So here we are at the home stretch and some of the housemates have been letting their guard down. Liam, Ziggy and Carole have been punished for discussing nominations, but I can't help feeling that the real penalty should be against stupidity.

The trio's genius strategy at defeating the five million cameras trained on their faces seemed to consist of a combination of chimpanzee-style sign language, gurning and - most entertainingly - whispering. Liam, son, have you forgotten you're wearing a mic? You wonder what's going through their minds, sometimes, really you do.

It's nothing new though. Since the show began in 2000 dozens of housemates have tried to outwit Big Brother in similar ways. It all started with "nasty" Nick Bateman, of course, seven years ago. You remember Nasty Nick? (not to be confused with Nick Nasty). He was the one who looked a bit like he'd shaved his entire face.

Nick was caught with a pen and paper, and accused of trying to influence housemates' nominations or something. Oh I can't remember, it was a long time ago. Such innocent times. In those pre 9/11 days, the housemates - and the country - were open-mouthed with disbelief at evil they were witnessing. What monster is this, trying to disrupt the game? String them up! We were horrified. Nick actually does have a solid media career now, runs his own Poker club and is involved in "overseas property development in Eastern Europe". The lesson? Evil pays.

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