[Nikkos]

Big Brother's Davina McCall has hit out at critics of the show - calling them "pseudo intellectuals".

Nearly 8 million people tuned into this year's Big Brother, making it Channel 4's most watched show this year.

The final, which saw Anthony win the £50,000 prize, attracted a peak of 7.8 million, short of the record 9.5 million for the first series in 2000.

Host Davina, 37, told the Radio Times magazine: "The people who go into that house are a cross section of British culture. They're not freaks.

"Most of the people who put Big Brother down are pseudo-intellectuals who have never really watched it. If you do, it's a fascinating insight into life."

The mother-of-two said she had not signed up to present a further series of the Channel 4 reality show, but added "it would have to be (something) catastrophic to get me to leave".

Comparing herself to Cilla Black, she said: "Obviously I'm very attached to that programme. However, I'm under no illusions that it's a difficult job.

"It's easy to present - out with a very, very rowdy crowd talking to camera.

"But somebody would find it hard to come and do it - a bit like trying to fill Cilla's shoes on Blind Date."

Davina, who is presenting a new show for the BBC, He's Having a Baby, said: "I'm a complete slapper - I work for any channel that'll pay me."

Source: http://newsbox.msn.co.uk/article.asp...e=windows-1252