Third time unlucky for Caroline

Caroline has had two lucky escapes so far

Former sex aid seller Caroline has been nominated by the remaining eight Big Brother participants for eviction for the third successive week.

The housemates secretly nominated Caroline, 37, along with Thomas - who was last week's second favourite to win the competition. Each received four votes to be thrown out of the house.

Viewers of the interactive Channel 4 programme will be able to evict one of the two nominees from the experimental community isolated from the rest of the world.

The results of a poll conducted by phone, to be announced on Friday, will decide whether Caroline or 30-year-old computer consultant Thomas will be the third person to leave the Big Brother house.

'Why me?'

Caroline escaped eviction in earlier rounds of voting, with the viewing audience kicking out writer Sada first and then marketing manager Andrew.

Last week, Caroline took the news of her nomination well saying: "Good job I haven't unpacked my case yet."

Thomas was stoical about the danger of eviction

Described as "brassy", Caroline hasn't found favour with members of the house, but was surprised to hear she had been nominated for a third time.

She repeatedly said that she "couldn't believe it". Then she shouted: "Can't you think of anybody else's name when you go in there? Why me?"

Craig, Mel, Nicholas and Thomas all voted to have Caroline removed.

Unpopularity stakes

Thomas, who has been nominated for the first time, remained calm on hearing the news saying: "It's cool."

He added that the results had caused a "real adrenaline rush".

Anna, Caroline, Darren and Nichola voted to kick out 31-year-old computer consultant Thomas.

Next in the unpopularity stakes was Nichola, who received nominations from Craig, Mel and Nicholas.

Two contestants voted to kick out Mel - Caroline and Nichola - and Darren got a single vote of no thanks - from Thomas.

Odds to win

Nicholas and Anna retain an unblemished record, never having received a single nomination.

As the competition to survive hots up the bookies' favourite to win is Darren at 9/4. International bookmakers Victor Chandler are quoting Nicholas and Nichola - both at 20/1 as the least likely to win.

Ten contestants entered the Big Brother house in Bow, east London, on 14 July.

They are not allowed access to the outside world, and are watched by scores of TV cameras, picking up their every move.

Provisions must be bought from a tight budget, and house members are able to let off steam in a special "diary room".

Each week, the contestants nominate two of their number to be evicted, with viewers voting for the one who will be thrown out.

Nearly a million viewers called the voting lines last week with 312,622 callers voting for Caroline and 664,323 successful in evicting Andrew.

The one who remains at the end of the series wins £70,000.