WHEN student Myk Charles started university his every move was recorded.

He was filmed while in bed, in the kitchen and even in the shower.

But the 21-year-old wasn't under surveillance by his over-protective parents - he actually gave up his chance of freedom voluntarily!

As part of a ten week long Big Brother style project, three girls and one boy (Myk) were given the luxury of rent free lodgings, complete with state-of-the-art computer equipment and a jacuzzi room... but there was one catch.

The daring team from Lancaster University had to be prepared to be filmed at every waking, and sleeping, moment.

"Surely any student would be happy with the chance of living at university rent free," said the former Fallibroome High pupil, of The Whitfields, Macclesfield.

"I thought that it would be a good laugh. You do lose certain parts of your liberty but we are living in a beautiful house."

And if that wasn't enough, the footage is shown live on the internet 24 hours a day.

www.studentsunzipped.com gives fellow students - and family members - the chance to catch up on what Myk is up to at any time during the day. And although, unlike the TV version of Big Brother, Myk is free to leave the house for his lectures, he must return home at night to bare all and be beamed into thousands of homes via the world wide web.

And each morning as Myk struggles to remember whether or not the goings-on from the previous night were a little too risque, a few cheeky grins from around the campus usually confirm his worst fears.

"A few people do recognise me from the website," said Myk, who is a linguistics student.

"It's only when someone does recognise me that I remember that the cameras are actually there.

"I tried to keep the website address from my family but my 17-year-old sister found it and now keeps a check on me. My mum and dad are really chuffed that I am in the house, even my nan was up for it.

"They don't have a problem with me being there because of the usual expense of living away from home."

Although Myk admits to never even watching the famous Big Brother on Channel Four, he was one of the first in the queue when the appeal for housemates was advertised at university.

"About 50 applicants went for interviews to see if they were suitable," said Myk.

"There were four people on the panel who decided on the final four. We are all very different. One girl is a pagan, one is a party girl and the other is very academic."

Myk's girlfriend Lois didn't know anything about the project when she was invited around for a coffee. The cameras are similar to CCTV units so she had no idea that she was being watched by Big Brother.

"She wasn't too sure when I told her," said Myk. But like most people, Lois has forgotten that she is even being filmed now."

And as Myk returns to the house this month after a relaxing Christmas break, does he ever regret setting foot in the house?

"I did regret it at first," he said. "I thought what have I let myself in for? But I have a good life now and I am just going to have fun. If I hold a party it's a plus for the ratings, I'm enjoying every minute of it.

"The footage is totally uncensored and more interesting than the TV version."

And as his pals are struggling to make ends meet with student loans, Myk is more than comfortable living the life of luxury.

"I bought myself a guitar the other day," he said. "Just because I could."

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