Woo-hoo...patient Ziggy gets his Big Brother date

The 26-year-old, the only man in the house, had to bide his time after a marathon night of wining and dining.

Pictures: Romantic dinners in the BB House

For yesterday's task he had to entertain each of the 11 housemates in turn in his own personal dining room, and he was ordered to eat all 11 courses before being allowed out.

After six hours Ziggy, who used to be a member of the band Northern Line, was still in good spirits for his final date with Chanelle, who he admitted to Big Brother that he fancied.

Their conversation touched upon mutual attraction, and Chanelle's bizarre obsessions with Victoria Beckham and odd numbers.

It ended when Chanelle bluntly asked Ziggy: "Shall we get to bed?" He replied "Go to bed? What did you say?" before Chanelle crushed his hopes by clarifying: "I just mean go to the bedroom or into the living room."

Ziggy formed a surprising bond with middle-aged sexual health worker and political activist Carole Vincent over a prawn cocktail.

The pair talked about their travels and discovered they had a lot in common.

Ziggy said: "You're cool as cats, you're a wonderful woman. I enjoy spending time with you."

Earlier Nicky celebrated her birthday in tearful fashion, heading to bed early for a cry because she missed her family.

She told Big Brother: "I've had a really nice day and everybody's been very sweet to me.

"The thing is, sometimes housemates just aren't enough."

Meanwhile the friction between unemployed south London 'it girl' Charley Uchea and former child prodigy Emily Parr continued to grow.

Emily told Nicky Maxwell she felt Charley "doesn't have a very nice personality", and is causing conflict within the house.

Charley suggested the feeling was mutual in a conversation with Shabnam Paryani.

Gossiping in the bathroom, Shabnam whispered: "That Emily's a real snob" to which Charley replied: "You're not wrong though babes."

The show's oldest contestant, 60-year-old Lesley Brain, is still mulling her future in the house after grumbling about the "unacceptable" level of boredom in the house.

The Women's Institute member told Big Brother during a Diary Room chat she was "ready to go home".

"I am more bored than is acceptable to me, in the sense that I have better things to do," she said.

Lesley confessed she had tried "very hard" to explore her role within the group, adding: "I think this a very good time to back out and let them get on with it."

But after a reminder from Big Brother that she had been chosen because of her strong character and urged to "sleep on the matter", she replied: "Fair enough, I will."