BIG BROTHER - BB'S LIAM SCOOPS £100,000

New Big Brother housemate Liam has scooped £100,000 after the three contestants nominated for eviction in this week's show were forced to decide which member of the reality TV house should receive the cash prize.

After being summoned to the diary room, in the second of two Big Brother shows screened last night, Jonathan, Carole and Seany were given just one minute to make their choice.

In a shock announcement the trio were told they would face this week's public vote and would therefore be exempt from winning the cash prize themselves.

Housemates had already been shown the pile of cash, which Carole initially suggested should be given to former boyband member Ziggy.

Jonathan wanted Welsh nanny Laura to be quids in, but with the 60 second deadline rapidly approaching he joined with Seany and Carole in agreeing that 22-year-old tree surgeon Liam should get the surprise cash gift.

Liam struggled to contain his emotions when Carole subsequently announced the decision to the other housemates, bursting into tears.

"I do appreciate it," he blubbed.

"Cheers," he told his fellow contestants.

However other housemates were less than impressed with the news, fearing that the cash awarded to Liam is the Big Brother prize fund which the show's producers give out to winners of the series.

"I haven't even got a washing machine in my house!" protested Laura in an apparent effort to demonstrate how hard up she was.

But while bickering over the money looks set to continue inside the house, the Big Brother audience has already been told by the show's host Davina McCall that the usual winner's prize is still up for grabs.