MILLIONS watch Stars In Their Eyes: Kids 2004 (ITV1) but few, I suspect, constantly keep flicking to other channels, and I don't mean during the adverts.

At first I had no idea what the woman in my life, who could tell the whole of Eurovision a thing or two about organising a song contest, was up to.

Then it was clear, she was avoiding the reality clips about each contestant where they introduce themselves and their families before disappearing off into the smoke to return as a well-known singing star.

"They just make me cringe. I really don't want to know about all that... it's too much information," said my wife, who has been known to outpace Linford's lunchbox to escape the lens of a camcorder or camera produced at a family outing or get-together.

Last weekend's show had the added interest of 14-year-old Aiden Salter from Cleadon Village, near Sunderland, competing as Pop Idol Will Young.

Despite displaying a fine singing voice and confident approach, young Aiden couldn't match the distinctive sound of the man he was trying to impersonate.

The winner was a cutie-pie from Hull called Kirsty Williams who gained the studio audience's vote with a traditional impersonation of 1960s performer Susan Maughan, which would have probably taken Opportunity Knocks by storm a few years ago. Aiden's not finished yet.

He still might make the final if he garneres enough phone votes on Saturday. "The kids are a lot better than the adults," commented Mrs Camera-Shy, which is probably why the show attracts so much interest.

Strangely there was another major Humberside winner on TV this week... the British Hairdresser of the Year from Hull no less.

Mark Hill was shown as the surprise victor at the end of Trouble At The Top (BBC2, Thursday) featuring celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward.

The scissor-happy chappie and his wife Hellen had spent "the price of a place in the country" attempting to take the title which they reckoned was worth £1m in spin-off hair product sales. My wife, who was pushed into a hairdressing career by her mum, was heard to mumble a word sounding like "bankers" as the Wards bemoaned their fate.

It could have something to do with both Mr Hill and Mr Ward dedicating their challenges to their mothers.

Fortunately the gloom lifted with my prediction for Britain's Best Sitcom (Saturday, BBC1), The Vicar Of Dibley, finishing a creditable third.

"Well you didn't expect anything to beat Fools And Horses, did you?" said my wife. Her choice, My Family (BBC1, Friday/Sunday), didn't make the Top Ten and may even be on the slide down the all-time chart thanks to the current series.

Without crazy son Nick (Kris Marshall) the Harpers are relying on niece Abi (Siobhan Hayes) to create the kookie corner of the house without the same kind of stupid boy success.

I suppose that's because most parents recognise the unemployable nature and mad money-making schemes of young men.

Re-introduced daughter Janey (Daniela Denby-Ashe) with her "you've just opened another credit account at Selfridges dad" would make us laugh... if it wasn't so unerringly accurate.

Published: 03/04/2004