Louis Walsh has become the bookies’ favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother.
The Irish music manager and television personality, 71, has caused plenty of controversy with his sharp remarks on a host of famous names while in the house.
But it seems the public may be appreciating his honesty and wit as he is now backed to go all the way during Friday’s final.
It comes after a twist on Monday night’s show meant Louis would go straight through to the final.
A bookies now reckon he is the one to beat, with the latest odds from BetVictor Casino having him as 2/1 to win, edging out Strictly’s Nikita Kuzmin, who was the previous favourite.
Louis Walsh has become the bookies’ favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother
The Irish music manager and television personality, 71, has caused plenty of controversy with his sharp remarks on a host of famous names while in the house
A BetVictor spokesperson said: ‘The start of the final week in the Celebrity Big Brother house has seen a new housemate snatch the favourite tag ahead of Friday’s concluding episode, with Louis Walsh our new frontrunner to win the series.
‘Walsh was as high as 33/1 in the outright winner market last week but has been backed all the way into 2/1 as of Monday afternoon, making him the narrow favourite ahead of Nikita Kuzmin (11/5).
‘Having both had a turn as favourite over the last week, Colton Smith and David Potts have slipped back to third and fourth favourite respectively, with Coronation Street actor Colton 7/2 and Ibiza Weekender star David on 8/1.’
It comes after Celebrity Big Brother fans slammed the show as rigged, after a twist made Louis go straight through to the final.
Monday’s show saw Big Brother call for one housemate to go to the diary room during the St Patrick’s Day festivities.
Colson Smith was quick to nominate Fern Britton to go, saying: ‘You’re the only one I trust’.
As she entered the diary room, Fern found a pot of gold on the diary room chair with a red toy snake on top.
The Irish music manager and television personality, 71, has caused plenty of controversy with his sharp remarks on a host of famous names while in the house.
It comes after a twist on Monday night’s show meant Louis would go straight through to the final after finding the red snake in his bed
To select the Housemate she would like to evict, Fern had to to secretly place the red snake on their pillow and she chose Louis. But then it was revealed it actually meant he was going to the final
To her shock, Big Brother told her: ‘Fern you’ve just found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.’
‘That means you’ve been granted one wish, the biggest wish of all. You must choose one housemate to be evicted.’
To select the Housemate she would like to evict, Fern had to to secretly place the red snake on their pillow.
She chose Louis to be evicted, saying he would repeat rambling conversations with her and to protect her ‘own sanity’ he had to go.
The housemates were later told to find ‘a slivery intruder in the bedroom’, and Louis discovered the snake on his pillow.
However, Big Brother then revealed there was a twist, as they had lied to Fern about the snake task.
Louis was called to the diary room where Big Brother revealed instead of being evicted, he had won the luck of the Irish and was safe from nominations, meaning he was guaranteed a spot in the final.
Viewers at home were furious at the ‘disappointing’ twist, accusing ITV of setting it up to ensure Louis got to the final and fuming: ‘We aren’t stupid’.
One tweeted: ‘I’ve never seen a bigger fix than this twist specifically to get Louis Walsh to the final. They knew they’d all pick Louis & knew Louis is too lazy to go to the diary room’.
Another echoed: ‘They have absolutely fixed this so Louis could be in the final as they all knew they’d evict Louis… wtf is the point producers x’.
A third wrote: ‘The ITV producers were clearly so desperate to make sure that Louis made it to the final to introduce this unnecessary twist’.
A fourth said: ‘im sorry how much has louis walsh paid itv he just does nothing at all in that house and is now going through to the final… right okay’.
While another added: ‘This show has been so fixed for Louis to get to the final, it was probably even added to his contract #spinelessITV’.
And a sixth agreed, saying: ‘i feel like someone on Louis’ team has payed a lot of money to keep him in to the final. all these things that have happened are just too coincidental’.
Someone else penned: ‘So Louis is going to win Big Brother and with the special treatment he’s received I feel like it’s all been a set up. Very disappointing’.
While an eighth quipped: ‘This twist is so convoluted yet so transparent. Maybe Louis IS Big Brother’.
And a ninth raged: ‘I thought you were better than this @ITV there’s a difference between a twist and then straight up lying about a task, they did this to rig Louis to the final. Have you not learned fans of the show don’t like production over-interfering?’
Louis slammed both Ronan Keating and Andrew Lloyd Webber during last week’s Celebrity Big Brother as his criticisms of various celebrities continued.
The former X Factor judge reignited his longstanding feud with Ronan, whose career he managed while he was a member of Boyzone.
The housemates were treated to some music during the evening and Ronan’s solo single Life Is A Rollercoaster started playing.
‘Great song,’ Louis said before leaning over to Sharon Osbourne and adding: ‘He was such a p***k.’
He then said: ‘Everybody thinks he’s a lovely guy, do you know what I mean?’
As the song continued to play, Louis criticised Ronan’s career, saying: ‘He hasn’t had a hit record since I left. He sacked me.’
Louis has taken numerous swipes at Ronan over the years, including previously calling him ‘talentless and spoiled’.
Elsewhere during the show, Louis had some choice words for composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
He mentioned the 1984 musical Starlight Express which Andrew wrote the music for and Sharon said she loved.
‘Never saw it Sharon,’ Louis said to which Sharon replied: ‘Oh, it was so good.’
Viewers at home were furious at the ‘disappointing’ twist, accusing ITV of setting it up to ensure Louis got to the final and fuming: ‘We aren’t stupid’
Louis was called to the diary room where Big Brother revealed instead of being evicted, he had won the luck of the Irish and was safe from nominations, meaning he was guaranteed a spot in the final
Louis said: ‘He’s a bit of a freak, Lloyd Webber, strange man.’
‘I thought he was gay,’ Sharon said.
‘No, the opposite,’ Louis said. ‘He was married to Sarah Brightman, she has an amazing voice.’
Andrew was married to Sarah from 1984 to 1990. He married Madeleine Gurdon the following year who he has been with since.
He has also sparked a war of words with Jedward after branding them ‘vile’, causing them to hit back.