Gimmick or ambassadors for blind people?

Michael (left) and Darnell - blind and partially-sighted Big Brother contestants

The arrival of a blind contestant in the Big Brother house has already sparked a great deal of interest. But Damon Rose (right), who is himself blind, says he will be under great scrutiny.

Even in the run-up to the Big Brother launch, with national papers reporting the rumours, there was internet buzz between blind people.

A young blind woman posted to the messageboard of the BBC's Ouch! disability website: "I hope he or she is aware that they are representing the visually impaired community and give us a good name. I hope that they don't have awful blind habits, such as rocking or not looking at people when talking to them. I would like to hope that they will be normal."

She was hoping for a good portrayal, one that wouldn't negatively affect what others think of her when they meet her in the street or see her in front of them at a job interview. The worry is that that becomes the prevailing public view.

What's your name again? Blind contestant Michael rounds off an interminable argument with a house mate

There are very few blind people in television. If there was a "good" one one week and a "bad" one the next, it just wouldn't matter as much. If it is a bad portrayal that is the last chance for another five years.

On the mainstream messageboards, among Big Brother fans, the reaction went along the lines of "let's all vote him out now, we know he'll get the sympathy vote if he stays in" or "as I suspected, yet more weirdoes. What will the producers do next?".

Michael, 33, from Ayrshire, was thrown into a house with eight other excitable contestants, with new people being added every five minutes as the launch show continued.

Five days in, if he's been able to track and remember the voices of the other 15 housemates, he's a better man than me - I've certainly not achieved this as a viewer.

Albino contestant

In fact, blind friends and I have often commented that it's not worth trying to listen to the first week of Big Brother as you just can't tell one person from another - all loudly clamouring for airtime at that early stage. And Michael is in the midst of it whilst also trying to orientate himself in the house without injuring people with his cane. I don't envy him.

And then there is Darnell, a black British albino man originally from Ipswich. It isn't universally known that if you have albinism, the preferred term in the community, it also spells sight loss. So there are two people with significant vision problems in the house. Count them. It's never been heard of before.

The full 16 house members

What a great format to throw disabled people into. I'm now able to sit at home and inspect others as they come to terms with their own lack of knowledge around blindness. But perhaps more interestingly, I'm sitting there watching Michael, who I suspect could well be over-egging the situation, taking advantage of the fact they assume blind people can do very little. People don't realise a blind person can hold down a job.

I loved the way he dodged cleaning up the kitchen with a swift: "What's that smell? Ugh, I hate Dettol." He wasn't questioned and no ill feelings were held against him.

He could get away with blue murder. Personally, I'd have gone for the "cleaning fluid hurts my eyes" approach, and "show me this strange thing you call coffee?"

Gamut of opinion

But he will be capable of independent living. He can cook, we should see him washing his clothes, there is no reason why he couldn't find his way around independently. I'm looking for the moment he strikes out and starts getting around on his own.

Michael with his cane, accompanied into the house

We have already seen a range of opinions about our blind man. In the diary Room, Kathreya was overjoyed Michael was able to use the swimming pool. Mario railed against a fellow housemate who attacked Michael for wearing her knickers, saying: "He's got a disability." And Alexandra, who involved herself in the knickers argument, used some very choice language to describe Michael, saying she didn't care whether he was blind or not.

We went from cuteness to patronising to contempt all in one show. It was beautifully topped off, with Michael finally asking the girl who he'd seemingly been arguing with for hours "what's your name again?" Classic blindie. I both cringed and loved his honesty.

But will Michael and Darnell get on or clash? Darnell, 26, has already admitted he has a disability, for those of you who didn't guess after watching him walking into other people on Thursday night's launch show. He has said he has a downer on himself because of his lifelong condition. On the other hand, Michael is positive about who he is, although he's only been blind 10 years.

Fellow housemate Mario has taken it upon himself to be Michael's carer. Though his heart is in the right place, and Michael is clearly appreciating the help at this stage, if he had heard all of Mario's slightly precious and patronising comments, he might not be as happy.

