BOLTON Big Brother contestant Helen Wood has been handed a pass to the show's final.

The 27-year-old, who owns a beauty salon in Bolton, was selected for the surprise by fellow housemate Pauline Bennett during Friday evening's second launch show.

Pauline was given the task of chosing a contestant to avoid the weekly evictions, as part of her role within the Power Trip theme of this year's series - the first time it has been done.

She said: "The person I'm going to pick, people are going to kill me for this... Helen."

Miss Wood hit the headlines when it was alleged she and another Bolton woman, Jenny Thompson, had sex with Manchester United star Rooney in 2009 while his wife, Coleen, was pregnant with their son, Kai.