Gripped by Trisha's Big Brother bravery

I'VE BEEN a vigorous cheerleader for Big Brother ever since I entered its hallowed portals in the first ever celebrity version in 2001. I've argued, were he living at this hour, Shakespeare would pitch up as a BB housemate, eager to glean the mysteries of human behaviour unleashed within. I've also suggested George Orwell would have been a fascinated fan, that Chaucer would re-write The Canterbury Tales to delve deeper into the TV format... and that Mickey Rourke would wander into the house, dazed and confused. Oh wait, he just did!

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Never did I expect to hear Marcus Bentley say "Trisha and Patsy are in the garden talking about Trisha's cancer." Those who doubted the show's power should hang their heads in shame. Former talk show host Trisha Goddard is doing something remarkable live on television and Big Brother's bosses at ITV are facilitating her heroic feat.