less time for Carole, they don't wanna do anything because...
Brian: They know that you've got a lot of time for Carole...
Ziggy: You know what, guys, even after arguments, you know, she turned round to me last night and said something she spoke about in the Diary Room last night. And, you know, it wasn't all good. And even after any argument we've ever had, I've never gone in there and spoken about her...only it never, ever - last night never - never spoken about her, not even the next day. And I'm thinking, am I being the mug here? Or...you know. (long pause) But then, as I say, you are here for yourself, and it's not a charity show.
So we get the point. We shouldn't feel too sorry for Carole. Let's be hard-headed about this, chaps, guys, compadres, fellow-sufferers. Somebody has to be named tomorrow...
What I'll be interested to see, though, is whether Ziggy will strike with the dagger himself, or if he'll leave it to Brian and Liam - with him as a horrified bystander... It's the ideal outcome for Ziggy, where he comes up smelling of roses. But it's a risk. One nomination too few, and she might escape again!