Pod Insights British Scandal Jade Goody | Am I Mingin'? | 1 About this episode Jade Goody storms into the Big Brother house, all cocky confidence and East London charm. She fights, laughs and screams her way through the first few days, but behind the loudmouth antics, there’s more than meets the eye. By eviction night, the nation can’t get enough. But will they love her… or love to hate her?
For non-judgmental information and support on domestic abuse, women can visit https://refuge.org.uk/ or call the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 day or night. Men can call the free Respect Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or visit https://mensadviceline.org.uk/.
Do you have a suggestion for a scandal you would like us to cover? Or perhaps you have a question you would like to ask our hosts? Email us at [email protected]
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
0:00 Alice Levine? Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of British Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. This episode contains adult language and a depiction of an abusive relationship. If this feels all too real for you and you need support, we've left details of services who can help in our episode description. What are you up to, Matt, doing your taxes?
0:21 Matt Forde? No, I'm just applying for a very cool new reality show.
0:26 Alice Levine? Oh, right, okay. Don't see you as a reality star.
0:28 Matt Forde? Well, it's a show where your every move is filmed, no matter what you're doing. So I think all my interests would be perfect for it. I've got a deep knowledge of the history of the Labour Party.
0:37 Alice Levine? Cool. I mean, is it a politics show?
0:40 Matt Forde? No, no, I think it's set on an island with lots of young people.
0:42 Alice Levine? That's your main sell?
0:43 Matt Forde? No, football. Everyone likes football, right? So I could take my old collection of football programmes from the early 1930s, some of them from the second division.
0:52 Alice Levine? And not everyone can say that.
0:54 Matt Forde? Very few people can, exactly.
0:56 Alice Levine? I guess I just feel like they're looking for something a little bit more spicy, probably.
1:00 Matt Forde? Fair point. I was an altar boy, so I have a pretty good knowledge of scripture.
1:05 Alice Levine? Well, do you know what? You've got to be yourself, haven't you? What do I know? I'm not a TV producer. All I would ask is, are you going to wear the hoodie with egg on it and the jogger bottoms?
1:13 Matt Forde? Oh, no, no, no. I'm prepared to do the whole show naked.
1:15 Alice Levine? Oh, right, you should have said. ITV 9pm, see you there.
1:21 Alice Levine? Friday, the 19th of January 2007. Dear 17 in the Celebrity Big Brother house. Jade Goody sits on the black leather sofa, her heart beating in her chest. She can hear the helicopters circling outside as a voice booms through the speaker. Big Brother house, this is Davina. You are live on Channel 4. Please do not swear. Jade stares ahead, her lips tight. Reminds herself that the public love her. She might not have seen eye to eye with every housemate. She glances across at Shilpa Shetty's tight-lipped smile, but nothing's changed. She's only ever been herself, for good and for bad.
2:06 Alice Levine? Jade, you are the third person to be evicted from the Big Brother house. Jade exhales, throws her head back in disappointment. It's only the third eviction. She didn't want to leave this soon. You have 30 seconds to say your goodbyes. I'm coming to get you.
2:27 Alice Levine? Jade hugs the other contestants, tells herself she'll be fine.
2:31 Speaker 02 Ten. Nine.
2:34 Alice Levine? She's been here before.
2:36 Speaker 02 Eight.
2:36 Alice Levine? Last time, the papers called her all sorts of names: Minga, Pig, Slag.
2:43 Speaker 02 Seven.
2:44 Alice Levine? But in the end, even though she came fourth, Big Brother launched her career.
2:49 Speaker 02 Six.
2:50 Alice Levine? Made her a household name, the nation's sweetheart.
2:55 Speaker 02 Five.
2:55 Alice Levine? Now her face on a front page.
2:57 Speaker 02 Four.
2:58 Alice Levine? Sells more copies than Victoria Beckham.
3:01 Speaker 02 Three.
3:02 Alice Levine? Whatever they've got to throw at her out there.
3:04 Speaker 02 Two.
3:05 Alice Levine? She can handle it.
3:07 Speaker 02 One. Jade, you have been evicted. Please leave the Big Brother house.
3:13 Alice Levine? Jade waves goodbye, pushes open the gold and black in her door, runs up the stairs, adrenaline fizzing, her heels clattering in the stairwell. She stops, adjusts her earrings, then...
3:32 Alice Levine? The door slides open.
3:36 Alice Levine? Jade steps out of the house, but her breath catches in her throat. It's eerily quiet. No crowd behind the barriers, no banners, no photographers calling her name. Just a security guard who stares stonily ahead, a few producers, and Davina McCall. Jade gives Davina an uncertain smile, but Davina isn't smiling back. Hi Davina. I don't know how much you know about why nobody's here. Jade shakes her head. Davina guides her towards the studio. All will become clear.
4:15 Matt Forde? One of the things that made Big Brother such phenomenal TV was not only you watching people's every move in this isolated environment, but when they are evicted on live TV, they're then catapulted out of this cocoon, and they're about to be held to account with cameras and lights in their face for a whole load of stuff they've done for the past few weeks, and they've got no idea how the producers will have portrayed them.
4:37 Alice Levine? Yeah, and even though this wasn't series one of Big Brother where we were all naive and still calling it a social experiment, there is this idea that I'm just being myself. So what can they do with that other than show me as who I am? But actually, there's a team of people here putting together an entertainment show, putting together a soap opera, really. And so they've probably decided, and maybe even storyboarded quite early on, who they think everybody is.
5:01 Matt Forde? Yeah, and if you're filming 24 hours a day, weeks on end, and you're put in an environment with people who are deliberately provocative or whatever, then you can film anyone for a period of time and equally portray them by editing the footage as either the nice one, the nasty one, the clever one, the thick one, or whatever. We would all display those traits over a period of time. And that's why I always refuse.
5:23 Alice Levine? Five minutes later, Jade sits in the studio facing Davina, a nervous smile playing on her lips, her mind racing. You must be the only person on the planet to not know the impact that Celebrity Big Brother has had. Jade's eyes dart to the big screen as it bursts into life behind Davina. Just take a quick look at this. This isn't just about a TV show anymore. This is a major diplomatic row. Well, the reaction here in Mumbai is one of outrage. Concern that the Bollywood actress is the victim of racist bullying today reached Prime Minister's question time. Jade is unable to process it. I don't understand.
