TV Villains We love To Hate

From soaps to dramas, cartoons and even talent contests and reality shows - just about every television genre boasts that person we all love to hate...

In Dallas, it was J.R. Ewing; the conniving dastardly, amoral oil baron who drove his long-suffering wife Sue Ellen ('Swellin') Ewing to drink and then nearly drove her insane. How we loved his wicked, evil schemes, his incessant bed-hopping and his unrelenting greed. In Big Brother 8, for example, unemployed, self-styled 'It Girl' Charley Uchea was evicted from the house to a chorus of boos. The argumentative south Londoner was the ultimate pantomime villainess so her departure was no surprise. Each week, members of the audience could clearly be heard chanting, "Get Charley out!" In years to come, she'll be remembered as a classic TV hate figure.

Before we present our selection of some of TV's most memorable villains - a little word about one nasty character we were desperate to include, but didn't have room for Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson. Fans of cult Australian soap Prisoner: Cell Block H will never forget the sadistic lesbian prison guard who was feared for her body searches (complete with her black leather gloves). See the TV characters forever labelled as 'villains' in our gallery below.

• Have I missed out your favourite TV villian? Nominate your choice at the Talk Telly message board.