Big Brother Betting: Triumph of the bland

Big Brother 11 / Eliot Pollak / 20 August 2010 / 1

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Davina will usher four contestants out of the BB house tonight

"The public never really learned how to keep decent people in – a fitting epitaph for the BB project really."

As four housemates prepare to be evicted tonight, Eliot Pollack assesses the remaining nine and selects the best bets.

So here we are then - the final Friday of Big Brother yet for once, the winner won't be crowned tonight. Rather, four of Andrew, Corin, Dave, JJ, John James, Mario, Sam and Steve will be shown the door this evening, whilst the quartet who survive, along with Josie, will compete in Tuesday night's finale, complete with yelling Davina.

In what may turn out to be one of the strangest definitions of 'victory' in televisual history, whoever triumphs on Tuesday night will be sent straight back into the house for two more weeks alongside some Big Brother legends. Let's hope George Galloway returns once more, although one suspects it will be the Alex Sibleys and Brian Belos of this world who are once more foisted upon our nation.

John James is virtually unbackable to leave tonight, into [1.02]. His standing has plummeted in recent weeks, as he has been going around telling all and sundry that he 'doesn't need the money' - a line guaranteed to rile those watching at home who probably do.

Sam and Steve, both at 1.28, also appear to be in trouble. This column has backed Sam from quite early on - he has managed to give the floundering series a shot in the arm with his 'personality' - which is akin to Where's Wally pretending to be Russell Brand. He may be worth a lay tonight - at least, if there is any justice around.

Corin is fourth favourite to go tonight, also below evens. She has quite simply been found out - her earlier bizarre popularity has waned deservedly. Her worth came from being brainless and ditzy; not from being livid because someone nabbed her revolting make up.

Pretty much everyone else can sod off. The likes of Mario can be relatively ashamed of themselves for bringing absolutely nothing to the table in this, the final ever BB series. Andrew and Dave had their moments to be fair, but neither will be remembered by mid-September.

All of which leaves the runaway winner - Josie. She's been by far the most watchable of this lot, and as such it will be a deserved triumph when she is crowned on Tuesday night.

As series go, this one started fairly promisingly with intriguing characters like Ben, Shabby and Sunshine, but ultimately it's ground to a near halt. The public never really learned how to keep decent people in - a fitting epitaph for the entire project really. Bland triumphed too often - those who kept their heads down were guaranteed final four status and a boo-free eviction.

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Helen | 22 August 2010

I absolutely agree that after ten years the voting public never quite grasped the idea of voting in order to create an interesting and entertaining show with colourful and creative characters.
It seems that the short term pleasure of seeing someone whom people disliked - because they were too posh, neurotic, cheeky or irritating has thrived over having the foresight to keep such people in (as long as they don't actually win).
We should have had a final with the likes of Ben, Shabby (although she chose to leave, so Ife in her place), Sunshine, Sam and the lovely Josie.
I can hardly believe that JJ who is barely more than a lobotomised version of John James is in the final,it really is going to the most boring last few days in Big Brother history.
Furthermore, WHY on earth was Sam Pepper not in the original fourteen to enter the house? It seems that the public are not the only culprits in creating a dull, lacklustre final series...they know where they scr*wed up, but hindsight is no good to anyone now is it?

I would love to see Anna Nolan, Germaine Greer, Sue Perkins, Brian Dowling, Nadia in the 'Ultimate BB' but I have a horrible fear that the participants will be the lowest order of desperate 'double z' listers...Brian Belo, Craig from BB1, the screeching Katraya, Nikki Grahame - the very thought of this impending disaster fills me with nausea and dread.
Sadly the best, wittiest, most interesting and emotionally intelligent will be the least likely to consider re-entering - irrespective of the fee which is a great pity.