6:06 Alice Levine? In the Celebrity Big Brother house, she was loud, yes, rude sometimes, but this? She looks at Davina, searching for reassurance, but Davina says nothing. Jade breathes out slowly. Last week, she was a superstar. She just launched her own perfume. She had a bestselling autobiography. Now she's the most hated woman in Britain. She's been branded a racist and a bully, and she has no idea what to do about it.
6:50 Speaker 03 PrizePix packs are here. Rip digital packs and get real basketball, football and Pokemon cards on PrizePix packs. Available now nationwide. Once you see your pool, you have a choice to sell back instantly for real cash or ship at home. Cash from your sale will immediately be added to your PrizePix balance. It's just another way to run your game. New users, download the PrizePix app today and use code WONDERY to get $25 instantly in bonus packs when you buy your first $5 pack. PrizePix, run your game. 18 plus in eligible areas. Terms apply. Collect responsibly.
7:21 Alice Levine? Confidence. It's listening to your gut. It's moving forward even when the path ahead is unclear. For nearly 160 years, Pacific Life has helped people keep their promises, building confidence for generations. Whether you're confident in your financial future or just beginning to envision it, we're here to help. Ask a financial professional how. Pacific Life, the power of a promise. Pacific Life Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska. And in New York, Pacific Life and Annuity, Phoenix, Arizona.
7:56 Alice Levine? From Audible, I'm Alice Levine.
7:58 Matt Forde? And I'm Matt Ford.
7:59 Alice Levine? And this is British Scandal, the show where we bring you the murkier stories that ever happened on these odd little isles.
8:05 Matt Forde? British scandals come in many shapes and sizes. Some are about money, some are about sex. They're all about power.
8:12 Alice Levine? But when we look at scandals a bit closer, they turn out to be stranger, wilder, just plain weirder than we remember.
8:19 Matt Forde? So we're journeying back to ask who's to blame for what happened.
8:22 Alice Levine? And when the dust settled, did anything really change?
8:34 Alice Levine? Matthew, Matthew, Matthew, what comes to your mind if I say the words "big brother"?
8:40 Matt Forde? Big Brother is watching you. George Orwell's 1984, The Clock's striking thirteen, Winston, Room 101. The phenomenal satire about state control and communism, which, you know, sadly, some politicians seem to have taken as a manual. Am I right? I mean, if anything, we're probably living under that sort of thing under this lot. Yeah.
9:02 Alice Levine? Yeah, yeah.
9:03 Matt Forde? Comrade Starman.
9:04 Alice Levine? Totally, yeah. I'm really talking about the more culturally significant Big Brother.
9:08 Matt Forde? Oh, the TV show?
9:09 Alice Levine? Yeah. That one.
9:10 Matt Forde? I absolutely loved it. I loved the first series and it created a new type of celebrity because until then celebrities had some sort of establishing talent of some sort, either they could sing or dance or score goals or whatever it was. This was celebrity in a way purely for its own sake. You just liked that person and that was enough to justify fame. So it was a watershed in creating an entirely new branch of the entertainment industry.
9:38 Alice Levine? Yes, and the way it evolved from being sort of branded and marketed as a social experiment to then becoming the byword for reality TV.
9:46 Matt Forde? And Alice, you know this better than anyone because?
9:49 Alice Levine? I started in television, working on Big Brother.
9:54 Matt Forde? So what did you do?
9:55 Alice Levine? So people will remember there was the main show and then there was a switch over show, Big Brother's Bit on the Side or Big Brother's Little Brother, depending on which series you were watching. So I hosted that. I did the kind of the debriefs after the evictions, the evictees came on to chat. We were live after the main show, so it was very exciting, all real time. Yeah, it was chaos.
10:13 Matt Forde? Well, I'll pick your brains throughout the series, if that's all right, for some of the behind the scenes stuff.
10:16 Alice Levine? Absolutely. My 2011 to 2013 out of date hot takes on Big Brother.
10:23 Matt Forde? Obviously lots of ethical considerations around the show as well. So effectively you are culpable.
10:28 Alice Levine? Yes, this is actually the reckoning I've been fearing and waiting for. But we aren't just going to drag me over hot coals. We are going to focus on arguably the biggest star in the history of Big Brother. I don't think it's too strong to say we're going to be looking at the legendary Jade Goody. She was an ordinary girl from Bermondsey who became one of the most famous people in the country. She was loud, she was brash, she was definitely funny. She was also at the centre of a racism scandal that shook Britain, had global repercussions and maybe, just maybe, changed this country forever. So listeners of British Scandal, Big Brother is watching you. This is episode one, Am I Minging?
11:08 Alice Levine? Six years earlier, summer 2001, Guy's Hospital, London. Twenty-year-old Jade Goody pushes open the staff room door and is hit by the smell of disinfectant. Her head is throbbing and her mouth is dry. All she wants to do is go to bed. But her shift as a dental nurse is just beginning. Her colleague Samantha turns to her and frees- What happened to your face? Jade touches her lip, the bruise around her left eye. The concealer hasn't worked. Oh, nothing, bumped into a wall. Samantha looks at her. You've been bumping into a lot of walls lately. Jade shrugs. I'm fine.
11:54 Alice Levine? She heads to the kettle, desperate to change the subject, but Samantha follows her. Jade flicks on the radio. She winces at the song as it triggers memories of the previous night. She'd gone out with the girls to the Gin Palace. Her boyfriend Danny had appeared out of nowhere, then dragged her out by her hair, the pavement cold on her cheek. When they'd got back to his, he'd really let loose, punching her until she was screaming, blood pouring out of her lip. Samantha comes over, pours herself some water. Nudges Jade. I'd say come stay at mine, but I don't have a room. Is there anywhere else you can go? It's not that bad, honestly.
12:40 Alice Levine? Quick, Paul, is Helen flirting with Paul out of order if she's got a boyfriend? Yes or no? Jade's eyes light up at the radio's mention of Big Brother. You've been watching it, Big Brother. Can't believe it's the final tonight. I want Helen to win, she's funner.
