SO that's where they got to! Yes the men with the inflatable shoulders and improbable tattoos haven't disappeared off our screens after all.

I was getting a bit worried for the Christmas/New Year period is the traditional time for the sighting of the World's Strongest Man.

Normally these sweating giants not to be confused with the darts players popped up on the Beeb with John Inverdale getting a free holiday from somewhere exotic along the way.

Well, the lumbering giants who think that pickup truck is an instruction may have relocated to the distant shores of Channel Five but the good news, strongest man fans, is that John Inverdale is still getting his free holiday with them.

Quite what the Chinese made of the invasion of the muscle bound I'm not sure, but the crowds certainly applauded politely as large logs were lifted overhead and giant marbles were chucked around with aplomb.

Poor old Inverdale once tipped to become the new Des Lynam' was left to speculate as to whether "the magic 20 second barrier would be broken on the Atlas stones".

As it turned out it wasn't, although a giant American did set a new world record and qualified for the final at the end of the week.

Somehow Christmas hasn't been the same without strongest man which is so ridiculous it's almost compelling.

I'm just so glad I found it before it was too late.