LOOKING at TV listings nowadays it's hard to imagine a time when our screens weren't littered with reality shows.

Take tonight's TV schedule for instance: which includes Big Brother, Big Brother's Little Brother and Big Brother's Diary Room Uncut.

It's all the same, ordinary people with a passion for getting their faces on the box, be it by burning a dinner for a bunch of strangers or washing their dirty linen in public.

If you're anything like me you'll find it hard to remember a time you last turned on the TV and found a really good drama featuring proper actors and not a celebrity doing something foolish for entertainment.

Last night's How TV Changed Britain on C4 took a look at how the phenomenon of reality TV has changed our lives and how shows have shaped the ideas, imagination and attitudes of a nation.

It's kind of embarrassing to admit that a TV show has changed your ideas and moral stance isn't it?

Most people argue that reality TV indicates that we've reached the zenith of good taste.

But others claim it's fun TV and if people enjoy it why shouldn't they be allowed to watch? Besides, programme-makers only keep making these shows because we're lapping them up.

In some ways it was an odd choice for Channel 4, especially as they're one of the worst culprits for pumping out reality programmes.

But it was interesting viewing, especially for those of us trying to resist the lure of the latest series of Big Brother.