12:58 Matt Forde? I remember reading about Big Brother in the Guardian Guide when I was a teenager, when I was a youth. And it had started in Holland, and I thought, that's never going to catch on here. What, the Dutch playing out there mad? Series one here, Craig, nasty Nick. It was unbelievable television.
13:16 Alice Levine? Anna the Nun.
13:18 Matt Forde? Anna the Nun was great. We were just watching people in a house, it was less constructed. Obviously, we know that they edit stuff, but it wasn't as task orientated and as conflict orientated in those early series.
13:30 Alice Levine? Yes, and also, everyone was so compliant. I mean, series one, if we all remember the big bust up over the contraband pencil.
13:38 Matt Forde? Nick had been writing down names, and that became a major scandal.
13:42 Alice Levine? A major cheating scandal, and it just seems so sweet and innocent now.
13:47 Matt Forde? Compared to what followed, it was nothing.
13:51 Alice Levine? Jade used to be funny. She was the class clown at school. She even dreamed of being a performer in musicals when she was a child. But she's felt a lot less like laughing recently. She glances down at her Nokia 3310 as it pings. Danny.
14:08 Speaker 04 I'm sorry about last night.
14:11 Alice Levine? She softens at the sad face emoticon.
14:15 Alice Levine? But then a second message comes through.
14:17 Speaker 04 See you later, yeah? Get some beers on your way.
14:20 Alice Levine? Jade shakes her head in sudden anger. She's sick of this. She deserves better. She snaps. Danny's like, "What are those two called? Jekyll and... Wolf? More Wolf when he's been on the coke."
14:36 Alice Levine? Jade feels Samantha's gentle hand on her back. Jade's never taken hard drugs and never will. She knows what they do to people. One of her first memories is of her dad shooting up heroin in the corner of her room when she thought she was asleep. She doesn't want a man like that in her life. She's done with Danny. She's not going back to his tonight. There's only one other place she can go. She'll be safe from Danny there. Trouble is... She'll have to face her mum.
15:14 Alice Levine? Later that day, Bermondsey, South London. Jade's heart rate slows as the council block comes into view. Even though she and her mum don't always get on, this place is still home.
15:27 Matt Forde? For anyone who hasn't been to Bermondsey, it's basically the last unchanged, predominantly white working class part of London. It's a part that hasn't yet really been gentrified. It's near London Bridge. I used to live down the road at Canada Water, which has been gentrified. And Bermondsey is basically Millwall, council estates, where during the World Cup, the England flag is everywhere, and proper old pubs and all the things that go with that. And even though it's fairly close to central London, in so many ways, it couldn't be further away. It's almost next to power and influence and status. But the people who live there do not possess any of those things.
16:10 Alice Levine? Jade opens up the gated outer door, reaches for the light. Nothing. The corridor with its worn carpet remains in darkness. She sighs. "Mom!" No answer. Jade shrugs, probably for the best. She and her mum have been arguing recently, and she doesn't have the energy. She turns to walk down the corridor, picturing her old, single bed with her favourite teddy. But then...
16:42 Alice Levine? She hears a groan. Jade's heart thumps in her chest, as she shoves open the door and rushes into the lounge. The TV's on, but there's no sound.
16:53 Alice Levine? "Mom? Mom? Mom, what's wrong?" She almost stumbles over her mother's body, sprawled on the floor by the sofa. Jade drops to her knees, grabs her mother by the shoulders. Jade recoils as her mother lets out a throaty cackle. Jade stands, finds the light switch. The room is flooded with light, revealing her mum, pupils dilated. Jade picks up a plastic bottle with a straw poking through. "What the fuck is this?" Jackie doesn't answer. She starts giggling again. Jade feels sick, as she spots a clear bag, inside, crystals glinting. "Mom, what is that?"
17:37 Alice Levine? Her stomach turns, she bends down. "Fuck, mum, it's crack, innit?" Jade sees a shadow flash across her mother's face. "You swore you'd never do any of that stuff!" Her mum knows what drugs do to people. They've seen Jade's dad go in and out of jail, in and out of rehab, her entire life. "It's not heroin, princess." Jade feels herself snapped. She picks up the baggie, grabs a packet of Rizla, tobacco, picks up one of the crack crystals and starts rolling it. Then you won't mind if I have some? Jackie looks confused. What are you doing, my little angel girl? Jade's voice breaks. Then don't do this to me.
18:23 Alice Levine? Jade lights the joint, willing her mother to stop her from inhaling. She brings it to her mouth, sickened at the sharp, acrid smell. But her mother remains motionless, silent. Instead, she lies back down on the floor, closes her eyes and passes out. Jade grabs a nearby ashtray, angrily stubs out the joint, collapses on the couch, feeling sick.
18:50 Alice Levine? She stares numbly at the flickering TV, at the smiling faces of the Big Brother finalists. Helen exits the house to a cheering crowd, screams of approval. Our Big Brother runner-up, Helen Adams. A banner appears at the bottom of the screen. To apply for the next series of Big Brother.
19:10 Alice Levine? Jade stares out of the window, onto the grey cul-de-sac. And that's when it hits her. Why not? She reaches for the phone book, tears out a scrap of paper, grabs a pen, shakily notes down the number. She looks down at her mum and then back at the screen now filled with fireworks as the winner exits, and wonders. Could Big Brother be her ticket out of here?
19:39 Alice Levine? Spring 2002, Endemol Production Offices, West London.
19:46 Alice Levine? Phil Edgar Jones presses play on another audition tape.
19:50 Matt Forde? Fun fact, father of Daisy Edgar Jones.
19:53 Alice Levine? No, really, how have I not put two and two together? A household that has created Big Brother and Normal People. I mean, find a family that can do both. A clean-cut white guy, carrying a bit of extra weight, stares into the camera while bouncing up and down on a space hopper.
20:10 Speaker 04 Brother, my name is Daniel. I work in finance, but I'm honestly not as boring as you think. I love a bit of dance.
