Prize fund halved after Eugene accepts £50k

This year's winner will potentially collect the lowest amount to date after Eugene accepted Big Brother's offer of £50,000 in cash.

Having instructed all housemates to gather in the living area, Big Brother asked for one housemate to go to the diary room.

"Do you guys want me to go?" asked Makosi as everyone paused. "It's okay, I'll go," said Eugene, getting up and making his way into the diary room, where he was confronted with a suitcase filled with money.

"I think I've made a bit of a schoolboy error, haven't I?" he asked as the plasma screen came to life in the living area.

Big Brother then informed Makosi, Anthony and Kinga that should Eugene accept an offer of £50,000, the winner's prize fund would drop to £50,000 but if he were to decline, it would double to £200,000. Eugene was not able to hear this detail.

"Eugene, if you want the fifty thousand pounds cash, you can have it, it's yours, but then the winner's prize fund will then stand at £50k," Big Brother informed Eugene, giving him one minute to make a decision.

"Eurgh... oh my God..." he stumbled, holding his head in his hands as the seconds counted down.

"I've made my decision," he said when the minute was up. "It's probably a bad one but by doing this, I suppose at least there's two winners and it's probably better than no winners.

Back in the living room, the trio applauded as Eugene rejoined them. "I know you all heard what I did," he said. "I'll be honest, I would have liked to win. Morally I suppose it's the wrong decision in some respects."

The housemates appeared to support his decision, with Kinga informing him that she would have done likewise. "I won't lie to you," added Makosi, "I wouldn't have done the same but there's no right answer or wrong answer."