Big Brother 9 Betting: Operation 'Axe Rex' begins here

Big Brother 11 / Mike Norman / 03 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Yes, it's still going and they've only reached the seventh eviction. That's been long enough, however, for Mike Norman to develop a deep and enduring hatred of Rex...

Luke finally paid the price for his constant bitching, becoming the 7th housemate to be evicted on Friday night.

Just a week earlier he was a strong contender to win the show, persuading me to predict him as the person likely to overtake Kathreya as favourite to win Big Brother 9. But his constant backstabbing, name dropping and scheming was too much for his fellow housemates - the comedy moments had gone, the double act with Rebecca was over, and he had to go.

Kat has been replaced as favourite however, but instead it's Michael who has shortened dramatically in the 'Winner' market, and now trades at just [4.3] to win, just ahead of the explosive Darnell ([5.2]) and Kathreya herself at ([5.6]).

In a short task that involved gaining points for eating chilli peppers, it was Stuart ([15.0] to win) who emerged victorious and was given the title of Head of House. Michael, Mohamed ([85.0]) and Rex ([14.0]) joined him on the heavenly side of the house while all the other housemates had to endure a week of hell.

But Stuart's reign didn't last too long. He was one of seven housemates to be punished for discussing nominations in 'code', resulting in them all joining Luke and Dale ([16.0]) to face the public vote, and Stuart being removed from his throne.

Last week's shopping task was a 'cops and robbers' challenge with heavenly housemates taking the roles of cops, and housemates from hell being the robbers.

Tasks included safe cracking, printing counterfeit money and taking part in a stakeout. However, to win a luxury shopping budget, two robbers had to cross the divide and steal a token, conceal it and not be identified as the robbers when interrogated by the cops. I so wanted Kathreya to be one of the robbers so that we could have a real Kat Burglar in the house, but instead it was Dale and the now departed Maysoon who attempted the crime.

They were successful in stealing the token, but not so successful in hiding the truth from the cops. At one stage Dale begged and pleaded with them not to convict him as the robber, even swearing on his family's life that if they did then it would be very bad for the house. Mohamed, Rex, Stuart and Mikey took no notice, and correctly chose Dale and Maysoon as the robbers, meaning a luxury shopping budget had disappeared faster than the token itself.

Biggest misperception of the week, actually of the whole show, was Mohamed being shocked at being told he was greedy. However, Big Brother proved that the only way to convert a greedy man is to give him too much food, as they did during the stakeout with Mo miraculously announcing he was full - I knew there would be a miracle this year!

Failing tasks is having very little impact on housemates being nominated for eviction in recent weeks, instead it's attitudes and personalities that are the downfall of most. Rachel ([12.0] to win) and Kat are finally picking up nominations for being boring and false, while Mo and Rex seem to be at the forefront of annoying people.

In Rex's case his attitude might change now that his girlfriend Nicole ([60.0]) has joined him in the house, but I must make a plea to the Great British public - don't let Rex win.

If he does it will be a victory for arrogance, a victory for dominant males who bully harmless women, a victory for restauranters up and down the country who brag about their wealth - but most of all, it will be a victory for side partons, reminiscent of those worn by 1930s footballers - he mustn't win!

Lisa ([34.0]) and Sara ([25.0]) continue to add only glimpses of entertainment, mostly in the form of arguments with Rex, but I think they will be safe from eviction for the time-being - they are available at [4.7] and [42.0] respectively in the '8th Eviction' market.

Favourite to go this week is greedy Mohamed ([3.25]), just ahead of Dale ([4.2]) and Lisa, but I have a feeling that it will be Rex who could be in the most danger and his odds of [5.1] look appealing. He will definitely get nominations within the house because of his arrogance and bullying of the girls, and if he is up for eviction then hopefully he'll be voted out. Wouldn't it be great to see him separated from Nicole, leaving his attractive girlfriend at the mercy of Dale?

Remember, Dale was ridiculed by Rex earlier in the week for promising to 'nail any fanny' in the house. Dale and Nicole - now wouldn't that be ironic, Rex?