NOW we at The Diary realise that this is another supposedly scientific survey with dubious results, but if true it shows just what a sad lot Britons are.

According to electrical retailer Comet and following a survey of 2,000 people, it was found that 47 per cent of men - including those in York - would give up sex for six months in return for a 50in plasma television, while 25 per cent of women would do the same.

We at The Diary are incredulous and, while it does seem to prove that size is important to men, we can't help thinking maybe those men willing to give up nights between the sheets are just not doing it right.

Why else would they prefer spending an evening watching a life-size version of Dot Cotton in EastEnders rather than an evening with their loved (or lusted after) one - unless of course that happens to be Dot?

It does beg the question whether any of the 47 per cent were actually having sex in the first place.

But, according to Comet, the desire for a huge idiot box in the corner of the room could have health benefits.

The survey showed that 24 per cent of people would give up cigs for a massive telly while 25 per cent would give up chocolate.

Even more surprising, according to Comet, is that just under a fifth of men surveyed would be willing to sacrifice watching football for a 50in plasma TV.

Comet's commercial director, Bob Darke, said: "We are surprised to see just how much the nation would be willing to give up for a 50in plasma TV.

"With more and more people aspiring to celebrity lifestyles, having an impressive entertainment system is becoming top-of-the-list for homeowners."


Jokes fall flat as a pancake

Ouch!The Diary yesterday joked that pancake day always seemed to fall a bit flat.

Reader Gavin Allen, formerly of Selby, got in touch to suggest that, for Lent, we give up the crêpe jokes.


Alcohol pledge is no small beer

FOR those who don't have the will-power to give something up for the 40 days and 40 nights of Lent there is an alternative.

Apparently today is the start of Alcohol-Free Week. Now at first we at The Diary cheered at the prospect, and then realised we had misread the press release and that we would not be getting free lager for a week.

After cleaning our reading glasses there was an uneasy silence, as The Diary's colleagues contemplated the idea of a week - a whole seven days - without a couple of Babychams down the boozer on an evening.

But there is hope even for us.

John Risby, who launched the internet-based Alcohol-Free Shop in 2006, said it was hoped that even if people couldn't manage a whole week they should at least try to have one or two days without booze.

Now The Diary just has to work out how to go a whole 24 hours...