Celebrity Big Brother is back… with a twist

It comes round every year, before we have barely had a chance to take the Christmas decorations down or recover from New Year’s Eve. Yes, I am talking about Celebrity Big Brother…

The series kicked off last night (January 3rd) with an excessive dose of soap stars, a couple of reality TV delights and a few (very) unfamiliar faces. The brand new batch of well-known (or maybe not so well known) faces climbed up the glittering steps and moved in to the famous Elstree house for three (long) weeks of tears, tantrums, twists and (icy) diary room dramas.

Who are the celebs?

After weeks of rumours flying around, a total of 12 celebrities entered the compound last night. These were: jockey Frankie Dettori, X Factor’s Rylan Clark (who reckons this is more nerve-racking than X Factor – really?), Paula Hamilton (sorry – who?), Heartbeat actress Tricia Penrose, former Steps member Claire Richards, ex-Eastender Gillian Taylforth, Lacey Banghard (again – who?), ‘The Hills’ married couple Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Coronation Street actor Sam Robertson, former professional football player Neil Ruddock, and last but not least, Ryan Maloney (aka Toadie from Neighbours!).

Basement pigsty

And if they thought they were in for an easy ride, then they were wrong! After entering the house this evening, Rylan and Frankie (who seem to be shaping up to be very good buddies) had to choose six housemates to be sent to a dark and cold “basement pigsty”. These housemates will be forced to live in ‘celebrity hell’, without any luxuries and with minimal food for the opening days of the series. Not all champagne and roses then…

Romance?

If odds were to be put on a potential romance, it would almost certainly be Sam Robertson and model Lacey Bangheard, despite being sadly put in separate houses for the time being. When asked by Brian Dowling if they were looking for romance, Sam, who is sure to have no shortage of admirers, said that he is ‘looking for mischief’; whilst Lacey admitted that she is ‘up for a good time.’ Watch this space…

What do you make of this year’s line-up of Celebrity Big Brother line up? Do you think it will be an entertaining series? Let us know below.