10th August 2005
thenortheast
RELATIVES of Big Brother star Anthony Hutton are urging people in the North-East to lend their support to the dancer.
The 23-year-old was favourite to win the Channel 4 show until yesterday, when bookies tipped latecomer Eugene to win.
They are offering odds of 6/5 for Anthony, whereas Eugene looks increasingly likely to walk away with the jackpot after gaining odds of 8/13.
Anthony's family have spent thousands of pounds on merchandise featuring his face to encourage people in his home town of Consett, County Durham, to vote for him.
They have been giving away T-shirts, posters, mugs, key rings, jigsaws and created a large banner as part of a campaign to keep him in Britain's most famous television house.
A small fortune has also been spent on telephone calls, voting for him to win the £100,000 prize for coming first.
His mother, Annette, who lives with Anthony and his grandmother, Mary, in their Stanley Street home, said: "The whole family and Consett community has been very supportive.
"It was his aim to get into the final week so he will be very pleased with what he has achieved.
"But if he won it would be like a dream come true. He would be absolutely over the moon.
"I want everyone to vote for Anthony because he has done all of the North-East proud as well as himself."
To vote for him, call 0901 6126 1601 or text Anthony To Win to 64404.
