As the third series of Big Brother comes to an end many critics have been questioning its success. The series has once again attracted high levels of media attention. The tabloid newspapers have been rife with stories from within the house and with the private lives of the housemates.

As a student I have had plenty of time to watch events unfold. I didn't really watch much of the first two Big Brothers but I have found the current series compelling viewing. I look forward to the daily show at 10pm as it provides an informative insight into the events, opinions, personalities and dilemmas within the Big Brother house. However the live coverage on E4 is often more painstaking involving actions such as Jade sunbathing or Alex communicating with the chickens!

I believe that Big Brother 3 has been a significant success. Popular presenters such as Chris Moyles and Graham Norton always have something to say about it on their shows and this fuels public opinion, whether it results in one of millions of eviction votes or just a discussion in the office. It is the interaction of the housemates, which makes the show a success. Tears, laughter, backstabbing, arguments, crazy drunken behaviour and romance have all contributed to the appeal of watching Big Brother.

However has all this entertainment come at a cost? The contestants were warned that this series would be the toughest yet. The programme's creators Endemol added new twists to their social experiment by adding aspects such as the rich and poor sides of the house. Would this encourage competition and strife rather than the ability to live together in harmony? The main victim of these changes has been 21 year old dental nurse Jade Goody from Bermondsey. I have to admit that from what I have seen of her I would hate to live with her, however I do have a great deal of sympathy for her. Her lack of intelligence, loudness and bitchy attitude has led to her being bullied and humiliated by
other members of the house. Some people believe that the worst aspect of all of this is the abuse that some of the contestants have received when leaving the house. It is a gameshow though and the contestants would have been warned of the consequences of their stay in the Big Brother house as they search for fame and financial gain. Shouts such as "Kill the Pig" directed towards Jade do seem very much out of order though.

Have the show's creators reduced the participants to mere puppets of public opinion? Have they also taken too much control over events in the house to ensure there isn?t a lack of drama? It definitely seems they have picked a younger group of people this time around. It has also been argued that their interests are limited to drinking and sex. I haven't got a problem with this as it creates fun viewing for a student like myself but I can see that others may find this somewhat boring. The weekly tasks seem to have been downgraded by some degree and I can understand why Alex is struggling to enjoy his last few days in the house.

In summary I have very much enjoyed Big Brother 3. The fact that it engages discussion from so many different people and opinions underlines its success. The programme is making profits of millions of pounds and no doubt there will be a Big Brother 4 next year.

Who should win?

JADE: Perhaps £70,000 pounds might go some way to compensate for Jade having her life ridiculed in the name of entertainment.

ALEX: At times he seems the most genuine person in the house and he has been a good source of humour. Has his recent cynical tone cost him in the popularity stakes?

KATE: The current favourite with many bookmakers to win. Funny when she's drunk and very attractive. I don't think she'll need the money though, because I'm sure that Kate and Alex will find a career in television.

JOHNNY: The fun-loving Geordie would currently get my vot
e but has he gone too far with his constant efforts to amuse the housemates?

Any comments about this article and Big Brother 3 would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.