Rachel Rice gets Big Brother crown

3:12pm Sunday 7th September 2008

Rachel Rice was the surprise winner of the ninth series of Big Brother, walking away with the £100,000 prize.

The 24-year-old trainee teacher, from Torfaen, south Wales, beat blind Mikey Hughes to win the title.

The result had been too close to call all night, with the bookies' favourite regularly changing.

When her name was announced, Rachel said "Oh my God, no way" and then hugged Mikey and told him "I love you so much."

Rachel then guided the blind 33-year-old radio producer to the Big Brother door and told him to be careful of the steps.

She won the reality show with 51.3% of the public vote.

Rachel came out of the house to a fireworks display, squealing and thanking the crowds.

She told McCall: "These things just don't happen. Honestly, you dream about going on Big Brother but then when you actually win, it's like, how?"

Rachel said she was shocked by the surprise evictions on Wednesday.

"As soon as they went it was such a shock because I was convinced we were all going to be together (for the final)," she said.

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