20:19 Alice Levine? Phil tosses the VHS on the discard pile. Sighs. At least this one didn't do the whole thing wearing a penguin suit. Season two of Big Brother has been Channel Four's biggest show to date. At its peak, it drew 13.7 million viewers and captured a 57% share of the total UK TV audience. But he knows he has to get at least that number of viewers again in season three. And it's his job as the show's creative director to find personalities that capture audiences and sell papers. And Daniel in Finance is not it.
20:56 Matt Forde? Those viewing figures are insane. I mean, even in the era where more people were watching what they call linear TV, 13.7 million viewers is the sort of number that only really major sporting events get.
21:10 Alice Levine? Phil needs a coffee.
21:13 Alice Levine? He exits his office to hear an explosion of laughter and groans down the corridor. In the corner of the office, a group of his junior staff are huddled around a small screen. What's this? Phil's assistant Debbie looks up at him, shakes her head. Oh, she's like nails on a chalkboard. Phil peers over at the small television at a girl with blonde hair in a tight white t-shirt, jeans and a diamante belt, moving her hips from side to side and singing a song to the tune of Rod Stewart's Maggie May. She's waving her finger at the camera. Get me out of Bermondsey and put me on TV.
21:54 Alice Levine? The office erupts, laughter and applause punctuated by a few boos. Phil leans in. Play it again, from the beginning. A grainy black and white shot comes into view. Hello, everybody in the Big Brother house. I'll get call Pamela Anderson purely because of these big things here. The woman is holding something in her hand. Phil leans in to look as she gabbles away in a broad southeast London accent and realises it's a giant elastic band. He watches in confusion as she wriggles her body through the contraption. The team burst out laughing again. He hears Debbie whisper. This is the third time we've watched it this morning. He looks back at the screen. The woman has somehow segued into a garbled version of Bianca from EastEnders.
22:40 Alice Levine? Like my star sign Gemini, I'd like Bianca to play me in a film because she's the perfect. Oh, Ricky. Then she moves on to why she'd be ideal for the show. Everyone in the Big Brother house is gonna vote for me. Debbie mutters under her breath. They'll vote for you all right because they'll hate you so much. But Phil can't help but be won over by this woman. She's a raw, unfiltered, working-class girl. The tabloids will lap her up. She's nails on a chalkboard all right. And that's exactly what the show thrives on: conflict.
23:11 Matt Forde? This is one of the issues with the show is that it allows people a way to immediately change their circumstances. But the flip side of that is that effectively you have working class, and you could even say vulnerable people, being effectively manipulated by powerful TV executives.
23:30 Alice Levine? Yeah, and its DNA as a format is social engineering. They want people to clash, so they are combining people who they think won't see eye to eye or will rub each other up the wrong way, or at the very least will challenge each other. And we haven't even got to the subject of alcohol yet.
23:47 Matt Forde? And actually, look at the reality TV shows that still exist. The welfare of the contestant never felt like a priority.
23:55 Alice Levine? He looks back at the screen. I'm an original. Phil can't help but agree as he watches her pulling down her jeans and failing to reveal a tattoo that she says reads "unique".
24:08 Alice Levine? Phil finds himself joining in the laughter. What's her name? Jade, I think. Jade Goody. Well, get her number. Get her to come in. Debbie looks at him shocked, but Phil has already turned his back. He heads to the kitchen to make that cup of coffee, smiles to himself as he replays the video in his head. Because he might just have found Big Brother's next star.
24:38 Alice Levine? May 2002, Jackie Button's council flat, Bermondsey, South East London. Jade stares at her phone. It's an unknown number. Hello? Hello, Jade? Yeah, this is she. What do you want? Hello, Jade, it's Phil Edgar Jones.
24:57 Matt Forde? Of Endmal TV. We'd love you to be one of the contestants on the next series of Big Brother. Oh my god!
25:05 Matt Forde? Which is exactly how you reacted when you got offered series one of British Scandal.
25:12 Alice Levine? Life changing, honestly.
25:13 Matt Forde? I remember calling you. We said, look, this is, this is a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Let's change her life.
25:21 Alice Levine? Wait a sec. Are you saying you were hired first and then you were presented with a bevy of beauties to choose from?
25:28 Matt Forde? And despite that?
25:34 Alice Levine? Her mum comes racing into the room. What is it, babe? What's going on? On the other end of the line, Phil's voice hardens. It's very important you don't tell anyone, Jade. The press can't get wind of this. Yeah, of course. Promise. As soon as Jade hangs up the phone, she turns to her mum. I'm gonna be on Big Brother! Jackie's mouth falls open, amazed. You know. Jade hadn't wanted to tell anyone, but now she excitedly tells her mum how she'd been late for the auditions, had to play all these weird games, had been sure she'd messed up. To Jade's surprise, her mum pulls her in for a hug, whispers, I'm so proud of you, Jade. Jade feels a tear form. Let's celebrate.
26:23 Alice Levine? That evening, Jade is choosing outfits with Jackie when she gets another call from Phil. Jade tenses at the coolness of his tone. Have you said anything to anyone? Jade's heart rate rises. Honestly, Phil, no, I swear. It's a lie. She's been messaging her friends all day, arranging a going away party. Well, somehow, Jade, the press have got hold of your name. Phil, please.
26:52 Speaker 05 I told you Jade, I warned you.
26:55 Alice Levine? She cannot lose this opportunity. It's her ticket out of here.
26:59 Speaker 05 Are there any paps at your flat?
27:01 Alice Levine? Paps? Like dogs?
27:04 Speaker 05 Paparazzi photographers.
27:09 Alice Levine? Jade rushes to the window, peers out. No, I can just see a ginger cat trying to eat a crisps packet. She hears Phil chuckle.
27:19 Speaker 05 Okay Jade.
27:20 Alice Levine? But then she sees a figure hiding behind a van, lens trained on the entrance of the building. Oh shit Phil, there is some guy.
27:28 Speaker 05 Okay, don't worry, I'm sending a driver to get you. You've got 30 minutes to pack.
27:35 Alice Levine? 30 minutes?
27:37 Speaker 05 If they get a shot of you, it's all over.
27:41 Matt Forde? I mean, the stakes around this. Obviously it was a massive show, but it's not like a world leader trying to get out of the G8. We're not in wartime, it is just a Channel 4 reality show.
