"I'm A Celebrity...." Betting: Martina unlikely to serve up a shock win in this year's edition

I'm a Celebrity / Feizal Rahman / 19 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Feizal Rahman gives us the first of his daily summaries on what exactly is going on in the jungle: flame-haired Joe Swash is the early market leader, Dani Behr is out to prove she's a real honey and Robert's interpersonal skills have been anything but Silky...

Four days in and our celebrities are beginning to settle into life in the bush. Meanwhile, Betfair punters are similarly coming to terms with the ever-perilous betting jungle that seemingly goes hand-in-hand with specials markets.

First impressions saw Star Trek legend George Takei vying for favouritism with Eastenders' wide boy Joe Swash. The flame-haired Londoner, however, has since dominated proceedings with his three bushtucker trials and general cheeky-chappie persona that always tends to warm the hearts of the Great British public. Into [2.9] to win, Joe looks set to stay at the head the market right to the end but will he really have the stamina to go the distance?

One with no doubts over fitness is the greatest women's tennis player ever, Martina Navratilova. Even at 52, the nine-time Wimbledon champion would probably give the current crop of youngsters a run for their money so a few hapless Z-listers lounging round a glorified forest should in theory pose her no problems whatsoever.

However, while highly-respected on the tennis court, the ice-cold and steely determination of Martina never saw the public genuinely adopt her as one of their own and with a possible political agenda on the cards, it's hard to see the former Czech winning this. At a current [8.4], she looks one to oppose.

Similarly, the toothy Esther Rantzen is unlikely to find the cross-section of support required to emerge victorious. Liable to emotional breakdown, the former That's Life presenter is likely to alienate rather than win over viewers. Far too short at [8.0], along with Martina, she is one to keep on the back burner.

Interestingly, three of the first four in the winner market are all over the age of 50. The usual rule of thumb with these reality/celebrity shows is that the young guns always win.

Though only children of the 90's will especially remember her, the husky-toned Dani Behr follows up in the market at [14.0]. Already indulging in a bitch-off with the top-heavy glamour model Nicola McLean, Dani looks intent of reviving her recently non-existent career by revealing as much of her finely toned figure as possible.

While picking a busty Page 3 model as an adversary might seem pretty air-headed on the face of it, it could turn out to be a masterstroke. But with Nicola ([16.0]) likely to win over fans with her ditzy blond act - did she really think eating crocodile testicles could make her pregnant? - this could turn out to be a battle of epic proportions.

Elsewhere, failed politicians Brian Paddick and Robert Kilroy-Silk took no time at all before locking horns and at [4.0] and [5.4] respectively to be the first eliminated, more of the public rejection they are used to, can be expected.