Specials Betting – Hard Man Vinnie Can Psyche Out Housemates

A celebrity is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘ a famous person’. An equally well known source of reference describes the word as meaning someone who is ‘ widely recognised and commanding a high degree of public and media attention’. None of which applies to the majority of contestants in the last-ever Celebrity Big Brother, which has lurched into life this week. The plug is being pulled on the reality TV house after 2010 and, looking at this year’s line-up, many would probably say it’s 12 months too late! I want a show of hands if you’ve ever heard of Basshunter, Sisqo or Heidi Fleiss. How about Alex Reid and Dane Bowers who are, apparently, love rivals for Jordan? Is any man honestly desperate enough to fight over the woman? Then we have Ekaterina Ivanova, whose tenuous claim to ‘fame’ is that she was once assaulted by a Rolling Stone. This, remember, is a show turned down by Gazza and Russell Grant, a man who normally never passes up an opportunity for self publicity. What was most entertaining about the opening introductions was the fact that not even the ‘celebrities’ appeared to know who their housemates were or what they were supposed to be famous for. Stephanie Beacham‘s face, for example, might have been familiar to fans of Tenko or The Colbys 20 years ago but she’s hardly a household name nowadays, while I don’t know about you but the prospect of a month locked up with born again Christian Stephen Baldwin (less talented brother of Alec and William) would probably have me drowning myself in the house’s ornate bath tub before the first eviction vote. Thank heavens, therefore, for Vinnie Jones (and I never though I’d say that)! The Wimbledon-turned-Hollywood hard man at least has a recognised profile and he may be the only thing saving the show as a betting medium. Jones has been just about the only contestant attracting market support (a best 5-2 with Betfred) and would probably be even more popular if he started throwing his weight around the most desperate collection of wannabes and nobodies ever collected under one roof. Being an old fan of Dynasty I’ll probably have a bit of a saver on Stephanie Beacham at 10-1 (Stan James) who, at least, is showing signs of having a bit of character. But as for the rest, should they really be allowed back into society?