Canvassing with a fervour Fianna Fáil would be proud of, friends and relations of Big Brother contestant Ray Shah took to the Dublin streets yesterday seeking votes for tonight's final of the British reality TV show.
As 12-1 third-favourite of four to win the £70,000 contest, the Dubliner needs all the votes he can get - a fact recognised by his supporters who erected election-style posters around the capital appealing for support.
The contestant's father, Ray Shah Snr, said he had the posters printed with "a lot of help" from his friends. "I think we would have been struggling otherwise [to get votes]. People were trying to text the English number. They weren't given the Irish numbers on TV a lot, so that's what we wanted to do," he said.
In appealing for local support, the placards borrow the slogan of one of Ireland's greatest electioneering outfits: "A lot done, more to do."
While meant in a humorous spirit, they have, however, fallen foul of Dublin City Council's litter wardens who could have the last laugh if they decide to issue fines.
"We got a lot of complaints this morning, not only about the posters but about the leaflets that are being handed out too," said anti-litter officer, Ms Jackie O'Reilly. "No permission has been sought for the posters and none has been given."
She said by 4 p.m. yesterday the City Council had taken down 200 of the placards at various locations from Parnell Street to Pearce Street.
As to whether it would impose fines, she said it would first have to establish who was responsible. "We are not having a dig at the campaign, but to us this is just like any other commercial advertising. We have to enforce the law," said Ms O'Reilly.
Shah (25), from Artane, worked as an IT systems administrator in London before entering the Big Brother house 64 days ago.
Celebrity agents are already predicting a windfall of €100,000-plus for the contestant - several times that, if he wins.
His chances have been dented by several drunken outbursts on the show - his behaviour prompting warnings from the organisers, most recently when he vandalised a statue by scrawling graffiti over it.
His biggest obstacle to victory, however, comes from his main competitor, Orkney fish trader Cameron Stout, whose confession on the Channel 4 show this week that he is a virgin has left him odds-on favourite.