In a dramatic and emotionally charged episode of Big Brother, 22-year-old Cameron Kinch became the first official finalist after securing a direct pass to Friday's final, a victory that moved him to tears.
The Path to the Final
During Tuesday's episode, the housemates were presented with one of the show's most coveted prizes: a guaranteed place in the final. Big Brother announced, 'Housemates, in the glass case before you sits one of Big Brother's most valuable prizes, "A Pass to the Final". Today, you will compete against each other in a series of rounds, and one of you will walk away with this coveted prize.'
The competition involved a literal popularity contest that many viewers on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, described as 'cruel'. Housemates were tasked with distributing white eyeballs to those they believed brought positive energy to the house and red ones to those they perceived as negative.
A Controversial Task and a Heartfelt Plea
The game had a visible impact, particularly on contestant Emily, who received the largest number of red balls and was visibly upset by her fellow housemates' perception. Viewers were quick to react online, with one writing, 'This is cruel to watch,' while another commented, 'I'm against everything emily stands for but my god it's hard to see her constantly put down... no wonder she's always in tears.'
The competition ultimately came down to Cameron and fellow housemate Jenny, who were given a final chance to state their case for winning the pass. It was Cameron's heartfelt explanation that swayed the house. He revealed that winning the £100,000 prize was about more than personal victory; he intended to use the money to save his family's farm and pay off its substantial tax bill, a financial burden he admitted keeps him up at night.
His emotional plea resonated deeply. Housemate Richard explained the group's decision, stating, 'The reason we have chosen the one of you we have chosen is that we felt one of you spoke with such sincerity, depth of feeling and genuine quality... one we felt had the edge.' Upon hearing the verdict, Cameron was overcome with emotion and broke down in tears.
Mixed Reactions from Fans
The decision sparked a divided response from the audience. While many praised the choice, with one fan tweeting, 'I love it, Cameron for the win so he can save the family farm,' others felt the pass was wasted.
Some viewers argued that Cameron, as a popular contestant, was likely to reach the final regardless. Critical posts included, 'Utter waste of a pass (and episode) Cameron was always getting to the final,' and 'What a pointless exercise and episode that was, Cameron would have been in the final anyway.'
Despite the controversy, Cameron's place in the final is now secure. Big Brother continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