27:53 Alice Levine? I guess the kind of cloak and dagger that they cultivated for it is part of what made it such a sensation.
28:00 Alice Levine? Jade hangs up, grabs a suitcase and stuffs it with clothes, makeup, bags, shoes. Her mum comes in, watching her. What's going on? I thought you had another two days.
28:11 Speaker 05 Well, I don't.
28:13 Alice Levine? Jade stuffs in a pink satin dress. At least she's got her eviction outfit picked out.
28:20 Alice Levine? Half an hour later, Jade heaves her overstuffed suitcase off her bed. She goes into the lounge to find her mum. She feels a pang of guilt. Are you gonna be all right? Jade sees her mum smile, nod. Go. Jade detaches herself, looks at her phone. Phil again.
28:41 Speaker 05 Car's outside. Driver says the coast is clear.
28:44 Alice Levine? Jade closes the metal outside door and creeps down the stairwell towards a car with blacked out windows. She reaches for the handle, hesitates and swallows. This is it. She's leaving this life behind. She's going on Big Brother. It's time for Jade Goody to come out of the shadows.
29:17 Speaker 03 If you like YouTube, you'll love YouTube Premium. It's destroying athlete, creator, and YouTube Maxer. YouTube Premium enhances how I use YouTube with awesome features like offline downloads, so I can download my favorite training videos before I hit the gym. So no Wi-Fi doesn't turn leg day into loading day. Plus, I get ad-free videos, background play, and so much more. YouTube Premium is like YouTube got some extra gains. Try YouTube Premium for two months free at youtube.com/premium.
29:47 Alice Levine? Hey, what's up, guys? It's Haley Bailey. Okay, I need to tell you about something. I just got YouTube Premium. It's got tons of awesome features like offline downloads, so I can download my favorite videos before I travel and watch them whenever I don't have Wi-Fi. Because we all know airplane Wi-Fi is the worst. I get ad-free, I get background play, and there's like a ton more in there. You should try it. If you like YouTube, you'll love YouTube Premium. So try YouTube Premium for two months free at youtube.com/premium. Trial eligibility varies. Terms apply. Cancel anytime. That's a mouthful.
30:17 Speaker 03 A dark night, a quiet house. But inside, danger was lurking.
30:21 Speaker 06 Oh, not really. We have Xfinity Shield, so we're not worried. What if protecting your home and devices could be drama-free? Xfinity, imagine that. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas.
30:41 Alice Levine? Two days later, Elstree Studios, Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire. Jade stares at her pale face in the lightbulb-framed mirror. The sound of the crowd outside filters into the tiny makeup room. In a few minutes, she will finally enter the Big Brother house. She's been on her own for two days. Right now, she can't even go to the toilet without permission in case she accidentally meets the other contestants. And she's starting to panic. Her producer Claire comes in. Right, I brought you some more pants and socks. Jade grabs the bag, slips it into the silver suitcase they'd given her to take into the house. She'd been in such a hurry to escape her mom's, she'd only packed six pairs of pants and no socks.
31:26 Alice Levine? Although she had remembered to pack four handbags.
31:31 Matt Forde? It is horrible though when you pack and you haven't packed enough pants and socks. You feel like everyone knows.
31:37 Alice Levine? A sink wash as well, so, so low.
31:40 Matt Forde? So sad, in a Premier Inn trying to get the shampoo on to your underwear to wash it in the sink.
31:45 Alice Levine? Scrubbing the gusset is no way to live.
31:49 Alice Levine? Claire, what if they don't like me?
31:53 Alice Levine? Claire studies her, smiles. Just be yourself, okay? You're a great person, they'll love you. Jade nods, hoping Claire's right. Right, come on, let's do this.
32:07 Alice Levine? A few minutes later, Jade emerges into a sea of people. Thousands of faces, all shouting and cheering. She squints, waves nervously and smiles. Davina, actual Davina McCall, comes over, takes her hand and raises it in the air.
32:26 Alice Levine? It's Jade! Davina points over to her mum, standing behind the barrier. Say goodbye to your family! Jade turns and is shocked to see Danny is next to her mum. She gives a hug to her mum and he leans forward, whispers, "You'll be out soon, you won't last long." Jade flinches. Jackie's losing it, oblivious, screaming out, "I'm a lesbian, I love Davina!" Jade just wants to get away from them both. She nods to Claire. "I'm ready." Jade lets Claire walk her to the bottom of the steps, leading to the Big Brother house. Gives her some last words of advice. "This is your time Jade, just enjoy it."
33:09 Alice Levine? Jade takes a breath as she steps into the house and starts to descend the stairs. She hears the outside door seal behind her. It's time to greet her fellow housemates, and there's no turning back now.
33:27 Alice Levine? Day 26 in the Big Brother house, 10.12pm. Jade examines her finger for the third time, as panic starts to grip her body. She strides across the living area, as the housemates at the dining table look up at her, concerned. "I have discovered a varroa on my finger and my toe since being in this mingin' house." "I have actually been into the Big Brother house..." Directly after the contestants have left, and it is fairly repulsive.
33:57 Matt Forde? In what way?
33:58 Alice Levine? I mean, if you can imagine your house, but there are 12 people living there, nobody's doing the hoovering, nobody's cleaning the sinks in particular, and also loads of fake tan, makeup, it's a lot of people living in a confined space, kind of with a student mentality. Jade's been having the best time over the last few weeks. The house is amazing. There's a pool and chickens and a kitchen garden where they're growing all kinds of vegetables, including some weird thing called asparagus. They've been drinking almost every night, flirting, laughing, having fun. It's like a holiday camp. She sticks her finger up to show everyone. It's the same as on my toe, this dirty, mingin', baby house. She looks over at PJ.
34:43 Alice Levine? He's going bald, and not exactly her type, but they've been flirting a bit. Now she suddenly feels self-conscious. She doesn't want him to think that she's gross. I've never had anything like that, I'm upset. But PJ just laughs. She feels herself recoil. Jade doesn't mind people laughing, usually, not even when they're laughing because she's said something stupid like Cambridge is in East Anglia, or Mother Teresa is related to Mr. Einstein. But this feeling is different. She's genuinely upset, and they're all laughing at her, even her best mate, Adele. I'm a mingin'. Yeah, you're diseased, it's like leprosy. Jade thought she was her friend.
