Betfair | Big Brother, Week 13: Winners market fizzes with energy in final week

Big Brother, Week 13: Winners market fizzes with energy in final week

This year's BB has been a tribute to the programmers and, gasp, the great British public. The winner's market remains frenzied and impossible to call, says Chicken Dinner.

For all the kvetching about how reality television has lost its lustre, this year's Big Brother has proved that the public have finally twigged how to play the game. All the fame seekers were bundled out early doors, and the current insiders all come across as so riddled with personal issues that they're not just looking for fame but are desperately begging for your acceptance. The people behind the scenes have done a brilliant casting job, and with the exception of Lisa at the weekend, the public have voted off the right person every time. We're now left with a house full of individuals teetering on the edge of their nerves. That's exactly how Big Brother should be.

Those most deeply affected by inner turmoil are Darnell [[23.0] to win on Betfair] and Kathreya [44.0], two interesting housemates who would be worthy of any previous series, and stand out from the crowd in everyday life as well - not always for the right reasons. Both have overplayed their hands, Darnell by taking the Shrek/Quasimodo "who could love me?" schtick way too far, to the point of turning on his nearest and dearest - notably Sara and Kat.

Kat immediately took on the role of house pet on entering, but as with any old Tamagotchi or Christmas puppy, her cuteness has worn off and her constant renditions of "Happy happy house" have become increasingly hollow. Both could have won, but Darnell needs a miracle, and Kat needs an enormous boost from the gay voters who appear to have deserted this series (otherwise Lisa, Luke and Stuart would surely still be there). Can they save her?

Mohamed [300.00], as usual, is barely worth mentioning. His survival is a complete mystery, having been relatively unpopular from the start. On the plus side, there is little to stir any great passionate opinion about Mo, so he should be spared the cacophony of booing that they all seem to fear so much. His exit will be set to the sound of people shrugging.

And so to the top four contenders: Mikey [2.38], Rachel [4], Sara [6.2] and Rex [9.6]. Rachel can be discounted immediately. Only one absolute bore has ever won the show, Cameron (series four), but he was up against the most bland contestants possible. In comparison, this little lot are fizzing with energy. Rex would make for a brilliant runner up - vast swathes of voters love a villain, and Rex has the creepy Bond-baddie poshness that thrills them. Past villains have included Jason (runner-up to Nadia, series five) and Makosi (third place, series six). Hence Mikey and Sara should supposedly be scrapping it out for the winners spot. One problem: neither seem worthy of the prize. Mikey, in particular, has been far too miserable and sneery, and, assuming that his nemesis Rex has a swelling fan base, he surely won't manage it. Only voters sucked in by his disability as a winning trait will be phoning in, but this year they're a savvy audience. Sara has the sympathy vote from last week's bullying episodes, but now that she's friends with Darnell and Rex again, her worth could quickly dwindle. It is near impossible to call.

Chickendinner will, however, go out on a very shaky limb: Mohamed last, then Rachel, Darnell, Mikey, Sara, Rex, and against all the odds, and should she survive the midweek bundle (the two housemates with the fewest win votes are being evicted on Wednesday), a shock win for Kathreya - thanks to the final night floating voters who watch the first week, the last week and only remember her cartoony goodness.

She wins for being the most consistent housemate and having never been put up for eviction. Plus her winning reaction would be by far the most watchable.