Big Brother NEWS: All over for Sylvia

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Time is running out for Sylvia, the girl who spent the first week or so playing the part of Alexandra's cackling sidekick, but then went on to clumsily reinvent herself as a deranged bunny boiler - actually waking Stuart up to demand he stop flirting with her was totally bananas. And unfortunately for Sylvia, that kind of strange obsessive behaviour  is a huge Big Brother no-no - Michelle Bass suffered for her man-based mania in series five, Chanelle lost the plot around Ziggy last year, and was eventually bundled out of the house in tears. The only way a girl can survive is to befriend the men, perhaps flirt a little, but never lose their alluring feminine cool - a game that Jennifer has down to a tee with Dale.

Sylvia has played the game appallingly badly, and only twice in Big Brother have there been eviction shocks that would compare to her surviving against Mohamed - the first when Spencer lost out to neurotic Alex in Big Brother 3, and the second when Bubble couldn't oust Paul (the most unerringly dull man alive) in Big Brother 2. Recent history, however, would suggest that she has no hope – when the popularity gulf between two nominees is so huge, the obvious choice goes. Mohamed will survive.

Hence, this looks set to be the third series of eight to eliminate three girls in a row at the start – the others being series four (Anouska, Justine, Sissy) and series six (Mary, Lesley, Sam). Never have four girls been ejected in a row, so next week, one of the guys will get it, and the field is wide open.

Mohamed is likely to be up again, unless his eating habits suddenly change dramatically, but joining him could be any one of Dennis, Darnell, Rex – who is becoming increasingly unpopular, now the victim of Dale’s unlikely vicious tongue – and even Luke. Luke, in particular, is beginning to develop cracks, with both Rachel and Darnell becoming suspicious of his role as everyone’s friend, but his standing in the outside world should guarantee his survival should he face eviction. In a house full of paranoid maniacs, he, like the favourite Kat comes in as blessed comic relief.

Less likely to have the public on his side is the increasingly big-headed and bitchy Dennis, who has developed a stock in deriding his colleagues the minute their backs are turned – a huge turn off for voters. If he’s up, he’ll be the first man out. But the two with the most work to do are Rex and Mo, who appear to be drifting from the group, and need to start picking up popularity points with the floaters, like Bex, Mikey, and the muscular couple Mario and Lisa – both somehow safe for the time being after a very rocky beginning.

But for now, it’s farewell to Sylvia. Next week, Dennis or Rex.