I'm A Celebrity Betting Update: Swash still likely to squash the opposition

I'm a Celebrity / Feizal Rahman / 01 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

Feizal can't see anyone stopping the former Eastenders geezer...

In the current financial climate, consumers will be searching high and low for a bargain so it was with much delight that viewers were offered two eliminations for the price of one on Sunday night. But many will now be scratching their heads and demanding a refund as we were dealt another shock in both Timmy Mallet and Esther Rantzen waving goodbye to the camp.

Fully expected to emerge victorious from his 'Last Chance Saloon' showdown with Brian Paddick, Timmy succumbed to the former London mayoral candidate's superior tolerance for ingesting bushtucker. As a vegetarian, Timmy was always going to be at a disadvantage having to devour a blend of camel and crocodile penis, while it could be argued that Brian might perhaps be more accustomed to such delicacies.

So a generation of Wide Awakers have lost their messiah and regrettably the living, breathing Peter Pan will retreat to a distant early morning TV memory. Instead, we are left with the ineffectual and indecisive Brian. True to his political party leanings, he floats around from person to person, telling them what they want to hear but never making a firm stand over what he actually believes.

The people of London may have voted for an upper-class clown in the end but rather a fool who makes a wrong decision than a wishy-washy waverer who finds no resolution at all. Odds-on at [1.53] to be the sixth eliminated, there can surely be no way that Brian survives yet another lightning strike - can there?

We knew there must have been a purpose for him and, cleverly, nothingman Simon Webbe has begun stripping off the layers and flexing the pecs in an attempt to extend his stay. An untimely bout of sickness may have earned him some extra sympathy but he is another whose time must be up sooner rather than later. At [4.8] to go next, Webbe offers better value in the elimination market than Brian.

Meanwhile, steadfast favourite to win, Joe Swash, has been backed down to [1.57]. While his admirable and vociferous defence of David and Timmy may have been more carefully thought out than he letting on, it's hard to find any flaws in his game and even harder to find anyone with whom to oppose. He's played it to near perfection so far and one fears only his suspect temper can let him down in the final few days.

Nicola McLean has earned herself some brownie points by wiping the slate clean with David but how long before the sleazily-coiffed Van Day triggers off one of her aggressive bitch-fits? Nicola is [7.6] to go next and [36.0] to win while David is [11.0] to follow Esther over the bridge but [17.0] to be the last one out.