Celebrity politics and political representation: The case of George Galloway MP on Celebrity Big Brother

In 2006, George Galloway MP appeared in Celebrity Big Brother. His participation produced a public outcry from people concerned that a politician should take part in a reality TV show instead of looking after their constituency. Even when the MP justified his action as an attempt to raise awareness about politics among young people, critics maintained their scepticism. This article suggests that the rhetoric of ‘ordinariness’, ‘authenticity’ and ‘trust’ exploited in Celebrity Big Brother 2006 (CBB06) frame an understanding of representation that is rooted in the UK’s model of Public Service Broadcasting, and that this should be seen as political. Drawing upon democratic theory and using the case of CBB06, this article evaluates how popular television programmes like Big Brother articulate political ideas and values that should be taken seriously by political scientists