[Feefs]

It's easy to forget that despite superficial appearances - Elizabeth wasn't that old. Certainly not over the hill in the looks stakes. Her frumpiness came from her attitude, not years.

I thought it was good there was someone like Elizabeth who wasn't interested in glamour and fashion, even if it meant I had to suffer watching that jumper. My problem with her was that she seemed to resent other people's interest in it. Rather than being jealous of it, I think she looked down on it.

As someone about the same age as Elizabeth, who would like to be prettier, but is reasonably happy with her lot I can tell you that I'm never jealous of teenagers apart from when it comes to school holidays. I had a happy childhood and my teenage years were less traumatic than most, but my 20s are infinitely better. Looks have never been that important to me, and although I don't think mine will be fading for a few years yet I'm sure I'll cope. Things like having a good career and social life are more meaningful to me and these have improved with age.

Having lived a bit and travelled (but not as much as Paul) I know I'd bring far more to the house now than when I'd just turned 18 and not just round my thighs! I'm sure there are plenty of perfectly interesting 18 year olds out there, but those same 18 year olds will be far more interesting at 25.

I'm by no means against having some youth in the house. Helen and Brian were two of my favourites, but watching them develop was what made them so interesting and they could only do that in the presence of people with more life experience. A mixture is required to sustain a 9-week adult program or it would turn into Shipwrecked, but without the beach. Frightening!

The sad thing is, the only people who got competitive about looks this year were Stuart and Josh and they were both old enough to know better. Brian also thought he couldn't compete with Josh, but that was just as daft, but still made good tv.