Day 16 had it all: tasks, tears, a birthday and the biggest curveball to be delivered this series.

The Lab Rats task continued with the Impossible Maze, which saw sleep-programmed Caroline and non-sleep-programmed Becky attempting to find the cheese in an impossible maze. Only the words, "I camembert it" could free them. We give humble thanks to the God of Puns. The final task in this two-day blitz was a dark investigation into the battle between obedience and compassion that takes place in the human mind. The Cruelty Task saw, for the first time, the lab rats becoming the scientists.

The housemates found out whether they had passed the task but there was no time to dwell on their fortunes because Big Brother called them to the sofas to announce that nomination chat is no longer allowed. You heard it. The subject that launched a thousand scheming sessions is no longer open to the housemates. Violation will lead to serious penalties. Benedict and Lauren found the timing of this annoucement insenstive but you guys must be pleased. Our poll revealed that 88 percent of you are against housemates discussing nominations. Democracy wins!

Birthday girl Lydia, who'd been hoping all day for some celebratory action, exploded in grief as the day wore on without a freakin' party. But Big Brother hadn't forgotten her. There was an ace up a sleeve that may or may not have been one Andy Scott Lee.

In this spirited atmosphere of Lydia's party, Adam saw fit to propose to Shievonne. The normally collected matriach was thrown into a tailspin and claimed to feel: "shock, confusion, awkwardness, like cringe, sadness, vulnerability and sensitivity." Well done, Ads.

And that was pretty much that for Day 16, apart from the party hi jinx, of course. If there's one thing we love about housemates, it's their dedication to party hi jinx.