Big Brother, Win Market, Week 9: Three way tussle at the top

Big Brother 11 / Chicken Dinner / 04 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

The big three are battling it out as Rex tries to keep love alive, says Chicken Dinner.

Another topsy-turvy week has seen one of the best housemates this year thrown to the wolves far too early - Luke's very funny exit interview was proof that the voters have been a little too trigger-happy, and if they're not careful the final week could find Mo [75.0] to win on Betfair] and Lisa [38.0] pottering about the house in excruciating silence. But that, of course, will never happen.

The tussle at the top is now going three ways, with Michael [4.0], Darnell [5.3] and Kathreya [6.2] all enjoying a stint at the peak of the betting charts over the weekend. To see Kathreya's worth slip doesn't bode well for the young Thai woman. She has most in common with series five winner Nadia (the buxom young gent from Portugal) in that she is eccentric and funny, but while Nadia took a while to win over a fan base, Kathreya is taking time over losing one. Her main obstacle is that the whole grown-woman-behaving-like-a-toddler schtick was always going to wear thin after a couple of months. She needs to start showcasing mature inner depths to keep people interested.

Darnell, on the other hand, could do with lightening up and discovering his playful inner child. His skin is paper thin, and while his honesty and insecurity make him an ideal candidate to win - viewers demand that their victors be vulnerable (Brian, series two; Pete, series seven; Brian, series eight) - yet his explosive temper can be awkward to watch. He would be wise to keep his feelings for fellow inmate Sara in check, as it didn't work out too well last time he tried it, and self-pity doesn't win votes.

Mikey meanwhile, has snuck stealthily back up the ladder. Interestingly, his popularity seems to get a little boost each time one of his friends gets the boot; first Mario, and now Luke. When left to his own devices, Mikey proves himself to have a strong confident personality, and now that he's calmed down, his jokes are less revolting and more genuinely funny. His accuracy when throwing water at Rex was notable, as was his eating the world's strongest chili and tipping Alphabetti Spaghetti on the floor - all solid highlights for his best bits. It's been a good week for the blind man.

Having a less good week is Rex [16.5]. All the big talk about his astonishing girlfriend, Nicole [85.0], on the outside has come back to bite him on the bum, now that she has become the latest housemate. To hear him talk about his "princess", and how he lavished her with amazing treats, the viewers would have expected to see Rex soften. But instead he is coming across as a paranoid, controlling boyfriend. Definitely not a good look, and both will now struggle to last in the house.

Of the rest, Dale [17.0] has yet to recover from the embarrassing audition video debacle, Stuart [15.5] is still too dull, Sara's [30.0] voice is unbearable, and Lisa is too old. It must be noted, however, that Lisa is a fantastic housemate. Completely mental.

Mo, sadly, has no chance.

This week Chickendinner predicts: Rex for eviction, Darnell to win.