Big Brother 11 / Chicken Dinner / 13 August 2008 /

Friday might not be a classic but it will be close and in betting terms that's great news, says Chicken Dinner.

This Friday Rachel [[7.4] to go on Betfair] goes up against Stuart [1.13] in what promises to be one of the most boring eviction nights in Big Brother history. Actually that's over-egging it, there have been many dull head-to-heads, and it's totally normal at this stage for the quieter housemates to go up. The loud irritating ones have gone, leaving just the more popular inmates and their silent sidekicks. It should be a close one, which, in betting terms, is great news.

Rachel has pulled in the sympathy votes this week after the other members of the inner-congregation turned on her for being repeatedly kind to the people in "hell", hence she is now the second favourite to win the thing, but it's not as clear cut as that. For weeks her in-house colleagues have been sniping at her for "sitting on the fence", and now her cheerful nature has backfired on her. A similar thing happened to Shell in series five, who was equally anodyne, but she still made it to the final three. Working against the Welsh lass, however, is that everyone around her seems convinced that she's up to something, and gigantic swathes of voters hate it when people are being devious, so it could conceivably all go wrong... whatever it is she's up to, that is.

Stuart, on the other hand, has become easier to like in the house. He seems popular and well balanced, and while the others nominated Rachel for cruel, vicious reasons, they all seemed reluctant to put the insecure bodybuilder up. Add the fact that he appears to be embarking on a will they/won't they lust affair with Sara [[38.0] to win], and his worth as a housemate could be upped. He might be the favourite to go, but much can happen between now and eviction time, so he makes for a very interesting bet.

That said, neither have enough going against them to make them hated, so whoever leaves will re-emerge into reality to the sound of a muted crowd shrugging their shoulders, completely non-plussed. Oh well.

As for the rest of them, three of the favourites - Mikey [3.65], Darnell [5.5], Kat [7.2] - are having horrific weeks so far. Mikey is making for an edgy and cruel head of house, patrolling the rooms, throwing water at people, twittering about "insubordination". Darnell's constant paranoia is wearing very thin. He needs to stop playing the "who could ever love me?" card. Kat, all the while, has been getting quietly grumpier. Her worth is as a happy-clappy cartoon Thai woman, so it's essential that she cheers the hell up.

Mo [38.0], Rex [29] and Nicole [180] were all lucky to escape being up for eviction, but won't be able to for much longer. The couple, in particular, are becoming impossible to like.

Creeping along very quietly and steadily is Lisa [11.5]. Keep a close eye people, she's Big Brother gold.

Chickendinner predicts: Rachel to go by a whisker, Darnell to win.

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