Is Salmond set to take ice bucket challenge on TV?

THE odds on Alex Salmond taking an ice bucket challenge live on the BBC while debating with Alistair Darling are 100/1, Ladbrokes said yesterday.

First Minister Alex Salmond has yet to take the 'ice bucket challenge' he was nomiated for, could he do it during the live TV debate? Picture: TSPL

As the second head-to-head televised referendum grew nearer and there was still no sign of the First Minister taking up the challenge, Ladbrokes opened a book on what is fast becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the referendum.

Salmond has said that he is up for the charity challenge saying it would be “invigorating for the cmapaign” after he and Better Together leader Alistair Darling were nominated by the actor James McAvoy.

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McAvoy’s challenge was that the two most prominent figures in the referendum battle should be given a soaking within 24 hours of the gauntlet being thrown down.

Darling was quick out of the blocks on Friday with his staff drenching him in Blythswood Gardens, Glasgow.

Darling took the challenge to raise money for a motor neurone disease campaign set up by Gordon Aikman, the director of research at Better Together who suffers from the disease.

Salmond, meanwhile, has missed the deadline. Last night a Better Together insider said: “It looks like the First Minister is a bit of a big fearty after all.”

Sources close to the First Minster confirmed he still intends to take the challenge “imminently”.

Official engagements had prevented him from doing it on Friday.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “He’d certainly make a splash if he took the challenge live on air, but the betting suggests it’s a long shot.”

The smart money is on the First Minister taking the challenge today – giving him time to dry off before tomorrow’s debate.