Big Brother Winners market: No hopers and Contenders

Big Brother 11 / Chicken Dinner / 23 June 2008 / Leave a Comment

As housemates try to put Alexandra behind them Chicken Dinner see the race to be the BB9 winner take shape.

Good riddance to the vile Alexandra, evicted for poisoning the atmosphere as only a dangerous person can. Her legacy remains, however, as the remaining housemates' nerves are far too jangled to build anything resembling a warm relationship with each other. Alex did, after all, threaten to visit their "friends and family." While the house tries to put the nightmare behind them, some of the residents should also be meditating on the fact that just 19 days in, they have already blown their chances.

No hopers

Dale [50.0 to win on Betfair]: Has physical appeal, but lacks the necessary energy and charisma to make teenie voters fall in love with him. Big Brother has also cooked his goose by sending in a stronger, funnier and better looking version in the form of Stuart. Slumping in the bathroom and weeping softly about how you were picked on because of "the way you look" is not a vote-winning strategy for handsome young man. Must butch up.

Stuart [42.0]: Far too cocksure to go the distance - a bit like Josh from Big Brother 2, a late arrival who only managed a four week stay. Late arrivals have only won BB once.

Sylvia [180.0]: She'll have alienated plenty of voters with her sexually aggressive behaviour towards new boy Stu - she is every contented girlfriend's worst nightmare.

Dennis [210.0]: He's made the same mistake as Billi from last year by attempting to go in with a game plan, unaware that no one bothers with those any more. His constant second guessing has made him look bitchy and paranoid, and either eviction or a nervous breakdown awaits.

Mario [65.0] and Lisa [110.0]: They look like the kind of people whose social life takes place in car parks at night, and their bath-times are becoming increasingly disturbing. The gap between them and the rest of the group is growing, hence they won't do anything to dispel the fact that older people can't win Big Brother.

Middle of the pack

Rex [42.0], Mo [27.0], Rachel [27.0], Darnell [11.5], Jennifer [60] and Michael [13.5]. Rex, Mo and Darnell could all yet rise or fall, having so far played their cards close to their chests.

Of the three, Mohamed seems the most sympathetic character, recently demonstrating a strong sense of justice when he took on Sylvia for her biscuit and beer thievery, and his civil war back story is thrilling. The big question is whether an interesting life makes for an interesting human being - the same applies to jailbird Darnell. Of the girls, Jennifer has buckets of opinion and a kindly Geordie accent, but as a straight-faced single mum, she lacks the personality to go all the way. Rachel is too boring to win, and Michael was supposed to play a cheerful blind man, but has proved too menacing and bitter. Big Brother rules state that those with disabilities must be cheerful at all times (Pete, winner, series seven).

Contenders

Kathreya [2.62] has a huge personality, is entertaining and endearingly strange, and has serenely avoided the tedious analysis of who fancies whom. Could she really be odd enough to break into the male dominated winners enclosure, though? Only one genetic girl has ever won BB.

Bex [23.0] is the value bet, having successfully curbed her screaming habit. She has made friends, has no apparent enemies, and has a combination of innocence and extreme thickness that tends to guarantee a good run in the house.

Luke [6.0] His diary room sound bites are reminiscent of Jon Tickle (series four) and Glynn (series seven), two of the show's most popular characters. Of the three contenders, he also seems most likely to produce a "journey" of the coming out variety, a huge vote winner if handled correctly.