The Manchester Evening News reported

Pete’s victory cost bookies more than £4 million, according to Ladbrokes.

He attracted a £25,000 bet – the biggest laid by Ladbrokes during this series – as well as a rather less ambitious 25p bet from one Scandinavian-based punter.

And within the last 10 hours a £75,000 wager was placed on Pete with William Hill.

Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: “Both Pete and Glyn were bad results for us.

“But we were cheering on the Welsh lad as the lesser of two evils.

“Pete’s victory rounded off a miserable series for bookies. We took a pounding on every eviction night because it was pretty obvious who was going each time.

“It’s definitely bread and water in the Ladbrokes canteen for the foreseeable future.

Ladbrokes believe the betting for the next series of Big Brother – the eighth – could top £8 million.