BB prize money slashed

The Big Brother prize fund was slashed by a further £8,000 (€12,122) after four housemates failed a physical endurance challenge.

The latest live Saturday night task involved hanging from a bar above a patch of stinging nettles for 90 seconds.

Blonde student Shell went first and successfully completed the challenge, but Marco, Ahmed, Victor and Nadia all came off the bar before the time was up.

The housemates had been warned that £2,000 (€3,030) would be deducted from their £85,000 (€128,790) prize money for every person who failed.

There were glum faces all round as Big Brother announced the loss of £8,000 (€12,122).

But hairdresser Daniel shouted out: “We’re not bothered about the money, when are you going to f***ing realise that?”

Earlier, Vanessa and Jason paired up alongside Stuart and Daniel for the first part of tonight’s challenge.

One of each pair assumed a wheelbarrow position while the other acted as the "pusher" as they raced against time to collect as many tokens as possible.

Unaware what the second part of the challenge involved, the housemates collected a total of nine tokens.

Each token represented 10 seconds and the total number collected determined the length of time for the stinging nettles challenge.

The housemates will be set a football-themed task today to coincide with England’s opening game against France in the European championships.

Each contestant will be asked to adopt a competing country’s team, become their number one fan and create their own costume and Euro 2004 mascot.

They will also be asked to be on standby to perform their own victory dance on behalf of their adopted country at Big Brother’s request.

Meanwhile, tempers were getting fraught in the secret 1970s-style bedsit as Michelle and Emma continued to watch the plasma screen agog at the latest events in the house

Tyne temptress Michelle exploded into fury when Vanessa dared to move close to her beau, Stuart, armed with nail cream.

She had just rubbed the cream into Victor’s hands when the surf hunk asked if he could have some too.

“And I bet you want her to rub it in too, like,” Michelle screeched at the screen.

Earlier she screamed at Shell to “get your hands off him” when she held Stuart’s hair.

Emma later broke down in tears when she saw Marco weep on his pillow after admitting he was missing the dippy duo.

She reached out and talked to the screen in a vain bid to somehow get him to listen. The Oldham lass said: ““Stop thinking. Stop it, Marco. Stop worrying what people think.

“He needs to get out! Look at his face!”