Irish Big Brother contestant Ray Shah came second in last night's competition, narrowly losing out to Orkney Island's fish trader Cameron Stout.
Ray won 1,428,231 votes (42.5 per cent) but was beaten by Cameron with 1,928,570 votes (57.5 per cent). Cameron (31) from the town of Stromness, who gained popularity by announcing on screen that he was a virgin, won the stg£70,000 prize. As the winner was announced, Ray said: "Enjoy it. All the Best" as he grabbed his suitcase and prepared to leave the house.
Friends and relations of Ray had taken to Dublin's streets yesterday in an effort to boost the 25-year-old Artane man's vote. They distributed leaflets and erected high quality election posters in the city centre.
Ray, who works as an Information Technology systems administrator in London, stands to earn some stg£100,000 from endorsements. His chances may have been dented by several drunken outbursts on the show which featured four letter words and prompted warnings about his behaviour from the organisers.
Steph Coldicott and Scott Turner were earlier evicted.
After nine weeks of living together the final four housemates faced a public vote to decide who should win. Steph (28) from Birmingham, was first to be evicted after securing the fewest votes. She had been a 50-1 outsider to win. She was followed by third-placed Scott (27) a marketing coordinator from Liverpool, who said he wanted Ray to win.
Cameron (32) was Ladbrokes' 1-9 on favourite, ahead of Ray whose odds were 10-1.
The fourth series began on May 23rd with 12 contestants.
They have been cut off from the outside world, with banks of cameras following them 24 hours a day. Steph wasn't the first person to leave the house last night. She followed data manager Jon Tickle, who had been voted out last month but was later brought back in, although was not allowed win.