Windfall for bookies as Ulrika is surprise winner of 'Big Brother'

January 25, 2009Jan 25, 2009, 11:00 PM GMT

Bookmakers are revelling in a hefty payout after Ulrika Jonsson emerged victorious from the Big Brother House on Friday.

Punters weren't the only ones caught out by the surprise result. The former weather girl, who greeted the news of her success with the words: "Oh my God, that's just bonkers," admitted to not having taken enough undies into the House with her, because she hadn't envisaged staying the course.

She described her 22 days in the House as "the weirdest experience of my entire life and I’ve had quite a weird life".

Bookies had predicted diminutive actor Verne Troyer would win with 2/5 odds, with music journalist Terry Christian coming a close second with 7/2.

After members of the public had cast their votes, however, 41-year-old mum of four Ulrika emerged victorious, ahead of Terry in second place, American rapper Coolio in third and Verne who took fourth place.

Bookmakers William Hill revealed that because so few people bet on Ulrika to win it had made £100,000 on the result.

"Oh my God, that's just bonkers. It's a fix!" the stunned mum-of-four said as she learned of her win

Ulrika had so little anticipation of surviving the entire 22-day stay in the House she later admitted to not having packed enough underwear to see her through

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