'huge, queer and tawdry' but 'much admired by the public'

Well, in these sort of shows, it's always South East London that bites it first, so I tend to lose interest once my flat is under water. About two years ago, me and Alex P had quite a heated discussion about whose flat would flood first in the event of the flood barrier going tits up - his Holloway Road basement or my 5th floor flat in Borough. Now I'm ground floor in Borough, I am definitely toast once that barrier goes. Soggy toast.