A CHEF from Flintshire is tipped to win Big Brother – and housemates are unaware he was born a woman.
Transgendered Luke Anderson, 31, from Mynydd Isa, near Mold, has kept his surgery a secret from fellow reality TV contestants.
Luke, a sous-chef who works at the Beaufort Park Hotel, told the Channel 5 show: “My family and wife know, that’s about it.”
He explained that from a young age he felt like “a boy in a girl’s body” and, four years ago, began gender transition – going under the knife and having regular testosterone injections.
Bookies are already backing him to win the 13th UK series of Big Brother, with one offering odds of 5/1.
His wife of two years, Becki, posted a photo on Facebook of her Ladbrokes betting slip with the words: “Wahooooo favourite to win already!!!!!”
The pair met and married at Beaufort Park, where she is a team leader.
“I knew that she was the one, I was tired of chasing girls,” said Luke, adding they knew each other about a week before he told her he was transgendered.
Becki has been showing her support on social networking sites.
She posted on her Facebook wall: “As you’re all aware, my amazing husband went into the Big Brother house last night!
“I can’t describe how proud I am of him and to be his wife!!”
But she got into a war of words on Twitter with controversial comedian Frankie Boyle, after he made remarks about Luke’s sex change.
She told Boyle to “grow up” after he tweeted: “Whatever you do Luke, don’t be yourself.”
Sue Warnock, manager at Beaufort Park, said the chef was popular and “known to play the odd trick”.
She added: “Luke Anderson is an excellent employee, not to mention a talented chef.
“Luke met his wife here and was also married here and is very much part of the Beaufort Park family.
“We would just like to wish him the very best of luck on Big Brother and we can’t wait to follow his progress.”
The culinary connoisseur featured in the Leader in 2010 when he was crowned Flintshire’s Chef of the Year.
And he told Channel 5 he is confident he can win Big Brother too.
Luke said: “I have a competitive streak and can be Mr Nice Guy, quite charismatic. It is a game and I plan to play.”
North Wales bookmakers Corbett Sports has Mr Anderson to win with odds of 11/2 in shops across Flintshire.
Michael Corbett, managing director, said: “We always see an uplift in bets for a local celebrity, and many of our staff know Luke from the area.
“We will take some good money for him to win Big Brother and wish him the best of luck!”