Eubank is first Big Brother knockout

Take a walk: Eubank leaves the Big Brother house

Former boxer Chris Eubank has become the first contestant to be knocked out of the celebrity Big Brother house after TV viewers voted.

A combined audience of 10 million tuned in to see Friday night's show on BBC One and Channel 4, with a total of 742,885 calling in or e-mailing their votes.

Duffy: Relates an amusing tale about Eubank

Eubank was kicked out at 2200 GMT on Saturday, but viewers must wait until Sunday's show to see his eviction.

Jack Dee and Vanessa Feltz are the next two to face eviction after they were nominated by their fellow housemates to leave.

Eubank's departure will reduce tension in the house, which was mounting between the boxer and Boyzone's Keith Duffy.

An earlier clash came as Brookside's Claire Sweeney talked about having to do a lesbian kiss on screen, which prompted Eubank to ask Duffy if he had ever had any homosexual inclinations.

Dublin

Eubank said: "You say you are not that way inclined - do you have anything to say to me about that time in Dublin?"

Vanessa Feltz: Nominated for eviction on Saturday

Duffy replied: "Well, taking into account I am married with two children, what happened in Dublin was just a term of endearment."

Eubank retorted: "Don't say that for God's sake."

The conversation aroused the interest of the other celebrities eager to find out what had happened in the Irish capital.

As a ruffled Eubank stormed out of the room, Duffy disclosed to the others that he had grabbed the ex-boxer's testicles when he asked for the popstar's autograph for a friend.

Comic Relief boost

The first round of voting, by telephone and via the Comic Relief website, raised £115,000 for Comic Relief, a show spokeswoman said.

Anthea Turner and Claire Sweeney: Anthea avoided eviction

Turner and Eubank were initial favourites to be evicted and the ex-boxer was nominated by every one of the other five residents. Turner received three nominations.

The former world champion hinted that he would not be disappointed if he was first to be ejected from the house, saying that they were all winners simply by taking part.

Those left in the house are Turner, Duffy, Sweeney, television presenter Vanessa Feltz and comedian Jack Dee.

One of the potential evictees on Monday, Vanesa Feltz, chose Jack Dee and Keith Duffy for eviction.

'Sisters'

She told the Big Brother video diary: "I have decided that sisters should be doing it for ourselves and we girls should stick together. We've all been a bit hard done by, by men."

However, Brookside actress Sweeney did not share the sisterly spirit.

She nominated Feltz for eviction, as did Duffy and Dee.

Comedian Jack Dee was also picked for possible eviction by Anthea Turner, Claire Sweeney and Keith Duffy.

The celebrities have to eat, sleep and live with each other under the constant gaze of TV cameras.

The celebrities entered the East London house on Friday, with identical red cases carrying their few possessions, marking the red motif of Comic Relief.

One of the six will be evicted every other day, and viewers will be able to follow their progress in special programmes on both Channel 4 and BBC One.

Unlike the original Big Brother programme last year, there are no cameras in the toilet or shower and there will not be a constant online broadcast from the house.