'This is real'

Thousands of blind viewers round the country are screaming at their TV sets right now. "Michael, be more independent. Show what blind people can do." But it's difficult. He knows he's being watched by millions and doesn't want an embarrassing situation or fall so he's happily staying close to his new-found friend.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Hopefully Big Bro 9 will be better than previous ones. Bring it on I'm looking forward to it

Koo, Rushden

Send us your comments

Darnell has admitted he has been staying away from Michael. "I'm so miserable and bitter about [having albinism]. I don't want to poison you with the fact that I feel this way," he said.

It's worth repeating that Michael has an MPhil. He's a radio producer who has interviewed me, is an online war memorabilia trader, and a very aware news junkie. His "little boy lost" approach could wear thin sooner rather than later. They housemates will realise he's capable of much more.

Following the programme this summer, it's almost like hearing what other people say about me when I walk out of a room. Rarely has blind life been reflected in this way and I don't know if it ever will be again.

I don't care how brutal or schmaltzy it turns out to be, whether the portrayals are good or bad, it's real people and real opinions, and it's speaking directly to me.

Damon Rose is editor of Ouch! the BBC's disability magazine

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Here is a selection of your comments.

I too hope that Michael shows a more confident side, I think when things settle down in the house once the initial excitement wears off and the novelty of the "over helpfuls" dies down he should settle in nicely. It would be great to see blind people portrayed normally on TV especially after that trash that was broadcast last year about the blind couple and their children. My parents are both blind and just regular people I was deeply offended when someone asked if my upbringing was similar to the upbringing endured by the children in that programme. So come Michael, show them what you capable of.
Maxine, Portsmouth

As someone who has a degenerative eye condition, I would be very annoyed if I was considered to be representing anyone other than myself, especially some non-existent "community".
Azura, Bristol

I'd just like to say bravo to Michael for being confident enough to go into the Big Brother house as their first blind contestant. My mum is blind and on Thursday night her first comment was that the guy must have a lot of guts, not for subjecting himself to the other 12 soon to be z-list celebrities but for immersing himself in a new environment with so much going on. Mum admitted that she'd be far too wary to do this and told me the difficulties that Michael will go through over the next couple of weeks while he gets used to his new surroundings and fellow housemates. Forgetting the fact that he's blind and clearly using it to his advantage (and who wouldn't after it being a disadvantage for him for so long) I believe Mikey should win simply because he's a nice guy and there are too few of them on reality tv.
Andy Wilde, Glossop, UK

Mikey shouldn't be attributed the responsibility of "representing blind people", surely he's in the house to represent himself. And as for how limiting sensory deprivation is, just look at figures like David Blunkett. It's time to lay our prejudices to rest and accommodate all people in reaching their potential.
Tom, Cardiff

To be fair, all minority groups hope for a good portrayal in the media. It is disappointing, as a member of the gay community, that examples of gay people in the media only support and fit the stereotype. There are very few non-stereotypical gay guys in the public eye, something which only serves to make those who don't fit the stereotype feel alienated from their community. And yes, this comment also applies to the homosexual members of the current and past Big Brother houses.
Luke, Nottingham

It'll be interesting to see the other housemates' opinions of him as time goes on. I'm surprised that the comments in the diary room such as being overjoyed he can use a swimming pool have not caused as much debate as the Jade Goody racism did. My grandfather was blind and he'd have found them incredibly offensive.
Alex, Birmingham, UK

Worth giving a mention to another Channel 4 show, The F Word, which had David Blunkett on last week. I have to admit, somewhat naively, that I didn't immediately think he'd make an adventurous cook on account of not being able to see, particularly when he was cooking on the stove. I was surprised to find out he was such a keen cook - right down to having his recipe in Braille. He certainly showed me a thing or two.
Matt, Manchester

It was just dreadful to watch Mario having a go at other people for "picking on Michael because he's blind", when clearly they weren't picking on him for that and Mario was the one making a big deal out of Michael's blindness. On the other hand Michael's playing the victim for sympathy is equally irritating. Yes he does need some extra support, but he is a fully grown man, capable of looking after himself.
Ayesha, Bristol, UK

I have lived with my partner, who is albino, for four years now and he treats it as a disability. He gets government subsidies and also gets benefits becasue he is visually impaired. However, we strongly believe this is puppeteering both Darnell and Michael for ratings and are strongly opposed to BB9. My partner is a loving caring man, however, he feels that for entertainment purposes this is one step too far.
Jamie Taylor, Mill Hill, London