THE crowning of this year's favourite housemate takes place on Friday (Big Brother: Channel 4, 10pm).

If you haven't been following the events in the house', you've missed a treat this last week, with Nadia's past threatening to crawl out from the woodwork at any minute and bunny-boiler, Michelle, becoming the girlfriend from hell.

Watching her squeal as fellow housemate, and boyfriend, Stuart, spent two days tied to leggy-blonde, Shell, was great viewing.

The wannabe glamour model has instructed her chicken' not to go on all boy's holidays and already made plans for matching mobile phones once they leave the house telling Stuart "I expect you to ring me every day".

In terms of the winner, my money is on former man, Nadia the bookies favourite. Her past seems irrelevant now we have got to know the fun-loving character, and despite her hissy fits over nicotine withdrawal, if I get to a phone to vote later this week it will be for her.

OVER in Emmerdale, (weekdays 7pm), poor old Alan Turner has been pining over lost love, Shelly. After his scheming daughter Steph put a spanner in the works by spreading it that she was only after his money, Shelly has done a runner from the village. Or so Alan claims. Looking at the size of his gut, I think he's covering up for eating her.

LOOKING ahead, there's a treat in store for Peter Kay fans tonight (Wednesday) as Manchester welcomes the Bolton boy back for a live one-off gig (Peter Kay Live: Channel 4, 9.30pm).

The cult comic, who brought the ingenious Phoenix Nights to our screens, is back with his subtle take on everyday life - if you've ever experienced fine rain, booked a holiday on teletext, or your mum buys cr*p pop, you'll love this.

WHILE some celebs enjoy parading their latest beau for the camera, most keep their private lives under wraps, preferring to keep their loved ones out of the limelight and away from the gossips.

So if you were single and struggling to bag yourself a man, you'd do the same, right? Not Esther Rantzen. Tonight (Wednesday) the TV presenter will appear on Primetime television airing the fact that she is desperate.

On Would Like To MeetEsther (BBC2, 8pm) viewers will see the widow step up her search for a fella with the help of stylists, body language experts and confidence coaches. Probably worth a view, if only to see if the experts' are good enough to make her look less like a horse.

IF you are a fan of the great game, don't miss BBC1 on Sunday (10.15pm) when Match Of The Day celebrates its 40th anniversary with a documentary on how the show became a national treasure.

Long-term presenter, Des Lynam, will be just one of the stars featured (alongside Becks, George Best, Delia Smith and Noel Gallagher), let's hope the ageing smoothie gathers his marbles back together first.