FAMILY and friends of a Consett dancer have been glued to their TV sets for the last week as he makes his bid for fame in the reality TV show Big Brother.

Despite being booed by the audience as he danced his way into the house, Anthony Hutton has immediately been installed as one of the favourites to win the reality TV show, with both William Hills and Corals offering odds of 8-1 on the 23-year-old waltzing off with the £100,000 top prize.

The trainee hairdresser's mum, Annette, was shocked when reporters revealed that her son was about to briefly become one of the most famous people in Britain.

She said: "I thought he had gone off on a dancing job in Scotland as he normally does."

However, after the news sunk in, she added: "I just fully support him in there. There's no secrets or anything about Anthony, he's just a really nice lad. He'll win it. People will get to know him and they'll love him."

Seven million viewers tuned into the opening show of the hit series and Consett has since been full of reporters looking for stories about Anthony, who is part of 70s club dance outfit Boogie Express.

The ex-pupil of St Bede's in Lanchester, was half way through the Fast-Track hairdressing course for beginners at the Saks Northern Academies in Darlington, when he won a place in the show.

A Saks Academies spokesman said: "If Anthony doesn't find fame and fortune after his spell in the Big Brother house we'll gladly welcome him back to complete the course!"

Anthony recently split up with his girlfriend, 25-year-old community warden Leanne Wales. A mutual friend said: "They parted on good terms and Leanne wishes him well in the Big Brother house."

One neighbour said: "He is full of confidence and thinks he can do absolutely anything. Sometimes he is a bit overconfident, especially on the football field but everyone loves him, he is a really canny lad."

The talented footballer, who was once sold by Consett to Whickham for £75 and has also turned out for the Station Club, has had a fairly quiet start to his time under the spotlight. But bookies reckon that leaves him with a good chance of going all the way in the TV contest.

A William Hill spokesman said: "Young better looking men tend to do well. Most of the previous series have been won by a male because the people who vote tend to be girls aged 16-25."