By 2.30 am on Monday, you’ll know whether Shilpa Shetty has won the Celebrity Big Brother contest. The Indian actress was the firm favourite last night after pop star Jo O’Meara and actress Cleo Rocos were ousted through an audience poll.
Shilpa was named as the bookies’ favourite after voting began early on Saturday (India time). The odds being offered on a Shilpa win were 4/11, a long way from the 10/1 odds offered when she entered the Big Brother House. The controversy over reality TV star Jade Goody’s ‘racist’ remarks have obviously helped Shilpa, who’s raced past TV star Dirk Benedict, who started as the favourite with 5/1 odds.
Now, the contest is expected to be a toss-up between her and Jermaine, brother of Michael Jackson, though there are four other housemates left too.
A bookie and a crew member of Channel 4, which is broadcasting the show, told HT that Asians and most whites were backing Shilpa.
Shilpa has escaped eviction twice. When she was put head-to-head with Goody, over 82 per cent of five million viewers voted for Goody’s eviction.
Along with Goody, O’Meara was part of a group accused of hurling racist taunts at Shilpa. O’Meara and Rocos emerged from the Big Brother House to a mixture of boos, cheers and chants of “get Jo out” from the audience. O’Meara received 48 per cent of the eviction vote, while 28 per cent wanted Rocos to go. O’Meara later denied any racist intent.
Windfall awaits
Along with Goody, O’Meara was part of a group accused of hurling racist taunts at Shilpa. O’Meara and Rocos emerged from the Big Brother House to a mixture of boos, cheers and chants of “get Jo out” from the audience. O’Meara received 48 per cent of the eviction vote, while 28 per cent wanted Rocos to go. O’Meara later denied any racist intent.
Windfall awaits
Once she’s out of the Big Brother House, Shilpa Shetty will command a six-figure fee from any tabloid for an interview. Book offers, a TV serial lead role and a film are also reportedly in the pipeline.
Shilpa’s mother, Sunanda, has reportedly sacked her agent Jazz Barton, who had negotiated Shilpa’s Rs 3 crore deal with Channel 4. Sunanda has now appointed Max Clifford, famous for handling controversial celebrities like David Beckham’s fling Rebecca Loos and Faria Alam, who had an affair with England football coach
Sven-Goran Eriksson.