THERE was a shock in store as the fourth series of Big Brother went to air last night.

Only hours after meeting for the first time, the 12 contestants were individually called to the diary room to nominate a fellow housemate for eviction - purely on first impressions.

The housemates included a fish trader from Orkney, an IT manager from Staines, a chef from Southall, a saleswoman from Leeds and a marketing manager from Liverpool, all of whom had been closely guarded from the intrusions of the press before the series started last night.

The contestants began their stay in inimitable Big Brother style by drinking as much as they could manage, but were called to the diary room within hours of their arrival to nominate their fellow house mates to face the public vote.

This was the first time Big Brother has requested nominations so soon after arrival in the house, and opinions were given, under protest but speedily.

A total of four out of a possible 12 housemates were nominated - and Anouska, Federico, Jon and Scott are all up for eviction on a vote cast on the basis of the housemates' immediate first impressions of one another.

Two personalities - Anouska and Jon - received multiple votes, and after only hours in the house Anouska in particular had succeeded in antagonising her fellows by being loud and overbearing, while Jon kept his thoughts and opinions to himself, proving to be the quiet card in the pack, which earned him the disdain of his peers.

Davina McCall announced the results of the vote at about 11.45pm yesterday and it is now up to the public to decide which housemate is to be evicted from the house on Friday.

Updated: 09:22 Saturday, May 24, 2003