Who would you say has been your favourite Big Brother contestant over the years? Give yourself a minute, there’s no need to rush. The Channel 4 popularity contest seems to have dominated summer broadcasting since the dawn of time (or 2000) and now as a retrospective The Radio Times Online has conducted a poll into the most well-liked of the former housemates.

Coming out on top was season two winner Brian Dowling though the biggest shock was Jade Goody snatching the second spot. Is this because she is the only one people remember? Do people think she has suffered enough for her bullying treatment of Shilpa Shetty on the recent celebrity version and want to show their forgiveness? Or does the blonde Essex girl simply charm the nation in ways unknown?

Third place went to the first season’s ‘Nasty’ Nick Bateman, while BB7 winner Pete Bennet came fourth and Jon Tickle won fifth place. But really – why the need to mull over fame-hungry has-beens?

Some might have been able to drag out their 15 minutes in the spotlight, but Big Brother contestants have proven themselves as disposable as nappies. Can anyone who goes on this show really offer the watching public any long-term enjoyment and why after seven years of this dross are we still living with Big Brother?

[The Sun]