Big Brother

Imogen Thomas has returned to work – in a Man United kit promoting Paddy Power’s offer on the Champions League Final.

Paddy Power will refund losing bets if United lose the match.

Paddy Power is famous for their Money-Back Specials, but this is their all-time most generous offer, giving customers a 50:50 chance of having losing bets refunded.  To compound the generosity – this match is likely to be the biggest sports betting event of all time.

In another world first, the offer was not decided by the bookmakers, but by their customers.  Paddy Power Punters were given a choice of seven different offers, and 37% of them plumped for this one.

Paddy Power said: “Our biggest offer, on the world’s biggest match. What’s not to love – provided you’re a Paddy Power Punter.  With such an offer who else could we choose to front our advertising than Imogen Thomas – the most talked about woman in Britain this week.  We did consider the Middleton sisters – but they were otherwise engaged”

“At the very least it will provide a silver lining and small crumb of comfort for the thousands of Man Utd fans out there to get their money back should their team fall at the final hurdle.”

Giggs Gambles

Paddy Power are also betting on Ryan Giggs’ performance in the match, offering 7/1 the winger scores in the final and 7/2 he is caught offside during the match.

Paddy Power have also brought back their famous Commentary Cliches on the match betting on the first phrase used in their list by the ITV commentators on Saturday. “2009”, a reference to the final between Saturday’s two teams is the 3/1 favourite followed by “Bobby Charlton”, who scored two goals in the Wembley 1968 final, at 8/1. “Imogen” is 25/1 to be the first phrase used with “Giggs has been caught offside” at 40/1.

Champions League Final – Money-Back Special

If Barcelona win this match in normal time Paddy Power will refund correct score, first/last goalscorer, and scorecast singles on the match.

Terms & Conditions: Singles placed before kick-off only. Barcelona must win in 90 mins, extra time or penalties do not count. Max Refund €/£100 per customer. Paddy Power football rules apply.

Champions League Final Latest Betting

Match Betting (90 mins)

Evs       Barcelona

12/5     Draw

11/4     Man Utd

To Lift The Cup

1/2        Barcelona

6/4        Man Utd

Champions League Final Specials

7/2        Ryan Giggs to be caught offside in the match

9/1        Ryan Giggs to be first Man Utd player caught offside in the match (more…)

Channel Five’s new owner Richmond Desmond has immediately made sweeping changes with jobs slashed and grand plans for future programming, but will it lead to increased audiences? Fives overall share slipped to 4.8% from 5% in 2009 and Paddy Power does not see that improving with an audience share of between 4.5-5% the 9/4 favourite and worryingly the next most likely scenario is a big slide to 4-4.5% at 5/2.

Ian Wright has been the first on-screen casualty and rumours abound that Natasha Kaplinsky will leave at the end of her contract in December. Paddy Power has Matt Barbet as the 13/8 favourite followed closely by Anna Botting at 9/4 to take her place.

The new ambitious plans include buying the rights to popular shows and Big Brother is 5/4 to be the first show brought to Five. To turn the channels fortunes around other big shows will need to be targeted, a revival of Top of the Pops is 11/4, whilst two ITV’s biggest shows I’m a celebrity and x-factor is 16/1 and 25/1 respectively.

Roberto Coladangelo spokesman for Paddy Power said “Desmond has a big challenge to breathe new life into Five and increase the channels audience share. If he is a ruthless at buying shows as is with handing out P45s it will not be a surprise to see some of the biggest programmes finding a new home on Five.” (more…)

With the news that reality TV heavyweight Big Brother is to be axed after next year’s series bookies Paddy Power are taking bets on which reality TV show is next for the chop.

And according to Paddy Power it looks like bad news could be in store for ITV golden boys Ant & Dec as “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!” tops the betting at odds of 7/4. Also in the firing line according to Paddy Power is ITV’s “Dancing On Ice” at odds of 7/4 and BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” at 2/1.

Paddy Power said “The only big surprise for me is that Big Brother’s run lasted this long. Punters definitely switched off a couple of year’s ago with only a handful of bets placed on this year’s series”

Paddy Power are also taking bets on which TV programme Davina McCall’s will host first after Big Brother’s final series next year. ITV’s lunchtime programme “Loose Women” is their 3/1 favourite followed by breakfast TV show “This Morning” at 7/2. Less likely hosting duties for Davina include “Crime Watch” at 66/1 or “Countdown” at 80/1. (more…)

Proving that not even death can keep her out of the spotlight for long, celebrity betting specialists Paddy Power are offering odds on who will play the title role of Jade Goody in the much talked about musical honouring the life of the tragic 27-year-old reality TV star.

Emmy Award-nominated Scottish actress Ashley Jensen is the bookies 3/1 favourite to land the role.  Other in the frame include Eastenders actress Michelle Ryan at 4/1 and Dr Who’s former assistant Billie Piper at odds of 6/1. Less likely candidates according to Paddy Power include Dame Helen Mirren and Jade’s old Big Brother sparing partner Shilpa Shetty both at 100/1

Paddy Power said “The tragic story of Jade Goody touched the hearts of millions and what more fitting tribute to her colourful but sadly brief life than a musical?” (more…)

Irish presenter and Big Brother 2 winner Brian Dowling is the red-hot favourite at 2/9 to be crowned the Ultimate Big Brother champion tomorrow night.