35:28 Alice Levine? Jade's face burns. She storms into the bedroom, sits on the corner of the bed, but Adele follows her in. Jade, you've got fungus on your skin, that's it. Jade turns her tear-streaked face to her. You hurt my feelings. But to her surprise, Adele doesn't soften. Instead, she points a finger accusingly at Jade. You're just crying to get attention, Jade, we're tired of it. Jade stares back at her in shock. She's been completely herself in here. She thought she was liked. But as she hears another burst of laughter from the main room, she starts to wonder if she's been wrong about all of them.
36:09 Matt Forde? This is one of the things that makes it so fascinating to watch is it is such a claustrophobic environment and everything is heightened and it must be so hard to get any perspective on it because you are living in this entirely contained unreal environment. But the feelings are real.
36:24 Alice Levine? And by design, you're exceptionally paranoid because you are literally having your every move watched and recorded. And so your sense of self is constantly being challenged. You know Jade thinks that she's completely herself, that she's charming in her at times ignorance, but actually that's now not necessarily a given.
36:49 Matt Forde? And I think inevitably you would start to feel like a hierarchy is forming and surprise, surprise, as the working class woman, I'm gonna find myself at the bottom of this. It sort of reinforces your fears about your place in the world.
37:04 Alice Levine? Half an hour later, Jade seeks refuge in the diary room. She sits on the big red bubble chair, takes a breath. Big Brother, hello. Good evening. Hello Jade. I'm very upset, Big Brother. Jade, Big Brother has noted your concern and will consult the Big Brother Doctor and get back to you. Her face scrunches up with the effort to hold back tears as she tells Big Brother about her verruca. She's scared it's going to spread all over her body. Jade nods, but there's something else on her mind. I thought I'd dealt with my friend. She's struck by how utterly alone she feels, trapped. She usually has someone to speak to in the house, but they're not her friends.
37:51 Alice Levine? She realises that the only person she can actually turn to is a disembodied voice hiding in the dark. So she fixes the cold blinking eye, tries to forget about the millions of viewers watching, and asks.
38:08 Alice Levine? Big Brother, what do I do?
38:19 Alice Levine? Day thirty in the Big Brother house. A taxi, London. Phil Edgar Jones ignores the London landmarks slipping past his taxi window and concentrates on the morning's papers. He stops at one headline. The most hated woman in Britain. Next to a picture of Jade, mouth open, mid-scream. Phil chuckles to himself. The tabloids are in heaven. They love to hate Jade Goody. He flicks through a few more headlines. In one Jade is called a pig. In another, a chav. Everything that's wrong with the country. The louder and more upset she gets, the hungrier the media become.
39:03 Alice Levine? And she's not just been great for the tabloids. She's been great for ratings. Better than Phil could ever have imagined. The only problem, if the papers keep going at her this hard, the public will vote her out before the series has even reached halfway.
39:19 Matt Forde? Well, I would say there's another problem, which is that you are turning a very vulnerable young woman into a national hate figure.
39:25 Alice Levine? Yeah, there is that as well, I suppose. I mean, what's so mad to look back at, this is 2002, is that obligatory psychological testing before people were contestants on these shows only came in in 2021 after Caroline Flack died. So this is a good 20 years nearly after the series we're looking at. And I don't think it would take a professional to look at these moments that involve Jade and say, this is somebody in serious distress. If not mentally unwell, she is having some considerable emotional issues that you are exploiting.
40:02 Alice Levine? Phil checks the number on his phone. If Channel 4's director of programmes is calling this early in the morning, it can't be good. Tom?
40:11 Speaker 05 I'm afraid we're going to have to activate the penetration protocol.
40:14 Alice Levine? Phil squeezes his eyes closed. I'm sorry?
40:18 Speaker 05 It's Jade and PJ.
40:21 Alice Levine? Phil frowns. Jade's been flirting with PJ for weeks. What happened?
40:26 Speaker 05 Ten-hour drinking session. Jade got naked, crawled into his bed.
40:31 Alice Levine? Phil's forehead breaks out in a cold sweat. I'm on my way.
40:37 Alice Levine? An hour later, Phil sits in the boardroom at Channel 4 headquarters, looking at the grainy black-and-white footage of Jade's head rising and falling under the covers, PJ beneath her. Nothing is visible, so the network hasn't broken any laws. It's just a question of how much they can and will air in the evening highlight show. And they're going to air all of it, even if it's the last nail in Jade's coffin.
41:07 Alice Levine? As Phil takes the lift down to the lobby, he starts cutting together Jade's best bits reel in his head. Jade stripping down and flashing what she called her kebab. That ridiculous argument over the verruca. Jade and her many Jadeisms.
41:24 Matt Forde? I mean, the kebab is a classic.
41:26 Alice Levine? It really is. I mean, she had so many classics. The malapropisms, the misunderstandings kind of became her trademark. She referred to being made an escape goat.
41:36 Matt Forde? That's not too bad.
41:37 Alice Levine? It's got a nice ring to it, actually. She claimed that Sherlock Holmes invented toilets.
41:42 Matt Forde? Is that an Armitage Shanks misunderstanding?
41:45 Alice Levine? Again, who's talking about Armitage Shanks too much? Nobody can tell you anything else about Armitage Shanks, okay? She asked if Rio de Janeiro was a person.
41:53 Matt Forde? The thing is, Rio Ferdinand...
41:54 Alice Levine? A person!
41:55 Matt Forde? ...was massive in 2002.
41:57 Alice Levine? And Big Brother asked her to name two vegetables in the garden, and she said strawberries and spuds.
42:04 Alice Levine? Downstairs, Phil stops in front of a television set. It's tuned to the E4 live feed. Jade looking awkward, going in for a hug with PJ. PJ keeps his hands in his pockets, his body angled away. A clear, unmistakable rejection. He can't help but feel for Jade. Phil frowns, until an idea starts to form. What if they can air the previous night's indiscretion and still turn things around for Jade? Give the tabloids a new angle. Jilted Jade. After all, no one likes to see a girl's heartbroken. Maybe this doesn't destroy her.
