Celebrity Big Brother: Swede 'bonkers' success for Ulrika

Published on Friday 23 January 2009 23:31

SHE moaned, wept, and droveher exasperated housemates to repeatedly nominate her for eviction from the Celebrity Big Brother house.

But last night Ulrika Jonsson emerged victorious as the series winner amid fireworks and confetti in what bookmakers described as "the biggest shock in reality TV history".

The former weather-girl and Gladiators presenter took 56.7 per cent of the votes for the final two places, beating music journalist Terry Christian, who polled 43.3 per cent.

In third place was US rapper Coolio, while Austin Powers actor Verne Troyer took fourth place, ahead of former boy band singer Ben Adams.

A spokesman for William Hill, which backed Troyer to win, said the company had resigned itself to a huge loss but had in fact won 100,000 because so few people bet on Jonsson to win.

Having been in the public eye for nearly 20 years, Jonsson's success may be partly down to being perhaps the best known of the housemates.

She shot to fame as the TV-am weather presenter in 1989 and from 1992 presented Gladiators, which ran for seven years.

With four children by four different fathers, her love life has been staple tabloid fodder for years. In 2002 she was revealed to have had an affair with England football team manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

As host Davina McCall announced the results at the end of the three-week Channel 4 show last night, Jonsson covered her face with her hands and gasped "Oh my God, that's bonkers". She later said she had expected to be voted out at the end of the first week.

The Swedish-born 41-year-old – who was reportedly paid a 170,000 appearance fee – spent much of her three weeks in the Big Brother house telling the other celebrities she missed her family and just wanted to go home.

At an early point in the show she was also named "celebrity with the biggest ego" by Christian. Jonsson repeatedly rowed with Christian, who described her as "high-handed" and accused her of believing herself to be better than the other housemates.

On leaving the house, she admitted she was bossy, but claimed this was because she was used to running a busy household.

"I am used to organising people so it has to be like that, I found it so hard to switch off," she said.

"I am used to putting the kids first and I found it really hard to relax and enjoy myself."

In the studio with presenter McCall, Jonsson said of Big Brother: "It's singularly the weirdest experience of my entire life and I've had quite a weird life."

She added: "It was an agonising decision whether to come on the show. I was really worried about being able to last. I really thought I would be out at the end of the first week. When I was nominated again and again, I just thought it would be a good chance to get home and see my family."

Paying tribute to Jonsson, Christian said: "She had her moments but I really liked Ulrika. She's a good laugh, she's got a good sense of humour."

Fellow housemate Tommy Sheridan, 44, the former Scottish Socialist Party MSP, was evicted on Wednesday night. The firebrand politician – who was reportedly being paid 100,000 to take part – said he had agreed to take part in the show because he needed the money to fund his studies at Stratchclyde University, where he is studying law. Last night he was booed by the crowds as he returned to the show to say his farewells along with the other evictees.

The other celebrities to be voted off were glamour model Lucy Pinder; former singer with pop band Liberty X, Michelle Heaton; La Toya Jackson; Tina Malone, the actress best known for Shameless; and Coolio, the Grammy award-winning US rapper. Former Sugababes singer Mutya Buena walked out on the show half way through.

Past winners, famous and infamous

2001

JACK DEE

Desperate to escape, the comedian was thwarted whenever he tried to leave the house. Recent success with sitcom Lead Balloon.

2002

MARK OWEN

The singer beat Les Dennis and Melinda Messenger in the final when Take That seemed only a distant memory to fans. Now enjoying a comeback with three other ex-members.

2005

BEZ

The maracas-shaking, party-loving hanger-on of the Happy Mondays took part because he was bankrupt. Recently declared bankrupt again.

2006

CHANTELLE HOUGHTON

Entered house to fool others into thinking she was famous. Beat Preston, lead singer with the Ordinary Boys, whom she went on to marry… and divorce.

2007

SHILPA SHETTY

Bollywood star won after a race row that caused 40,000 complaints and a police investigation.