When it comes to Big Brother I'm firmly in the 'Love It' camp. I don't think there's really any middle ground with this programme. It's not one you watch and enjoy occasionally.

"My name is Nicky, and I'm a Big Brother addict" There should be a support group, because this programme takes over way too much of my life when it's airing. Originally this aired on Channel 4, then they canned it and Channel 5 took it on.

The idea behind the programme is simple - get a group of strangers, chuck them in a house for a few months, set them silly tasks to determine their shopping budget, make them nominate each other for eviction, ply them with alcohol, watch in horror. The Big Brother house is iconic, and more so is the Big Brother diary room chair. The diary room is a huge part of the show. It's where house mates go to nominate each other for eviction, or to generally have a gripe or a good cry. It's often where viewers get to see the 'real' contestant, rather than the personality they pretend to be around the other house mates.

Every week the house mates nominate two others to be sent out of the house, some house mates will try to vote tactically, others will just vote for who they like the least. The house mates with the most nominations (at least two) will then face a public vote, where viewers will vote to save their favourite (this was newly introduced when Channel 5 took over - Channel 4 urged viewers to vote to evict)

What always strikes me is how they manage to find probably the most repugnant characters, the most naive characters, and the most arrogant characters in the UK. There are probably about two or three genuinely nice, sane people every year that I could see myself being friends with if we met outside of the house. Everyone else I'd cross the street to avoid. A lot of them start out seeming lovely (though there's always one or two that even on launch night you know are going to be trouble) and as time goes on they become bitchy and sly or they become an emotional wreck. It must be the pressure of the house!

Much as I really dislike a lot of the house mates, they are the reason I watch. A house full of nice, sane, normal people would be boring. It's exciting to watch sociopaths scheming and using those around them for their own benefit. It's more fun watching more assertive members of the house call them out on it. And the aftermath of the arguments make good viewing.

Most viewers of Big Brother also love a good house romance, and there's usually one or two. Watching people fall in love offers a unique insight into the initial courtship and honeymoon period of a relationship. I'm always rooting for a long lasting Big Brother relationship. It can get very awkward in the house though if love (or lust) is unrequited, it makes for compelling but cringe worthy watching.

If there's one negative to this show, it's that I can feel my brain cells dying as I'm watching it, but it's just so addictive that I'm happy for my IQ to drop a point or two just so I can watch the whole summer long!