The dirty dozen appears to be a hit

Watching a group of complete strangers sitting around in a house talking shouldn’t be compulsive viewing. But even on its third airing Big Brother is capturing large audiences.

Around 4 million people are tuning in every night to find out what the 12 contestants are doing, with 6.8 million tuning in during the launch of the third series.

With simulated sex scenes, stories of shoplifting, a bit of cross-dressing and plenty of bad language, the new series has grabbed the interest of both the public and the media.

Already Sunita Sharma has said that she wants out - and is expected to leave the house later today.

Now there is an added twist as the housemates have been kept in the dark about the fact that there is to be an eviction on Friday night. And instead of the 12 choosing who to nominate and the public voting which one leaves - as usually happens - viewers are being asked to pick which of the group they want out. Then the housemates will be informed before picking between the two least-popular contestants.

Only days in to the competition to win £70,000 (€109,500) prize money, some contestants are already tipped to make a speedy exit, while others are being named as potential winners.

Boyd Hilton, TV editor of heat magazine, believes the new first week eviction system is a great idea.

"Without an eviction in the first week it would have got a bit much with 12 of them. It will be a shock for them when they find out."

Jade seems to be most popular choice to get kicked out according to the official website. Hilton says: "She was incredibly annoying. She would not shut up, she wanted to be the centre of attention and it was unbearable."

The other hot favourite to walk is Sunita, who has spoken to housemates and to Big Brother about her desire to leave the house, as she doesn’t feel she can open up to any of the others.

"If she doesn’t leave of her own accord, she’ll get quite a strong vote because everyone knows she’s not happy," believes Hilton, who personally also finds Lee and Jonny annoying.

"The others are really not making that strong an impression with me," he says, a factor which might save them from immediate eviction.

He thinks the best-looking contestants, especially Kate and Alex, will stay, while Sandy, Alison and Spencer are all making a good impression. While Spencer said he wanted to be the first to leave, Hilton does not believe he meant it, or that the public will take it seriously, and thinks he is actually a "long-term tip".

THE BIG BROTHER RANKINGS

ADELE ROBERTS, 23

A DJ and personal assistant, from Southport, she is also a keen body-builder who lives in Brixton, south London. Friends with Jade and Kate. Channel 4 website popularity rating: 5th equal.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Having her hair cut

LEAST LIKELY TO: Strip off

MOST LIKELY TO: Release a fitness video

SUCCESS RATING: 6/10

ALEX SIBLEY, 23

The male model from London who does 200 sit-ups every morning, is already tipped by bookies as one of the favourites to win. His parents have a six-bedroom property in Hornchurch, Essex, and his VW Beetle is one of the most important things in his life. Friends with most of the girls. Website rating: 4th equal.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Asking Big Brother’s advice about the air conditioning system

LEAST LIKELY TO: Leave the door open (apparently it prevents the air conditioning from working)

MOST LIKELY TO: Whinge

SUCCESS RATING: 4/10

ALISON HAMMOND, 27

A travel rep from Birmingham, who got engaged on holiday in Tunisia before leaving her fiancé to come back to the UK, she is a self-confessed chocoholic. Friends with the men, especially Sandy and Spencer, rather than the women. Website rating: 5th equal.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Starting the love train with Jonny

LEAST LIKELY TO: Choose the low-fat option

MOST LIKELY TO: Flirt with the boys

SUCCESS RATING: 9/10

JADE GOODY, 20

The loud-mouth dental nurse from London is the hot favourite to leave. A self-confessed shoplifter who was caught stealing at Selfridges, her father is serving four years in prison for robbery. Her interests include magazines, bags, shoes and shopping. Friends with Kate and Adele. Website rating: 12th.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Asking housemates ‘‘what’s ’sparagus?’’

LEAST LIKELY TO: Keep quiet for more than five minutes

MOST LIKELY TO: Be evicted first

SUCCESS RATING: 2/10

JONNY REGAN, 29

The firefighter from Newcastle is also a singer under the stage name Lee Loveroy. He has a girlfriend, Joanne, outside the house but will miss relaxing in a sauna most. Friends with Alison. Website rating: 2nd.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Donning dress and make-up with Lee

LEAST LIKELY TO: Avoid the press on leaving the house

MOST LIKELY TO: Release a novelty single

SUCCESS RATING: 6/10

KATE LAWLER, 22

A fitness fanatic from Kent, who works on an IT helpdesk. The babe of the house. Also tipped by bookies as the favourite to win. Friends with Alex and the girls. Website rating: 4th equal.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Announcing she had forgotten to pack any bras

LEAST LIKELY TO: Be voted out by the boys

MOST LIKELY TO: Forget to wear the rest of her clothes

SUCCESS RATING: 7/10

LEE DAVEY, 21

A gym manager from Leicester, he is nicknamed Mike Tyson. The youngest male contestant, he still lives with his father and brother. More popular with people in the house than viewers. Friends with Jonny, Spencer and Adele. Website rating: 9th.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Shaving everyone’s eyebrows

LEAST LIKELY TO: Slob out with a bar of chocolate

MOST LIKELY TO: Walk in on the girls in a state of undress

SUCCESS RATING: 4/10

LYNNE MONCRIEFF, 36

A mature student reading History of Art in Aberdeen, the former window dresser and waitress had a breast enhancement operation on the NHS two years ago. An ex-boyfriend has already sold pictures of her to the media. Friends with most of the house. Website rating: 11th.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Giving Spencer a manicure

LEAST LIKELY TO: Voted out first

MOST LIKELY TO: Be the first to have sex in the house

SUCCESS RATING: 7/10

PETER JAMES (PJ) ELLIS, 22

A law student from Birmingham, who has two ambitions. The first is to be the next England football manager, despite missing the World Cup, and the second is to get off with Natalie Imbruglia. Made little impact. Friends with most people. Website rating: 10th.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Entered the house without wearing underwear

LEAST LIKELY TO: Get off with Natalie Imbruglia

MOST LIKELY TO: Get off with Jade

SUCCESS RATING: 6/10

SANDY CUMMING, 43

The oldest contestant and house father figure, a personal shopper who lives in London. Originally from Scotland, he was a corporal for 14 years in the Black Watch. Married to his second wife for eight years, it was revealed that he has an estranged 17-year-old daughter from his first marriage. Friends with Spencer and Alison. Website rating: 3rd.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Wearing a kilt

LEAST LIKELY TO: Adopt

MOST LIKELY TO: Feed the chickens

SUCCESS RATING: 5/10

SPENCER SMITH, 22

Works as a punt operator in Cambridge in the summer, and a ski shop assistant in the winter. He has said he hopes to be the first evictee. Kept to himself at the beginning but friends with Sandy and Alison. Website rating: 1st.

BEST KNOWN FOR: First into the pool

LEAST LIKELY TO: Lead the house in a karaoke session

MOST LIKELY TO: Chill out on the sofa with a beer

SUCCESS RATING: 3/10

SUNITA SHARMA, 25

A trainee barrister from Brixton, south London, she has also described herself as a legal clerk and barrister. Seen as feeling superior to the other housemates, she has already said she doesn’t feel she fits in and would like to leave. Friends with no one in particular. Website rating: 8th.

BEST KNOWN FOR: Having a row with Jade

LEAST LIKELY TO: Make it to the final two

MOST LIKELY TO: Leave early

SUCCESS RATING: 1/10