The 22-year-old trainee solicitor from Birmingham reacted with shock at the news.

"It's all over guys - and I'm gutted," he said.

More than one million viewers voted on Friday - and following the bookies' predictions, PJ's fellow nominee Kate Lawler remains inside.

The trainee solicitor got a hug from his mum

Kate, 22, an IT administrator from Kent, survived despite packing her things in anticipation of going.

PJ, the seventh person to be evicted, had regained his composure when he was allowed out of the house at 2200.

Speaking to Davinia McCall after a raucous welcome from fans, he said of his time in Big Brother house: "I loved it."

And he denied having any sexual relationship with Jade.

"Nothing at all. I promise you now.

"There was one thing I had in mind from the very start - my sister's watching this" he said.

Kate Lawler lives to fight another day

Friday's eviction followed a morning of sunbathing at the house and the discovery of a frog in the garden, which the housemates adopted.

Alex even asked Big Brother for frog food.

But Big Brother contacted the RSPCA and said that the housemates could not keep the animal.

During the day PJ said he was nervous about the reception he would receive if he left - and admitted to expecting some boos from the crowd.

But, unlike Kate, PJ did not bother to pack before the votes were counted.

PJ and Kate were nominated after they drew the short straws in a game on Saturday, in a change to the usual nomination process.

The six remaining housemates were given the chance to watch video messages from their friends and families in exchange for being put up for eviction.

Kate's popularity inside and outside the house has increased since the start of the third Big Brother series in May.

She has played the joker among the housemates and refused to talk ill of any one of them behind their back.

Friday's vote may also have been influenced by a desire to see if romance blossoms between her and model Alex Sibley, 23, from Hornchurch, Essex.

Favourite

There have been signs that the pair have become increasingly close, especially since the departure last week of Adele Roberts.

Jonny Regan: May still be on course to win

Adele, 23, a personal assistant and DJ from Southport, left the house after receiving more votes than fellow nominee, dental nurse Jade Goody, from Bermondsey, south London.

Overall favourite to win the series - and the �70,000 prize - is firefighter Jonny Regan, 29, from County Durham.

Meanwhile, Tim Culley, 23, a recently-graduated student from Worcester, is favourite to be next week's evicted contestant.