Big Brother 2's web success

Viewers can watch the contestants 24 hours a day

The first weekend of Big Brother 2 has seen the show's website get more visitors than the original did at the height of its popularity.

More than 1.1 million people used the site on Friday and Saturday, producers said.

Betting on the outcome has hotted up, with odds for 24-year-old "geezer" Bubble cut to 8-1 to win the nine-week challenge.

The second series of the hit reality TV show, where 10 people are filmed 24 hours a day, is now into its fourth day.

Bubble: Low odds on winning and losing

The first series became a phenomenon in the UK when it was screened last year.

But this series, with contestants locked in a house in East London for three months, could become even more popular.

The number of people watching video footage on the site was running at the maximum possible - 8,000 per second.

"The first few days are proving more popular than last year and it's a good sign for the new series," a spokeswoman for the show said.

Footage from the house is streamed live on the internet 24 hours a day, and for most of the day on Channel 4's pay-TV service E4.

Bubble, an insurance company worker from Surrey, has been backed by hundreds of bets, according to bookmakers Coral Eurobet.

His odds on winning the £70,000 prize have been cut from 12-1 to 8-1 - but he is also one of the favourites to be first out of the house.

Brian: Viewers' favourite on website poll

He is quoted at 4-1 to be thrown out when the first eviction is announced on 8 June - joint favourite with company director Stuart.

Helen, Paul and Dean are joint favourites to be overall winner, all at 5-1.

A Coral spokesman said: "He [Bubble] seems like quite a character, quite a likeable loudmouth."

But some of his fellow housemates have already been seen to be exasperated by his hyperactive personality.

"Give it three days and he'll burn out," Paul said.

On Sunday, Bubble revealed that he once quit a bar job because they would not let him wear his beloved hat.

The website's popularity poll shows that "trolley dolly" Brian is the viewers' favourite, with 26% of votes so far.

Last year's Big Brother site became the most popular internet destination in Europe, with 200 million page impressions during the run of the series.