I think that
Bettingzone preview is pretty strong - hits most of the right elements for it's profile of the usual winner of this.
It's always tempting to chop and change favourites and prices based on every argument and tantrum, but first impressions are always the most important and so based on tonight,
Betfair prices, and the
bettingzone preview, a few further thoughts...
Malcolm McLaren (250s) - not going in.
John Burton Race (32s)- his personality looks a little too edgy for this - tonight he had a few comments that in the early niceties he'll get away with, but once they're all getting a bit ratty ensure he'll be in more than a few arguments.
Lynn Franks (20s) - shortening, as her argments with Dickinson are likely to get her plenty coverage and sympathy. However, she looks a tired character, and once Dickinson goes there's nothing else to encourage viewers to pick up the phone.
Anna Ryder Richardson (19.50) - reaction to the bungy jump suggests she'll struggle/over-react with the challenges, altho unlikely to be in many arguments in camp. Could avoid elimination for a short while by sneaking under the radar.
Janice Dickinson (11.50) - short price...argumentative and irritating although her willingness to get stuck into the challenges might see her progress a little. Give it a few days though and it's easy to draw comparisons to Sophie Anderton(last year) - me, me, me which roughly translates to out out out in reality tv.
Rodney Marsh (9.6) - didn't get much coverage tonight - and there's not quite enough energy in Marsh to warrant much. Most of the previous winners have had a certain chirpiness which the tired looking Marsh certainly doesn't. Only if he becomes controversial will that change, but that wouldn't help his chances of winning.
Mark Bannerman (7.2) - the heavy set males don't tend to fare particularly well in the jungle...he seemed chirpy enough when going in today but genuine humour or personality wasnt exactly coming to the fore.
Gemma Atkinson (6.8) -
Bettingzone hit the nail on the head with this one - looks are usually a hinderance here. Myleene was the totty last year and had a far more appealing personality than Atkinson, and was beaten by a fairly weak winner.
Jason Brown (7.2) - like Bannerman, looked happy enough today, but there's not much personality there.
Cerys Matthews (5.90) - teary after the bungy jump today - not gonna get into arguments, but looks overly emotional to justify that price at the moment.
Any Other (8.60) - if Bettinzone liked the price at 11/2 then they'd love the 8.60. As noted in the preview, the profile of the winner has been fairly standard - and most of the current crop falter on some key elements. But this bet leaves us at the whim of producers, so lets have a closer look...
The number of late arrivals has been increasing steadily over the last few series, as follows.
Series:
1 - 0 late arrivals(0 walkouts)
2 - 0 late arrivals(1 walkouts)
3 - 0 late arrivals(1 walkouts)
4 - 1 late arrivals(2 walkouts)
5 - 2 late arrivals(2 walkouts)
6 - 2 late arrivals(0 walkouts)
With 1 walkout already, evidence suggests we'll get 2, maybe even 3 late entries. What kind of entries those will be is anyones guess, but Janice Dickinson looks like guaranteeing plenty early arguments already, which will perhaps dissuade producers from looking to another confrontational character at this point, and so someone with winning potential is a possibility.
Whatever, with a possible 3 entrants for 8.40, it looks like the big value in the market at the moment IMO...one of the current crop could easily develop into a winner, but at the moment the field looks very weak and easily beatable by a late starter.
In I go...
4pts
Any Other @ 8.60 with
Betfair