FOLLOWING the Big Brother example of finding an out-there bunch of characters with a tentative grip on sanity and locking them in a studio, I feel ITV have stumbled onto a winner with their Euro coverage.

Advert breaks aside, they stand head and shoulders above the Beeb thus far with an anarchic ensemble cast of pundits more than making up for a so-so commentary line-up.

In Jamie Carragher they have struck punditry gold rather like Sky did with Gary Neville.

The Liverpool defender is funny, succinct, and more importantly, his opinion as a current player is relevant.

It’s a similar case with the Premier League’s Mr Nice Guy Roberto Martinez, who has suddenly developed an opinionated side, despite being forced to sit on a giant potato waffle.

Gordon Strachan is as contrary as ever – but his edginess is nothing compared with the dense corridor of tension that exists between Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and genial host Adrian Chiles.

I long for a time when the Midlander makes one quip too many, sparking one or both to instigate a mass brawl, which would no doubt be officiated by the resident straight-laced presence of Gareth Southgate.

In stark contrast, it’s all a little too comfortable over at Salford Quays, where no amount of wobbly backdrops can convince a glum Gary Lineker and Co they are on a jolly in Poland or Ukraine.

Clarence Seedorf and Jurgen Klinsmann have offered some half-decent opinion and Harry Redknapp at least opened up on his England rejection but the staple Match of the Day crew have been average to say the least.

I usually side with Lineker, Lee Dixon, Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson in this kind of debate, but their brand of patter just hasn’t got my attention.

And who told Alan Shearer he needed to smile more?

The BBC still win hands down on match commentary, though Martin Keown is rivalling Jim Beglin as the tournament’s most irritating colour man, and you don’t have to worry about Ray Winstone’s floating head popping up every four-and-a-half minutes. But ITV have found some chemistry, and it might just be explosive.