The housemates have been given what might be their toughest Task yet. The House will become the venue for one big pyjama party as the gang try to stay awake for the next 50 hours. Yes, 50!

As Chanelle continued to wonder why Big Brother had so kindly supplied the housemates with cheese and wine in the bedroom, all suddenly became clear.

The housemates were summoned to the Living Area which, while out of bounds, had been transformed into a grotto of sleepiness - a den so cosy that trying to resist snuggling up and snoozing would be like an alligator trying to resist a large fillet steak.

It's all part of Big Brother's fiendish plan.

"Right, quiet please," announced Liam as he read out the Task instructions.

Over the next 50 hours, housemates will be allowed just three hours' sleep. The time that housemates spend asleep will be shown on a giant clock in the Living Area. If one or more housemates close their eyes for longer than a minute, the timer will start counting down. If the timer reaches zero, housemates fail the Task.

"No sleeping, right, cos I want to smoke next week," said Liam, before adding, "I'm sure we'll be allowed coffee."

"So," said Tracey, doing a bit of dodgy mental arithmetic, "we don't get to go to bed until Wednesday morning."

Crikey. Will Big Brother provide matchsticks to prop their eyelids open?