Big Brother 5: Davina McCall interview

Big Brother just wouldn't be Big Brother without Davina McCall. Here she talks about her favourite moments from series past and what it's like presenting the biggest show on television every summer

When you find out that there's another series of Big Brother on the way, does that inspire feelings of dread or excitement?

I would be so angry if someone else was presenting Big Brother.

Why's that?

Because it's mine. And no one else is allowed it! I love that programme - I was just talking to my husband and I said, 'Oh darling, it's nearly coming to that time when we can snuggle up at 10pm every night and watch Big Brothertogether and then go to sleep discussing it.' And he's like, 'I know! I'm really looking forward to this series of Big Brotherbecause even when I don't think it's that good? it's still bloody brilliant.'

Does he not feel a bit bereft as you have to work incredibly hard and you're out all hours? Is it not all-consuming?

No! No! I mean I watch it a lot at home but Dermot's the one that's really doing the hard slog over the summer because he's there every single day and I waft in on the Friday - it's like nothing. Work-wise, all I do have to do is what I'd be doing every day as a viewer - because I'd be watching it instead. Oh my God - I watch them at breakfast and I watch them in the evening when I get back in case anything's going on. E4 is on all the time in our house on one telly, so I can just pop in and out and find out what's happening.

What are your favourite moments from the last four years?

I've got lots of favourites. From the first series one of the big memories was when they first went in to the house and got naked and did imprints of themselves on the wall. The rumour went round that Craig was hung like a donkey. I thought that was quite funny and it was then that I realised this could be a really big programme - because they'd all gone bonkers. It was very exciting. Then obviously the Nick moment was really, really good.
There was another one-on-one moment from the first series that got me. It was when Anna was lying in bed and she was crying - she was just really weak and wanted to get out. And she was very quietly crying in to her pillow and then she sat up, she got her photos and she held them right to her face, so that the cameras couldn't see what she was looking at and she was looking at her girlfriend - her girlfriend hadn't come out, so she couldn't show anybody and yet Tania was going to come out on the show - it was just amazing, so sweet.

Other moments: series two. Brian's face when Josh walked in: that was a killer. Paul and Helen falling in love. Brian? just generally, with Narinder - very, very funny. And Brian winning made me cry. I had to go off and have a quick weep afterwards.

Then the third series - obviously Jade. That was a huge thing. I felt quite angry at some of the housemates at times because I thought she was being given a really hard time and no one would stick up for her. Even though they might not have been her best friends, somebody needed to champion her. Erm, Alex, behind the door? Obviously a fabulous moment. Sandy and the great escape. Oh, and Adele and Alex - I really thought that was going to happen. And then Lee and Sophie - who got married!

Series four - which everybody said was a bit boring. I really enjoyed it, but I think maybe that's because I watched all of it. Jon Tickle was absolutely hysterical. The way he heated up the water to go in to the swimming pool was very, very funny. All his moments were genius.

Do you keep in touch with any of the housemates?

I'm friends with Brian a little bit and I'm friends with Anna but I can't stay friends with all of them - there's not enough time in my life. I don't mean that to sound like a cocky thing because I love them all and if they wanted to meet up, I would.