Bateman entering the house last month

Big Brother rules state that a disqualified contestant must be replaced, although producers have not yet decided whether to reprieve Craig and Nichola - who were due for eviction - because of his cheating.

Programme bosses have booked dozens of hotel rooms around the south of England in an attempt to keep Nick's location secret.

He was whisked away from the east London house in a blacked-out car, as five others sped off in separate directions to throw people off the scent.

Ten contestants moved into a specially-constructed house in east London last month, watched by cameras and with no access to the outside world.

Apology

Each week, the housemates nominate two of their number for eviction, with the public deciding which one should get the boot.

At the end of the series, three will remain, with the public voting for a winner, who receives £70,000.

The show's rules forbid talking about nominations and tactical voting.

I did it for selfish reasons. I made a mistake and I apologise - it wasn't personal

Nick to the housemates

A statement from Channel 4 said: "Having earlier issued both a verbal and a written warning to Nick and all other contestants making it clear they faced eviction if they continued to contravene the rules about vote-rigging, it was decided Nick's continued presence in the house was no longer tenable."

Upon leaving the house, Nick told the housemates: "I did it for selfish reasons. I made a mistake and I apologise - it wasn't personal.

'Enjoyable six weeks'

"It's been a very enjoyable six weeks and I wish all of you the best for the remaining four, five weeks here and the rest of your lives.

"I hope you all get what you want and have a happy life thereafter. I'm very sorry.

"I'm going through a lot of pain right now which I deserve, but we all have emotions so hopefully some of you will understand in days to come."

I'm going through a lot of pain right now which I deserve, but we all have emotions so hopefully some of you will understand in days to come

Nick explains himself

Earlier, he called the house "a very competitive environment".

"I've worked in a very aggressive environment where people will stitch you up to further their own careers," he said.

Although viewers were fully aware of his plotting, he had built up the trust of his fellow contestants.

He also admitted to lying after he claimed he had lost a wife in a car crash, and has already received verbal and written warnings for his conduct.

When the housemates found out what he was up to, they accused him of being "sick".

'Sick'

Liverpudlian builder Craig told him: "I just thought you were genuine. I was misled and you made me look a fool.

"You're making it hard for me to believe what anyone else has said."

Nick admitted he had shown the names he had written down to two other contestants.

Marked for eviction: Craig

Craig and Bolton textile worker Nichola have been nominated this week, and late on Wednesday night Thomas let slip to Craig that Nick had voted against him.

Craig told Darren, and they then searched Nick's suitcase, and found his papers.

Nick conceded: "I've done something wrong."

The contestants agreed that they could not trust him, and Melanie said: "I think you should walk."

Darren said: "No-one is going to trust you - you might as well take your stuff and go."

Nichola said: "I've nothing good to say about the programme. They've made rules which have been broken."