George: I can't handle fame

Big Brother's housemates are waiting to learn today if another person will be drafted in after posh George quit.

George Askew, 19, who knows Prince Harry, walked after deciding that the idea of fame would be "too much" for him.

His departure has left a void and a Big Brother spokeswoman would not confirm yesterday whether or not another person would be drafted in to replace him.

George was the second housemate to quit the show and the fourth to leave - yoga fanatic Dawn Blake was thrown out last week for rule breaking, flamboyant Glaswegian Shahbaz, 37, left the show after alienating the other housemates and part-time care worker Bonnie Holt, 20, was evicted following the first viewer vote.

George said: "I love everyone here and everything in the house," adding "the whole thing has been a highlight."

He added that he would like to stay friends with Grace, saying she was "wicked".

He said in the Diary Room: "My reason for leaving the Big Brother house is the thought of fame and how I would like to continue my private life - and fame is too much for me."

He added that he had wanted to break the stereotypical public school view and thought he had achieved that.

Grace Adams-Short, 20, and Imogen Thomas, 23, were in tears over George's departure.

His decision to quit comes only hours after Aisleyne, 27, a model and promotions girl from London, and Sam, 18, a nail technician from North Ayrshire in Scotland, were brought into the house to make up the numbers.

Ladbrokes are offering 4-1 on another housemate leaving this week.

Spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "The Big Brother house has turned into a hotel. There will be no one left come the finale at this rate."

The show's bosses said yesterday that two more Big Brother golden tickets had been found and verified over the weekend, bringing the total number of winners to seven.

Claimants who have so far come forward include an actor and a self-confessed playboy.

A number of unverified golden tickets are up for grabs on internet auction site eBay, with bids reaching £900.

Three national newspapers are also said to have tickets and are running promotions for readers to win them.

One hundred golden tickets in total have been hidden in special chocolate bars.

One lucky ticketholder will be picked to enter the Big Brother house during a live televised show on June 9.