42:47 Alice Levine? Maybe this is just what Jade Goody needs.
42:59 Alice Levine? A few hours later, day thirty in the Big Brother house. Jade is in the garden, standing by the barbecue. It's cold. Her skin feels raw. She wants to go inside, but she can't face PJ.
43:13 Speaker 04 Minga!
43:15 Alice Levine? She jumps as she thinks she hears a voice shouting over the wall. She freezes. Is that for her? She peers through the window and sees PJ sitting at the table with Spencer and Kate. She squints as she tries to lip read. She's sure, he mouths, "I don't even fancy her." Then he raises his hand in the air, minds them going up and down on his crotch. The others start laughing. Jade feels sick.
43:45 Speaker 04 Die, you pig!
43:47 Alice Levine? She can't stay out here for a second longer. Jade rushes through to the lounge, keeps her eyes down, sure they're all looking at her. She pushes open the door to the diary room, and she hears it pad shut. The tears start to flow. She sits on the big red bubble chair and blurts out,
44:07 Speaker 04 "Hello, Big Brother."
44:09 Alice Levine? The floating voice comes back. Hello, Jade.
44:13 Matt Forde? Are you okay? So in some episodes, you were the voice.
44:18 Alice Levine? Yes, yes, I was. So, only a couple of times, it's exactly as you remember it. You have to keep your voice steady, almost robotic. I've been known to call people to the diary room. I've been known to question a few people. But the protocols are very tight because, of course, you can kind of shatter the illusion that there's this very strict machine governing over you. You know, if you just go in there and go, "Hiya!", it sort of ruins the whole thing, doesn't it?
44:43 Matt Forde? So what would you say?
44:45 Alice Levine? So, I do remember saying, "Your diary sessions come to an end. You may leave the diary room now."
44:51 Matt Forde? Oh my god, you've got such a good voice for it. Did you feel powerful?
44:54 Alice Levine? Oh my goodness, so powerful. And the other one is where you're not in the diary room, and you're just the omnipotent voice in the house. So you say, "Please can all housemates gather at the table?" That kind of thing. Jade brushes her hand under her nose, wiping away a trail of snot.
45:11 Speaker 04 I need to speak to you about what happened last night with PJ. I need you to stop it. It can't go out on TV. It can't.
45:18 Alice Levine? There's a pause. Jade, I'm going to get Brett. Jade takes a breath. Brett's the councillor she had to speak to before going on the show. He's nice, but it's not a councillor she needs. She needs a producer. A voice comes over the speaker. Jade. The tears flow again.
45:38 Speaker 04 Brett, you have to stop it. I don't want anyone to see what happened.
45:43 Alice Levine? There's a pause. Jade, it's already gone out on the live feed. Jade shudders, searches back in her memory. She remembers getting into bed with PJ. Then she remembers thinking, "I'm almost naked. I don't want to lead him on, but I don't want to have sex with him." But the rest is fuzzy.
46:05 Speaker 04 Was everything hanging out?
46:07 Alice Levine? You were covered. Jade's breathing calms.
46:10 Speaker 04 So you couldn't see anything?
46:12 Alice Levine? Brett hesitates. Your head was going up and down under the covers. Oh, God. Everybody knows. Everybody in the house, everybody in the country. She can't show her face in there again.
46:28 Speaker 04 I want to go home, Brett. I want to go home.
46:31 Alice Levine? Jade, no one is going to think badly of you for this.
46:38 Alice Levine? Jade shakes her head. Everyone hates her, inside the house, outside the house. She can't bear the thought of staying here one day longer, let alone another month. Two contestants have already walked. She stares at her reflection in the eye-shaped camera. Why shouldn't she be the third?
46:58 Alice Levine? But then she imagines the look of relief on PJ's face, smug satisfaction. She's not a quitter. She pulls herself up. Let him stay here and have all the fun? No. She's not giving up that easy. She's not going to let him win.
47:28 Speaker 06 In the summer of 1881, US Army Lieutenant Adolphus Greeley and 24 other men embarked on an ambitious scientific mission to the northernmost reaches of the Arctic. But despite several triumphs of discovery, the men would soon face tragedy. Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of the podcast American History Tellers. We take you to the events, times, and people that shaped America and Americans, our values, our struggles, and our dreams. In our latest series, after Adolphus Greeley and his men arrive at their destination, more than 1,000 miles above the Arctic Circle, they get to work collecting scientific data and exploring the frigid landscape. But when resupply ships fail to reach them two summers in a row, they're forced to set out on a desperate
48:11 Speaker 06 search for rescue, and not all of them will make it home. Follow American History Tellers wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of American History Tellers Greeley Arctic Expedition early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Hi, I'm Kenya Paris.
48:31 Alice Levine? And I'm Malcolm Gladwell. We're back for season two of our Audible original podcast, The Unusual Suspects. We'll sit down with extraordinary guests from the worlds of art, film, literature, comedy, and wellness to hear from their unexpected stories of success. And who do we have this season? Well, we'll talk with Grammy-winning artist Anderson Paak, athlete Richard Roll, portrait artist Amy Sherald, Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, legendary writer David Sedaris, and many more. These conversations are more intimate than last season, wouldn't you say? I would. Listen to season one of The Unusual Suspects wherever you get your podcasts, and sign up for a free trial Audible to listen to season two in the Audible app or by subscribing to Apple Podcasts.
49:25 Alice Levine? Thirty-four days later, day 64 in the Big Brother house. Jade wakes up to the sound of scaffolding going up outside. Her eyes are sticky, her cheek is wet with drool. She looks around disoriented, then realises she's fallen asleep on the couch in the living room. She takes in the empty wine bottles. Even for them, the house had a wild night last night. She drags herself to her feet, staggers towards the shower, is intercepted by Kate, bounding in from the bedroom, looking fresh-faced. She hugs Jade. We did it, we're the last two girls left! Jade's groan turns into a giggle as it all comes flooding back. The last two girls.
