[Nell_McCoy]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/en...-30507592.html

BY MAUREEN COLEMAN – 14 AUGUST 2014

Northern Ireland's two Big Brother finalists are set to go head-to-head in a closely-fought battle to win this year's show.

With the countdown now on to tomorrow night's final, bookmakers are predicting a two-horse race between Londonderry teenager Ashleigh Coyle and 23-year-old Fivemiletown man Christopher Hall.

Part-time model Ashleigh, who has been popular with viewers from the off, is sitting pretty as the bookies' favourite to win with odds of 4/7, but London-based Christopher, who's just completed a Masters in broadcast journalism, is hot on her heels at 2/1.

Appealing to Northern Irish viewers to get behind the two local finalists, Christopher's mum Marie said: "Obviously we'd be delighted to see Christopher win but if it's Ashleigh instead then we'd be happy for her too.

"Christopher will be thrilled that he has made it this far and we are all so very proud of him. It would be lovely to see someone from our little province go on to take the top prize, but even if Christopher doesn't do it, he's still very much a winner in our eyes."

Ashleigh's boyfriend, Sean Hutton, has taken to social networking sites to urge people to vote. On Facebook, he said he was "super proud" of his "missus" but that he would put up with missing her if it meant she could win the show.