Makosi's friends and colleagues have always believed that she should be on the telly. The staff at Wycombe Hospital are rooting for her to win.

The bookies' favourite Makosi, left her job as a cardiac nurse at the hospital to appear on the reality TV show and her colleagues are behind her all the way.

Student Laurice Franklin, 17, of Wycombe, thinks the curvy Zimbabwean can win the show and walk away with the £100,000 prize. She knows her well because her mum used to work with Makosi when the Big Brother housemate was just a student nurse at Wycombe Hospital.

She says: "I think she has a fair chance of winning and I think that if she can really put herself out there to the audience, she can win it.

"My mum knows her really well because Makosi used to work with my mum when she was just a student nurse. My mum says she thought she was far too glamorous to be working at the hospital and used to tell her that she should be on television and not in a hospital, and look where she is now."

Makosi has moved ahead of last week's favourite Kemal to be top of the bookies list, her colleagues at the hospital are not surprised.

Ryan Roche, 21, who works in the hospital's pharmacy department, says he was really shocked to see her on the telly at first, but now wants her to win.

He adds: "She's playing a very tactical game. She's flirting with all the boys and playing it to her advantage.

"She was always nice and friendly when she came down to the pharmacy or bumped in to us in the corridors. When we first saw her on TV we came into work the next day and said it's that girl from work."

A huge banner pledging support for Makosi has gone up in the middle of a roundabout in Wycombe's town centre near the Time nightclub.

A nurse at Wycombe Hospital, who did not wish to be named, is best friends with the Housemate's sister, who is also a nurse at the hospital.

She says: "I know Makosi's family because of her sister Veronica, who I'm good friends with. Everybody here at work is talking about her and we all want her to win.

"Since she has got into the Big Brother house, she might as well win it."

Makosi's fans like her because she is friendly and honest and her sister's friend says she is no different in the house than she is in real life.

Do you know Makosi? speak to our reporter Ushma Mistry and give the Wycombe nurse your backing by calling 01494 755151 or email umistry@london.newsquest.co.uk