Widdecombe’s odds have dropped to 7/4, making her the current favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother 2018. Shane Jenek, aka drag queen Courtney Act had been a firm bookies favourite from the moment he entered the house, but is now second favourite, with bookies offering 2/1.

After Jenek entered the house he questioned Widdecombe on her opposition to marriage equality, to which she replied that in her belief, marriage is between a man and a woman and marriage equality is a “redefinition” of marriage.

Widdecombe, who was a Privy Councillor and a Conservative Party MP from 1987 until her retirement in 2010, is no stranger to the reality TV oeuvre. The former MP has appeared on many shows over the years, including Celebrity Fit Club, Dancing With The Stars and a Louis Theroux documentary.

Elsewhere in the house, football legend John Barnes was the victim of a surprise eviction this week, caused in part by some homophobic comments he made during his time in the house.

Barnes told former Apprentice contestant Andrew Brady – currently embroiled in a flirtatious, but platonic frendship with Courtney Act – that he would be “out of the club” if anything sexual happened between him and Courtney.

Barnes later attempted to clarify his statements in his eviction interview with Emma Willis.

The football manager wasn’t the only person accused of using bigoted language: Widdecombe was taken to task by viewers on Twitter after calling Courtney and Andrew’s friendship “disgusting”.

Referencing Ann’s opposition to gay marriage during her time as an MP, Shane joked as he hugged Andrew: “You might not respect our marriage Ann, but you have to recognise our love!”

“Don’t be disgusting,” she snapped back.

Despite her comments, the former Tory MP is the bookies favourite though she might be the final celebrity to win Celebrity Big Brother; early this week Daily Star as reports that the show is set to be axed this year.

However, sources at Endemol – who own the Big Brother format – have disputed the claim, saying that the company are still in discussions with Channel 5 over future series when the contract for the show ends later this year.