I COULD spend my time writing about Claire Peacock's catfight with Hayley (who ought to have slapped the little madam right back, postnatal depression or no postnatal depression!).

Or I could discuss the complexities and comedy value of Neighbours' evil twin/good twin plotline (ripped off from Sunset Beach methinks!).

Or, I could talk about the dishiest men to ever grace our small screens and implore readers to get interactive and vote in Soap Dish's Best Ever Bad Boy competition.

In an age when there are dodgy geezers galore popping up left, right and centre, it seems a good time to remember the forerunners of the genre and ask whether today's offerings are as appealing as those who came before.

For example, will Sean Slater ever live up to EastEnders' original all-round villain Dirty Den? Can Danny Baldwin, who is clearly yearning to be an indestructible tough nut, ever earn his place along the Richard Hillmans and Jez Quigleys of the world? (Doubtful).

And what do you think makes the ultimate soap bad boy? Do gangsters (or should I say goons?) like Phil and Grant Mitchell do it for you, or is it the ones who treat women really mean to keep them keen (Charlie Stubbs to name but one!) who float your boat?

Ladies, the choice is yours. I've made a list of nominations to make it a bit easier, but if you want to choose your own, feel free to do so. Just e-mail alison.klabacher@guardiangrp .co.uk with the name of your winner. We'll print a picture of the man who gets the most votes, and crown him Soap Dish's Best Ever Bad Boy.

EastEnders: Dirty Den, Little Dennis, Phil Mitchell, Grant Mitchell, Sean Slater, Johnny Allen, Frank Butcher, James Willmott-Brown, Paul Trueman, Nick Cotton, Dan Sullivan, Trevor Morgan.

Coronation Street: Dev Alahan, Danny Baldwin, Mike Baldwin, Peter Barlow, Alan Bradley, Terry Duckworth, Richard Hillman, Jez Quigley, Greg Kelly, David Platt Emmerdale: Cain Dingle, Robert Sugden, Chris Tate, Scott Windsor, Eric Pollard, Graham Clark Hollyoaks: Rob Hawthorn, Andy Holt Neighbours: Paul Robinson Home and Away: Josh West Eldorado: Marcus Tandy!