They came to Borehamwood from far and wide. They travelled for miles from distant corners of the country to catch a glimpse of the live final of Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother 2006.

Armed with home-made banners supporting their favourite contestants, with some fans even dressing-up to look like their idols, celebrity worshippers braved the blistering cold weather as they queued for hours outside Elstree Film & Television Studios on Friday night.

Alwyn Martin, a 34-year-old firefighter from Manchester, took the day off work to travel the four hours down to the studios, in Shenley Road.

"I just love Big Brother," he said.

"I can't get enough of it and I know it will be worth it when we're standing by the stage screaming."

A group of eight Northamptonshire girls also took the day off college to be at the final.

Becky Wills, 18, said: "We love Preston and had to see him in the flesh.

"It's been the most incredible series and we just had to see him."

Nursery nurse Ann Kent travelled nearly 300 miles down from Newcastle to cheer for her favourite housemate, Chantelle.

"I had to take two days off work and the journey took about six hours but it's worth it," she said. "It's not the same watching it on television at home. I wanted to soak up the atmosphere.

"I've been four times before and I love it."

The 11 housemates who featured in the three-week show included rebel MP George Galloway, American basketball player Dennis Rodman, model Jodie Marsh and TV presenter Michael Barrymore.

But it was the non-celebrity, Chantelle Houghton, a promotions girl from Essex, who pipped Michael Barrymore to the post and was crowned the show's winner after polling 56 per cent of the public vote.

Along with her newly found fame, she won a £25,000 cash prize.

The fourth series of Celebrity Big Brother proved to be a ratings success, with Friday's show attracting 7.5 million viewers, not to mention enormous media coverage.

Sharon Powers, executive producer of the show, said: "This series has had everything moments of jaw-dropping amazement, moments where you wanted to scream at the television, moments of high drama and utter hilarity."

Angela Jain, commissioning editor of the show, added: "This year's Celebrity Big Brother has been a triumph. It's reached out to people who would never have watched it before.

"We're delighted that so many people have tuned in and that it has provoked wide-ranging comment, debate and controversy."