Come Dine With Me's legendary voiceover man Dave Lamb reflects on the show's 20-year success - and reveals the 'WORST thing' he's seen while filming

Come Dine With Me is a British reality TV staple that has stood the test of time across two decades. 

Ever since it was first broadcast on Channel 4, viewers have tuned in to watch four people (of varying culinary abilities) host each other at their homes for three-course meal across the week.

And one person who has been there since the very beginning is Dave Lamb - the show's legendary voiceover man whose quirky comments and jokes made the programme what it is. 

The star admitted to The Mirror that he had no idea it would reach the huge level of success that is has done, when he first signed up to narrate it. 

He told the publication: 'It was initially just a daytime food programme that I was going to do five episodes of and then I just assumed it wouldn't happen any more after that.

'And it's just rolled on and on since then. It's like non-stop. It's up there with Strictly and I'm A Celebrity. It's kind of a permanent fixture isn't it?'

And the programme has had more than it's fair share of meme-worthy moments - with one of the most notable being the pet snake that left a mess on the table.

Dave recalled: 'The snaked that pooed on the table is probably one of the worst things I've seen. But to be honest, they do all blend into one after 20 years.'

In 2010, while her fellow contestants waited on their dessert, contestant Claire Baron decided to bring out her pet snake, Fluffy, who emptied her bowels on the table.

Another unforgettable moment was 2017 contestant Peter Marsh who laid into fellow contestant Jane after she won and he came last.

Shaking his head feverously at winner Jane, Mr Marsh spouted: 'Enjoy the money. I hope it makes you very happy.'

He followed up with the notorious line; 'Dear Lord, what a sad little life Jane. You ruined my night completely so you could have the money.'

He told the winner to spend her winnings on 'some lessons in grace and decorum', as the three contestants sat awkwardly on on the sofa.

He continued: 'Because you have all the grace of a reversing dump truck without any tires on.'

When fellow contestant Charlotte did not comprehend what his rant meant, he replied: 'Well you wouldn't. Let's be honest, there's nobody in there, love.'

Shortly after, he kicked out the winner and two other contestants - Jane, Charlotte and Peter - out of his home.

Come Dine With Me began production in the summer of 2004 before it was first broadcast on Channel 4 in January 2005. 

At first, each group of amateur chefs and dinner party guests consisted of five people, with each person's dinner party broadcast in a 30-minute episode from Monday-Friday.

However, after a few years, the format changed to include four people in each group, with episodes lasting for an hour and each dinner party condensed into a 15-minute slot.

At the end of each dinner party, in the taxi on the way home, the guests rate their host out of 10 - taking into account the quality of the food, the hospitality and the entertainment for the evening.

In 20 years, no one has ever achieved a perfect score on the programme - but in 2006 Ian Cook wowed his guests with a near-perfect three courses and managed to pull in a score of 39/40. 

The contestant who gave him a score of nine rather than 10 said she had done so because Ian served water in plastic bottles, rather than glass.