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Tonight will see the crowning of the ‘Ultimate Big Brother’ champion, with Big Brother 2 winner Brian Dowling having the shortest odds at 1 to 3 according to online betting site Betfair.

The final episode of the reality show is expected to top the recent non-celebrity final, which bowed out on a high of 4.6million on the 24 August.  

Last night, in the penultimate episode of the ‘Ultimate Big Brother’ show, former housemates including Ulrika Jonsson and ‘Nasty’ Nick Bateman held a wake to commemorate the show, which reports have suggested will transfer to the Richard Desmond owned Channel Five next year.

The voice of Big Brother Marcus Bentley delivered a eulogy as the housemates buried items that had memories from previous series.

Housemate Nikki Grahame also read a eulogy in which she said: "'Big Brother, I'm deeply saddened to have to say goodbye to you on this monumental meaningful day. You have played such a huge part and brought so much joy to so many millions of people's lives.

"May the legend live on."

Tonight, former housemates will see the agenda-setting programme off with a rendition of Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman's ‘Time to Say Goodbye’, with the winner of the first series, Craig, and the most recent winner, Josie, taking the lead vocal duties on the track.

They will be supported by a series of past winners and a video history of the show will be shown, which is expected to feature highlights from both the main Big Brother programme and the celebrity spin off Celebrity Big Brother.

Infamous scenes from the programme include ‘Nasty’ Nick’s eviction from the Big Brother for breaking house rules, Vanessa Feltz and her run in with Big Brother, which included her scrawling random words on the Big Brother dining table in chalk.

The video footage of past housemates is also set to include a montage of clips from, arguably, the most famous housemate Jade Goody who’s life was tragically cut short when she succumbed to cervical cancer in March 2009.

There have been 186 housemates, 88 male and 98 fem­ale, along with 68 celebrity Big Brother housemates in the last 10 years. They have altogether spent a total of 1,022 days in the house.

Big Brother has been remade for 70 countries across the globe.