Revealed '“ my Guilty Secrets...

The definition of either boils down to an above-normal admiration for a particular person or pastime, or is simply something or someone deemed a bit naff; a feeling that your fascination isn't quite acceptable, hence the guilty aspect.

I quite fancy Janet Street Porter. There, I have committed it to print so it can come back to haunt me in years to come.

I've always been attracted to JSP and her recent appearances on Gordon Ramsey's F Word have only fuelled my passion.

Those red locks, the abundance of teeth, her fruity language and general ability to stop traffic and cause havoc whenever she appears only add to her unique appeal. My love of JSP is a Guilty Secret I positively revel in.

Other Guilty Secrets of the female kind include Fern Britton. Elastic band in her tummy or not, Fern is full of fun, flirtation and downright naughtiness.

Likewise, my wife knows not to speak to me when I'm drooling over any television programme featuring Nigella Lawson licking her fingers.

Food is a great source of Guilty Pleasures. From devouring a whole packet of crumpets, with butter dripping down my chin (OK, chins, plural) to those slightly orange (and often glowing) hot dogs you get at cinemas or show grounds, that demand the addition of BOTH mustard and ketchup.

You know they are bad (you certainly don't want to dwell on how the meat has been recovered) but they taste fantastic.

Music is another source. I know the editor of this paper is a fan of The Carpenters, famed for such charming songs such as Yesterday Once More and We've Only Just Begun. Their music would generally be termed a Guilty Pleasure, but it delights me Mr Channon, quite correctly, makes no secret of his passion for this superb brother-sister musical duo.

My musical guilty pleasures include Glenn Miller and Roger Whittaker. Their music comes from my childhood (another rich source of Guilty Pleasures) and I freely admit to a quick blast of In The Mood on a journey to work to make me feel buoyant, or a couple of tracks from Jolly Roger when I need to feel the world is a better place than is the sometimes stark reality.

So why the guilt? If something brightens up your day, why should it be guilty?

Alas, in a world driven by fashion, where far too many people criticise you because of your taste, we now live in a culture where we are afraid of being mocked.

But I think it's time to wave two fingers at fashion's rules and to be proud of your tastes and fancies.

Euripides said: "Short is the joy that guilty pleasure brings". Surely, then, dispensing with the guilt would lengthen the pleasure.

A chorus of Durham Town and a dodgy-looking sausage, anyone?

Another shameless plug here for a band I consider to be one of the best in the area.

Common Royalty will be taking The Chichester Inn, West Street, Chichester by storm again this Saturday evening.Entry is 4 and the gig gets under way from 8pm.

These guys are original musicians and their live performances are becoming renowned. I urge you to check them out.