Although he doesn't look like the traditional image of the buff gardener, Alan Titchmarsh has become an unlikely sex symbol. Titchmarsh's down to earth sexiness first came to the attention of housewives everywhere presenting BBC2's Gardener's World from his own back garden. Amazingly, Alan has also published several very racy novels, proving that there's definitely something to his sex symbol status.

Can a nerd be a sex symbol? You'd better believe it. Adam Brody's character Seth in The OC is socially awkward, a wise-ass, geeky and an unexpected sex symbol. Maybe the teenage girls of today have become tired of jocks; the traditional heart throbs of American drama, and instead pine for the thoughtful nerd instead. Don't believe it for a moment. In Adam Brody, Seth may have the mannerisms of a nerd, but The OC producers made damn sure he didn't have the looks of one.

At the age of only twelve, Shields controversially starred as a prostitute in the film Pretty Baby (1978), before going on to cause even more of a stir in the soft-core The Blue Lagoon two years later. Brooke cemented her status as an international sex symbol by appearing in a Calvin Klein jeans advert, in which she made famous the phrase "Nothing comes between me and my Calvins". As time has passed, Shields has become more famous for her relationships with men like Andre Agassi and for her brave battle with post-natal depression.

What is it about the power of daytime television that creates sex symbols? Richard Madeley is the TV partner to Judy Finnigan, and the man who sets the pulses of students and housewives racing. The pair have dominated the air waves for over a decade on shows like This Morning and Richard & Judy. Somehow, Richard has managed to become a sex symbol in the eyes of the British public. Maybe it's his forthright style? Maybe it's try anything once attitude? Whatever it is, there's just something sexy about him.

Think Daisy Duke from the Dukes Of Hazzard, think tight cut-off jeans. Catherine Bach captured the hearts of millions of teenagers by strutting around in hot pants in the long running television series. The ultimate girl next door, the car General Lee was supposed to be the star of the show, but that wasn't the reason boys around the world were tuning in. The Daisy Duke poster became an icon, selling 5 million copies in America. Catherine Bach is now working on a Dukes Of Hazzard cook book.

Think Daisy Duke from the Dukes Of Hazzard, think tight cut-off jeans. Catherine Bach captured the hearts of millions of teenagers by strutting around in hot pants in the long running television series. The ultimate girl next door, the car General Lee was supposed to be the star of the show, but that wasn't the reason boys around the world were tuning in. The Daisy Duke poster became an icon, selling 5 million copies in America. Catherine Bach is now working on a Dukes Of Hazzard cook book.

Another celebrity chef in our list, Jean Christophe Novelli's French charm is as smooth as the sauces he creates for his dishes. Novelli came to the British public's attention after taking over from Gordon Ramsey on the TV programme Hell's Kitchen. His passionate cooking style and good looks have made him a culinary sex symbol.

It's amazing what a haircut can do for a guy's image. Justin morphed from a curly-topped bottle-blond boyband member into the bloke every male wants to be (and every girl wants to date) just by shaving his head and growing some stubble. He also upgraded his girlfriend, from childhood sweetheart Britney Spears to A-lister (and fellow sex symbol nominee) Cameron Diaz. Justin has a second solo album on the way, as well as a starring role in forthcoming film Edison alongside Kevin Spacey.

She's one of the world's most beautiful women ? Vogue voted her Model Of The Millennium ? and she used to date Leonardo DiCaprio, so it's fair to say that Gisele is pretty sexy. Hailing from Brazil, Gisele fuses too beautiful to be real looks with a genuine sexiness (unlikely most other supermodels). Check out any of her work with celebrity fashion photographer David LaChapelle and you'll realise just how big a role sex plays in her appeal.

The presenters of Channel 4's Location, Location, Location may be good at finding house buyers bargains, but that isn't why the nation is really tuning in. Is it just us or do they seem far more interested in each other than the properties they're looking around? The thought of what's going on behind the curtains has made homes sexy again.