As Croydon's Vanessa Layton-McIntosh enters her second week in the Big Brother house a close friend has spilled the beans on the 19-year-old.

According to the friend, who did not want to be identified, Vanessa's low profile in the house is all part of her plan to win the £70,000 cash prize.

He also described national newspaper reports of her steamy past and suggestions Vanessa had once been a table dancer as nonsense.

He said: "It's just not true. She probably went on holiday and jumped on a table and danced."

He added: "It's ridiculous to say she has slept around."

Vanessa, from New Addington, had her first job aged eight as a paper girl, before working for Phones4U in Croydon and Mitcham and Carphone Warehouse.

Her friend said Vanessa, who attended Royal Russell, Old Palace and Archbishop Tenison schools, was doing well in her business studies course at Brunel University, earning an A and B+ in her exams this year.

"In all her schools she's always done very well. She's always been a high, high achiever."

He added: "We expect her to be there at the end. She's keeping a low profile, that's part of the plan."