50:09 Alice Levine? She's made it into the final, she can't believe it. She's so glad she stayed. And she got to watch PJ get evicted instead. She feels a shot of adrenaline pulse through her. It's her turn to face the outside world today. She's been in here for more than two months. She can't imagine what she's going to find out there. But one thing she does know: This minger is going to look her best tonight. Will you do my toenails? Kate nods. If you do mine. Jade grabs Kate's hand, squeals with delight.
50:48 Alice Levine? Later that day Jade sits on the couch in the tight pink satin dress she picked out for eviction day. She can barely breathe. She must have gone up three dress sizes since she's been in the house. She's already split one pair of trousers in here.
51:04 Alice Levine? Davina's voice booms through the speaker, making her jump.
51:08 Speaker 02 The phone lines are closed, the votes have been counted and verified, and I can reveal that the ninth person to leave the Big Brother house will be...
51:20 Speaker 02 Jade!
51:23 Alice Levine? Jade mouths her name under her breath. Jade screams, it's happening.
51:28 Speaker 02 Ten. Nine.
51:31 Alice Levine? She doesn't mind about not winning. She can't even imagine seventy thousand pounds anyway.
51:36 Speaker 02 Eight. Seven.
51:39 Alice Levine? But as she hugs Kate goodbye, she starts to feel butterflies in her stomach.
51:43 Speaker 02 Six. Five.
51:45 Alice Levine? What if they just kept her in to laugh at her?
51:48 Speaker 02 Four. Three.
51:51 Alice Levine? What if they pour ketchup over her?
51:53 Speaker 02 Two. One.
51:55 Alice Levine? Everybody knows she's got a ketchup phobia.
51:58 Speaker 02 Jade, please leave the Big Brother house. Jade, please leave the Big Brother house.
52:04 Alice Levine? Whatever the truth, she's out of time. Jade staggers up the stairs, pulling her silver suitcase behind her. She reaches the top, pulls up her dress to stop her boobs from spilling out, tries the double white doors that lead outside.
52:21 Alice Levine? The wall of sand makes Jade gasp. She's never seen anything like it. People are screaming and shouting her name. Davina comes up and grabs her, folds her into a tight hug, whispers in her ear, "I wanted to eat a pig." Jade lets Davina lead her down the stairs. A sea of photographers are waiting on one side of the stairwell, trying to get her attention.
52:46 Speaker 04 Jen, Jen, to your left, darling. Give us a smile. Right here, love, big smile over the shoulder.
52:52 Alice Levine? Jade holds out both of her arms, waves her hands. She could stay here forever. But Davina nudges her forward. As Jade follows Davina past the crowds, people reach out to touch her. Somebody thrusts something into her hands, a pair of boxer shorts. She can't stop grinning and waving. She feels like the queen. She sees someone with a blonde wig, wearing a Miss Piggy moves. For a second, she feels a pang as she thinks, "Do I need a nose job?" But then she sees a woman smiling, and the banner she's holding reads, "Miss Piggy, we love you." "Thank you."
53:31 Alice Levine? Jade feels her grin widening. She lets the noise of the crowds envelop her like a warm bath. For the first time in her life, she doesn't feel like she's on the outside of something. "They love me," she thinks. "I'm loved. I'm finally loved." The names, the insults, the humiliation, none of it matters now. Because she knows Miss Piggy is about to become a superstar. From Audible Originals and Samizdat Audio, this is the first episode in our series, Jade Goody.
54:15 Matt Forde? A quick note about our dialogue. In most cases, we can't know exactly what was said, but all our dramatizations are based on historical research.
54:23 Alice Levine? If you'd like to know more about this story, you can read How It All Began, Forever in My Heart, and Fighting to the End, all by Jade Goody. And the Channel 4 Blast Films documentary, Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain. Thank you to everybody who has been in touch. If you would like to get in touch, it is [email protected] .
54:45 Matt Forde? And in other British scandal business, if you'd like to see this podcast live, then there are still a few tickets remaining.
54:50 Alice Levine? Think of our usual great storytelling, even if I do say it myself. But with ridiculous features we can't do in the studio, we're going to get you all involved. And it won't be recorded, so if you miss it, you will never hear that scandal again.
55:02 Matt Forde? Go to crossedwires.live for tickets.
55:05 Alice Levine? British Scandal is hosted by me, Alice Levine.
55:08 Matt Forde? And me, Matt Ford.
55:09 Alice Levine? Written by Afzal Nagre. Additional writing by Alice Levine and Matt Ford. Our story editor was James Maniac. Sound design by Rich Evans. Our engineer was Jai Williams. For Samizdat, our series producer was Chica Ayers. Our assistant producer was Louise Mason. Our senior producers were Joe Sykes and Dasha Lizatina. Executive producers for Audible were Theodora Leludis and Estelle Doyle.
55:45 Speaker 02 On January 24th, 2023, in Duxbury, Massachusetts, Patrick Clancy called 911. He had found his wife Lindsay badly injured and his three children dead and dying. What followed would become one of the most searing and complicated cases in recent memory, raising hard questions about motherhood, mental illness, and how far our justice system will go to understand what really happened. I'm Candace DeLong, host of the podcast Killer Psyche. In our latest episode, we take you inside the case of Lindsay Clancy, the postpartum psychosis defense, the courtroom battle, and the trial that just ended in a stunning mistrial. Follow Killer Psyche
56:30 Speaker 02 wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche one week early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.
56:45 Speaker 06 For decades, two legendary brands fought for the hearts of American bikers: Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson. The battle looked a lot like Coke versus Pepsi or Ford versus Chevy, but tastes changed and Indian didn't adapt fast enough. The icon all but died. Then came the Con Men, the Dreamers, a string of spectacular failures that kept Indian in the grave, until one company finally got it right. This is the story of an improbable revival and the reignition of an old rivalry. Hey, I'm David Brown, the host of the podcast Business Wars. In every season, we bring you the true stories behind the companies that shape our world. Indian's new owners are going all in, but an existential crisis looms. Can Indian and Harley recruit enough
57:27 Speaker 06 younger riders to survive? Make sure to follow Business Wars wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of Business Wars early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.
Previous The Warring Queens | History’s Messiest Royal Rivalry | 4 Next Jade Goody | No Laughing Matter | 2 Page updated October 30, 2026 · transcript and summary are machine-generated