Big Brother geek Eugene Scully's family are plead-ing with the people of Sussex to use their phone vote to put him in the final.

Eugene, from Pound Hill, Crawley, and fellow nominee Derek Laud will face the public vote today to become the 11th person to leave the Channel 4 reality show. Both received three nominations. Eugene's family want the public to vote for Derek to go to ensure the 27-year-old virgin and radio enthusiast remains until the end.

His brother Greg, 29, said: "Eugene is the most organic. He is the only candidate who is being himself. He wants to be a television presenter and an MP and has even built a television studio in his bedroom.

"People who want someone who is faking it and will just become a personality overnight and then disappear, should vote for some of the other contestants to win.

"Eugene is the most authentic. He is just being himself and can contribute something to society. I don't think he wants to be prime minister but he wants to follow a political career."

A web site has been set up by fans, with detailed biography, tributes from friends and family and even a Eugene song to help him win.

Tonight's head-to-head vote is being promoted as a mini general election.

Eugene stood as a Labour candidate for the Pound Hill, Worth and Maidenbower ward at the recent West Sussex County County elections, failing to unseat the authority's Tory leader Henry Smith.

Cultured Derek is a speech writer for the Tory party.

Eugene, a former Sussex University student, entered the household wearing just a fig leaf and is obsessed with audio technology.

His mother Janet Sully, 59, said: "I am proud of Eugene. He has shown strength of character since he arrived in the Big Brother household. We are all hoping he will win. He has kept away from the antics of the other housemates and has just been himself."

On hearing they were up for eviction, Eugene laughed and said: "I thought that would be the case."

Anthony Hutton is 2/5 favourite to win the show and the £100,000 prize.

Bookmakers had previously made Eugene second favourite to win at 4/1, with Makosi Musambasi at 8/1, Derek at 14/1 and hairdresser Craig Coates at 16/1.