Nasty Nick escaped the double eviction on Wednesday night but would need a small miracle to get back in the publics’ good books with Paddy Power making him a 40/1 outsider to win outright.

Brian Dowling’s closest competitor in the betting is ditzy housemate Chantelle Houghton. The busty blonde who is enjoying her second stint in the house alongside former hubby Preston is 7/2 on the bookies list to go all the way.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “Brian Dowling has really stood the test of time. Not only was he hugely popular in 2001 but judging by his odds it looks like he still appeals to the Big Brother masses. He deserves to be crowned the Ultimate Big Brother champ.” (more…)

Michelle Bass, Nasty Nick and larger than life Vanessa Feltz will all face the public vote tomorrow night in the last round of evictions before the ultimate final on Friday night.

Paddy Power make former chat show queen Vanessa the most likely housemate to get evicted first but it’s touch and go as to which two will get the chop. The odds on Nick and Vanessa are exactly the same as the odds on Michelle and Vanessa getting the boot at 10/11.

Of the seven remaining housemates, Big Brother 2 winner Brian Dowling is the 4/11 red-hot favourite to be crowned this year’s Ultimate Big Brother champion. The Irishman became the bookies roaring favourite when Josie quit the house.

Second favourite in the betting is Chantelle at 7/2 followed by tantrum throwing Nikki Grahame at 7/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “It’s hard to believe this is the final ever week of Big Brother. We’ve had ten years of tantrums, tears and lots of laughs. Love it or loathe it it’ll go down in history as the show which defined Britain in the 21st century and while it might be gone it’ll never be forgotten.” (more…)

Makosi and Nadia are the 4/5 red hot favourites with Paddy Power to be the unlucky duo evicted from the Ultimate Big Brother house in this Friday’s double eviction.

The Madeiran born transsexual who went on to win Big Brother 5 in 2004 and feisty former cardiac nurse and Big Brother 6 contestant Makosi are the least popular housemates with Big Brother fans.

Swedish presenter Ulrika Jonnson is the next housemate in danger of getting the boot but at odds of 7/2 to get evicted alongside Makosi it looks like the mum of four will live to see another week!

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “What a difference six years makes. Nadia was hugely popular in 2004 but now the public can’t wait to see the back of her. Upsetting Josie was probably the biggest error she made in the house this time around and really sealed her fate with punters.”

Meanwhile, Kildare man Brian Dowling remains the bookies hot tip at 4/7 to be crowned the Ultimate Big Brother Champion of all time followed by Chantelle at 10/3. (more…)

Things are hotting up in the Big Brother house between Chantelle and her Ordinary Boys ex Preston and a reunion is now more likely than ever according to Paddy Power.

The odds on the pair rekindling their romance and becoming a couple again have been slashed to just 5/4 from 4/1 while the odds on the love-struck reality stars getting married a second time have also been slashed to 11/4 from 8/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “The spark is definitely still there between Chantelle and Preston. Preston was even jealous of how close Chantelle was to rapper Coolio. They’re like Big Brother’s Posh & Becks – they belong together!”

Meanwhile, Brian Dowling is now the 8/11 odds-on favourite to be crowned the Ultimate Big Brother Champion followed by Chantelle at 3/1. (more…)

Paddy Power have refunded over €10,000 to customers who backed Big Brother 2010 winner Josie to be crowned the Ultimate Big Brother winner after the Bristol girl chose to quit the house this afternoon.

Josie’s exit from the house has completely shaken up the odds with Paddy Power now making ditsy Chantelle Houghton their new 11/8 favourite to be crowned the Ultimate Big Brother Champion.

Irish star Brian Dowling is the 9/4 second favourite followed by tantrum throwing Nikki Grahame at 5/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “Hopefully the money we’re giving back will cushion the blow to all our punters who backed Josie. She probably had no idea she was the favourite to win but after spending the whole summer in the house and pocketing £100,000 in prize money we really can’t blame her for saying enough is enough!”   (more…)

Paddy Power are tipping Cupid’s arrow to strike again in the Big Brother house as one time love birds Chantelle & Preston cosy up to each other again.

The pair, who enjoyed a whirlwind romance and later got married in 2006, have been inseparable since entering the Big Brother house for a second time and are now just 4/1 to reunite. Paddy Power are also offering 8/1 that the pair will get re-married by the end of 2011 and 12/1 that they’ll get jiggy throughout their stint on the last ever Big Brother show.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “The spark is definitely still there between Chantelle and Preston, probably more so on Chantelle’s part. They’ve had three years to mature though so who knows maybe things can work out second time around!”

Meanwhile, newly crowned Big Brother champ Josie Gibson is still the firm favourite to be crowned the Ultimate Big Brother Chamipon at 11/8 but Irishman Brian Dowling is snapping at her heels at 5/2.

Makosi is the 2/1 favourite to get the chop first but it’s Coolio at 7/2 who could find himself in hot water on Friday. The gangsta rapper might have unintentionally upset female viewers after more or less admitting he was a womaniser! (more…)