Jason second favourite to win Big Brother

Following his heroics in downing fish guts, Jason has been made second favourite to win Big Brother 5.

15:56 02 August 2004

Following his heroics in downing fish guts, Jason has been made second favourite to win Big Brother 5.

While Nadia remains a light year ahead of the rest to win outright in the bookies' eyes, Jason might be staging a last minute dash for the line.

But merely surviving Wednesday's vote to make it to the final Friday will be a massive achievement for Glasgow-born Jason.

The muscly Scot was favourite for the boot for both of the last two weeks, with many predicting he only survived that long because not enough of his fellow housemates nominated him.

But an ill-timed bust up with "Princess" Shell saw Victor leapfrog his bitching partner and be evicted. The next week Jason was facing the public vote again, but incredibly possessive behaviour from Michelle - at one time favourite to win outright - saw the public vote her out.

And once again Jason is no longer in pole position to be kicked out.

A sterling performance seeing him down three shots of pureed raw fish guts, to help boost the winner's prize fund, which saw the Scot double over with abdominal cramps has helped. Along with his decision to spend more time with the group and show his softer side.

He currently stands at 10/1 to walk out of the house with Davina as the overall winner - level with Dan.

While Shell, whose position in the house has never previously been in threat despite facing the public vote twice, is now seen as most likely to be evicted on Wednesday.

Warren Lush, Ladbroke's spokesman, said: "The intriguing gamble on Jason to win continues and we've been forced to cut his odds from 12/1 to 10/1 joint second favourite. If money talks he could last until Friday and Shell could leave on Wednesday night.

"The only explanation bookies have is that it is now a popularity contest rather than an unpopularity contest and that Stuart and Shell don't provoke enough emotions to make viewers vote for them to win."