Like most girls I have had the misfortune of being on the end of a host of bad chat-up lines.

It doesn't seem to matter how new age men become, give them a few drinks and they seem to think they can impress you with a cheesy quip rather than a decent conversation.

'Did it hurt when you fell to earth from heaven?', 'That dress would look great on my bedroom floor' and 'Do you come here often?' can still be heard in night clubs and pubs across the country.

And believe it or not, new research shows that these lines actually work.

A poll of 2,000 women found that half would agree to a date with a man who tried to impress her with a corny phrase rather than a straight-foreword hello.

Of course it's all in the delivery.

A cheeky guy who sidles up with a silly line and a cute grin is a million times more appealing than an earnest man who wants to delve into the inner workings of your mind before asking you out.

One of the worst dates I have ever been on was with a man who wanted to discuss politics, religion and the state of the economy before I'd had my first sip of vodka.

But in the wrong hands chat-up lines can be filthy, intimidating and just unpleasant.

A rowdy beer-swiller pushed forward by his mates who slurs 'Get your coat love you've pulled', before grabbing your bum is a turn-off in anyone's book.

Chat-up lines are a great ice breaker for shy men who want the courage to speak up or arrogant men who want to look endearing.

The problem is being able to follow them up with an air of being fun - or at the very least - nice to be around.

The classic lines mostly revolve around sex and physical attraction - they are flattering and make you smile as long as what follows is a conversation with a decent human being.

'I'm new in town. Give me directions to your apartment' is just plain scary if the guy then fails to engage you in some small talk.

But for those men who find themselves tongue tied after the initial flirtation, the Japanese have come up with what must be the first full-proof chat up line.

Scientists have somehow managed to work out that the ultimate line in the world is 'This time next year, let's be laughing together.'

You can understand the attraction - the line suggests commitment, longevity and fun - without a hint of unwanted sexual attention.

It's sweet without being sickly and romantic without being presumptuous. I must admit I've never heard it in a North-East club but hopefully it will catch on soon to save any more well-meaning men from the humiliation of a woman laughing in their face.

Four lads who have not faced the humiliation of rejection in recent years are the members of boy band Blue. Since they shot to fame they have been living the life of any 20-somethings with a bit of money - drink, wild parties and lots of women. The inevitable has happened and now all four are (or are set to be) dads - and they have all split from the mothers of their kids I'm not saying they won't make great fathers and I'm sure their off-spring will be cared for but what sort of message are they sending to their fans (most of whom are young girls or even younger lads?) Having unprotected sex is irresponsible and dangerous for anyone who has not planned to have a baby - to do it when you have a generation of youngsters viewing you as a role model is despicable. Duncan from Blue has said his unborn child will 'want for nothing' after he was abandoned by his dad as a kid. The mother is a former girlfriend who he describes as 'mature' for her 29-years. He said: "My ex-Claire's my soulmate. She's broody so I said I'd be the father." Doesn't sound very grown-up to me - she gets a warm feeling walking past Mothercare and he jumps in. I wonder what Dunc and the rest of the band will do to help the teenage parents who don't have their money or experience but still follow their example that unprotected sex is cool and babies are a commodity.