I think BB2 was the best because of the thing that nobody, but nobody could have predicted: two very nice young people falling in love in front of our eyes. Mrs Oldgit said it changed me from the cynical Old Git I was.

Had that not happened, would it have been the best? Who knows? In addition to Paul and Helen, they had Dean and Brian. Message for Alex: you'll never be Brian! Message for Sandy: You'll never be Dean.

In Brian they had a housemate who not only made the public laugh, but also made the housemates laugh and didn't annoy them.

In Dean they had a real leader. In BB2 there was plenty of drinking and plenty of capers, but he could keep the housemates entertained with his dry wit so they weren't so bored they had to drink themselves silly.

Those four people plus the situation itself made the difference.