FORMER BBC Northern Ireland journalist Andy West has emerged as a Big Brother favourite in an early poll.
The 34-year-old Londoner came out on top in a survey of nearly 4,000 people on entertainment news website Digital Spy.
Jackson Blyton and bookies' favourite Alex Cannon were next most popular of the 18 contestants.
West is also fancied by bookies to do well in the TV show, now in its 17th year.
He is fourth favourite to win with odds of 10/1.
The journalist left the BBC in February after criticising it over boxer Tyson Fury's shortlisting for Sports Personality of the Year in 2015.
West, who is openly gay, wrote on his Facebook page that he was "ashamed" to work for the corporation after Fury's nomination was announced.
Last week he joined Channel 5's reality show, which features two houses for the first time.
When asked by presenter Emma Willis what he might find most difficult about being inside, he replied: "If there are people in there who don't stop, who are just... in your face the whole time".
Already in his short time in the house West has had a verbal bust up with fellow housemate Blyton over oranges, in which the latter swore at the former BBC journalist. The pair shook hands at the end of the exchange.
