Comedian Jenny Eclair and fellow contestants faced a public vote

Eclair had been 5/6 favourite to leave, followed by fellow comics John Culshaw at 7/2 and Gina Yashere at 4/1, bookmaker William Hill said.

Eleven stars now remain in the talent show which is raising money for Comic Relief.

Comic Al Murray had left the show on Saturday after a vote to find the 12 contestants to enter the house.

"My bet would be on either Jenny or Gina who were truly awful," said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams before Wednesday's public vote.

FAME ACADEMY ODDS TO WIN Kim Medcalf (above) - 11/4 Debra Stephenson - 11/4 Dawn Steele - 3/1 Edith Bowman - 9/2 Chris Colquhoun - 8/1 Source: William Hill

"In the past punters have been able to clean up by betting on the evictions of reality TV shows but this time around it could be one of a handful who have almost no singing ability at all."

Contestants are being trained to sing and face regular public eviction votes in the run-up to the final on charity Comic Relief's Red Nose Day on 11 March.

EastEnders star Kim Medcalf and Coronation Street's Debra Stephenson are joint favourites to win the show.