CBB star gets huge boost ahead of final as Chris Hughes sees odds of winning tumble amid JoJo Siwa accusations
CELEBRITY Big Brother star Jack P. Shepherd is now in the running to WIN the show after going from zero to hero in the space of a week.
The Coronation Street star, 37, was up for the chop twice but he is now the new hot favourite to be crowed the champ.
Jack’s return to the head of the betting marks a remarkable turnaround.
After entering the Big Brother house as the favourite, he found himself as long as 20/1 during the show’s first week. But after surviving two public votes, he’s now the 7/4 favourite to win.
A housemate with contrasting fortunes is Love Island‘s Chris Hughes, who is now 16/1 having once been the 5/4 frontrunner.
Chris has sparked fan speculation that he’s “playing a game” after latching onto US star JoJo Siwa in the house.
The Dance Moms star is still in the race with 6/1 odds, behind Danny Beard and Donna Preston.
Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes said: “The great comeback – at least in terms of the odds – is complete.
“He’s the most nominated housemate, but Jack P. Shepherd’s unique sense of humour has seen the public save him twice, and it may well see him go all the way.”
It comes after Olympian Daley Thompson became the third star to be evicted last week.
Daley had been up against Patsy Palmer but he was shown the door after fans chose to save the EastEnders actress.
The retired athlete appeared slightly disappointed to be leaving the house but smiled as he headed towards the exit.
Daley had received four nominations from his CBB housemates.
Patsy had chosen him, along with Angellica Bell, Chris Hughes and Donna Preston.
Just days before, the housemates were left gobsmacked as Trisha Goddard got the boot, just days after Mickey Rourke was kicked out.
The TV presenter, who is living with stage four breast cancer, lost to EastEnders actress Patsy and Coronation Street star Jack, who had also been nominated for the public vote.
As she left the house, she appeared to snub Jack by not giving him a hug when she left.
It follows the departure of US actor, Mickey, 72, who agreed to leave the ITV1 show at the weekend after “further use of inappropriate language” and “instances of unacceptable behaviour”.
It comes after first evictee Sir Michael Fabricant took to social media and praised soap star Jack.
The 74-year-old penned on X: “Reading some bad things about Jack. #CBBUK.
“He is NOT boring. Far from it. He is thoughtful and quiet.
“And talking to him, one to one, he is full of interesting stories and analyses – as are many of the others.
“But he laughs at all my jokes. (Which is a BIG plus.).”
Meanwhile, it is not the first time Michael has shared kind words for Jack since being evicted from the ITV show.
On his page on X he wrote: “I am so determined to catch up with Danny and Jack (and most of the others) as soon as #CBBUK is over.”
Viewers had been shocked when Jack racked up a whopping eight nominations ahead of the first eviction.
Some fans believed producers were deliberately cutting scenes to give the soap star a favourable edit – especially after suggestions he’d been making jokes that some housemates didn’t find funny.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one wrote: “I think ITV are protecting their own talent by not airing Jack P Shepards ‘dark humour’ jokes.”
Another added: “Jack getting the most nominations, but the least airtime means ITV are giving him a very good edit.”
Before entering the Big Brother house, Jack admitted fears of being “cancelled” while on the reality show.
He told The Sun’s TV Mag: “I have to know someone on the inside to make sure I’m not going to get cancelled.
“That’s everyone’s fundamental concern, isn’t it? That’s the biggest one.
‘”What happens if I go in there and I’ve no career [after] or people hate me?'”
He added: “Or I get booed and heckled. Having Cols on the inside and telling me what it’s all about, I think it’ll be fine.
“I think I’m just in there to make people laugh.”