Jade Goody

Let me start off by saying I wouldn't wish what she went through on my worst enemy, and my heartfelt and sincere sympathy goes to her sons, 3 and 5 years old, who now have to live without their mother. Heartbreaking.

I do however, find headlines such as "Our Jade" and, pick of the bunch, "The Princess of Essex" a little too tongue in cheek for my liking because I feel that they are so exaggerated that it's embarrassing for the people who felt the need to write them. Princess of Essex? Seriously? This girl was as thick as two short planks, racist and naive, a loud mouthed tube who the nation loved to laugh at and/or be disgusted by, and yet, when she has to undergo a brutal, debilitating illness that takes her young life, suddenly the whole country thinks she's a national treasure? Well I'm sorry but no way no how. David Cameron should have scoffed in the faces of whoever it was who quoted him as saying she was an "inspiration to all young women out there"- was he being sarcastic there? She must inspire all the Vicky Pollard wannabes to crave fame at any cost and be completely susceptible to manipulation by publicity "guru's" such as Max "Mercenary Genius" Clifford.

I think it's fair to say I never liked Jade, or what she represented as piece of Broken Britain, but she did gain my respect somewhat with her cervical cancer campaign to get the screening age lowered. I hope it's successful and she is allowed that little legacy as testament to all she went through in her short life.

However, it was after this that some people dared to suggest that she could be compared to a "Diana from the wrong side of the tracks"! Say what? Now Jade Goody was many things but she was never another Princess Diana. I draw no similarities at all, but I do think it interesting that Diana died as a direct result of the Press following her every move, whereas Jade died HOPING the press would be following her every move and paying good money to do so.

So who are going to follow the coffin in the 21 car cavalcade that has been arranged for her funeral? Surely only the likes of royalty ever need that many cars to fill with mourners? I was thinking they could have a new reality t.v show called "how much did YOU love Jade?" and get random members of the public to perform like ignorant idiots to deem which one wanted to be at the funeral most? No? Just as well, because I imagine that those 21 cars will be full of utter losers trying to gain column inches for themselves simply by being there. I feel bad for her husband Jack also because he has to mourn not with family but with a bunch of strangers, most of whom never met let alone liked his short-lived bride!

In summary, the whole nation's "grief" shows us much more about the curse of Celebrity on our social structure as it does about a poor Essex girl who found fame and fortune but alas all that she ever dreamed of couldn't keep her alive one minute longer than if she'd still been poor and unknown.

It makes me sad. :(