STV reports

Big Brother’s Golden Ticket draw to select a new housemate breached prize promotion rules, industry watchdogs have announced.

Nestle, Channel 4 and Endemol failed to have an independent observer present when a winning number was picked, according to the Advertising Standards Authority.

Officials launched an investigation after 11 viewers complained about the way model Susie Verrico won her place in the house.

The Golden Ticket promotion involved 100 tickets being hidden inside KitKat bars.

A live lottery-style draw was then broadcast in which one ticketholder’s number was picked.

Some viewers thought the draw was rigged and 43-year-old Susie had been pre-selected as winner.

The ASA has criticised Nestle, Channel 4 and Endemol for failing to ensure an independent observer was present immediately before and during the live draw.

The ASA ruling said: “We investigated whether the promotion was conducted under the supervision of an independent observer.

“On this point, the promotion breached the Committee of Advertising Practice Code clause 35.7 (prize promotions).”

It told the competition’s promoters to ensure competitions complied with the code in future.

The ASA rejected complaints from viewers who thought the ball numbers were rigged.

An independent observer had signed a check-sheet proving that 34 numbered balls had entered the draw.

Slow-motion footage showed the winning ball was “undoubtedly” Susie Verrico’s winning number 14, the ASA found.

In a joint response Nestle, Channel 4 and Endemol said an observer was not present during the draw because Big Brother rules prevented outsiders coming into contact with housemates.

They said the draw was carried out in the presence of 10 housemates under continuous monitoring by a production team while watched live by five million viewers.

Finally, it seems as though people are beginning to weed out the boring housemates. Hopefully this will translate into a more exciting and eventful few weeks as this summers Big Brother series draws to a close.

Last night saw the double eviction of both Mikey Dalton and Suzie Verrico, i don’t think either will be really missed!

Mikey Dalton was a nice enough chap, but really other than a few lame arguments I don’t feel that he added a lot to the mix of housemates in this years house.

Suzie Verrico is altogether a different kettle of fish. Although she was boring, much more so than Mikey, I got such a bad vibe from the lady. She tried to portray herself as whiter than white, yet one look at her resume and past jobs would tell a different story.

Suzie was allegedly coached by PR guru Max Clifford before entering the house, and I just know we will see her face popping up on some crap daytime TV show before long.

I am now counting the days to see which housemates get put back in. I am hoping for Nikki and Grace to return purely for their trouble making abilities, and George and Bonnie as I would like to get to know them a bit better, I don’t feel we had a chance to get to know them first time round.

It seems as though the tight food rations and hunger pains are starting to turn the housemates into a crowd of grumpy old men!

Glyn Wise today was the latest to speak out, and this time his anger was directed at Susie Verrico. He ranted:

“I went to help Susie with the bread and she said she wanted to do it on her own, The control freak, the slave… Susie,” he called her.

“No one else wanted me to do it. They don’t trust me with the food… they’re weirdos.” He seemed to be oblivious to his past culinary disasters.

Glyn claimed Mikey would back him up, saying: “He finds her annoying too, because she has to control everything.”

He also has ideas about who will be nominated for eviction this week:

“I think my name will come up for the public vote. I’m snapping at everyone because my body is crying out for food. But it’s not me, it’s the food.”