"Hello, my name's Crescent and I'm addicted to watching cookery programmes"

I simply must get rid of this ever expanding problem where people making meals, no matter how bad, draws my attention. Everything from Ready Steady Cook, How To Eat Now and Jamie at Home to Saturday Kitchen and The F Word. It is slightly getting out of hand when I decide to watch Rachel Allens Bake on catch up rather than an episode of Eastenders.

At the moment Come Dine... is my favourite thing to watch when there's a gap in the TV line up. Even the celebrity versions have me hooked. Although in some cases I'm more interested in what their houses look like. (Not all that impressed with Christopher Biggens abode which surprised me.)

Yes, Come Dine With Me is another of those 'reality' style shows. The basic idea being to throw four complete strangers together, hope that they have some kind of character clash to make things a bit interesting and then get them to each host a dinner party on a separate day of the week.

When they get to see the menu let them slag it off a bit before they get to actually taste it. At the end of each dinner party let the 'contestants' give a rating from 1-10, ignoring the fact that in some cases they may not of liked the person hosting so are purposely giving a lower score. The contestant with the highest score wins £1000 and has to try and not look too pleased with themselves.

Unlike other cooking programmes this one is more based on the relationships developed between the contestants. At first they were just your everyday 'normal' types but I think since the programmes become more popular the producers want them to be slightly more eccentric or having firey types of personality. Just to stir things up a bit.

In fact the food is only vaguely featured, more of a backdrop for these contestants to talk about whilst the host is out of the room. Of course some of this is fueled by how much alcohol they have pumping through their body!

There has in fact been 8 series so far with probably a lot more in the pipeline as this kind of set up isn't going to drop in entertainment value for a while to come. It first started in 2005 and 4 years down the line it is still just as popular. Narrated by Dave Lamb who continually gives dry and sarcastic comments throughout makes it even more interesting to watch.

It's on Channel 4, well known for these types of shows, on at random times! You can get Come Dine With Me Extra Portions on at 5pm on Thursdays, whilst the normal programmes on at 2pm but on more4. It's all very mixed up as the latest series finished back in May. To make up for this they always put on repeats but there's so many that you're bound to not remember them.

Aside from the special eddtions these last for 30 minutes and you may like it if you're into cookery programmes but don't want too much of it. Like I said, it is more centred on the guests, this isn't a how to make a lovely pudding programme. Although you might get a few ideas from time to time.

Enjoyable viewing even if it is a bit sparse on information.