OMEN
01-02-2009, 01:31 PM
Ulrika Jonsson is among those tipped to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house when the show launches later tonight.
Celebrity Big Brother is back for the first time since the race and bullying incident involving Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty that marred its last outing in 2007, and rumours about who will take part are rife.
PA reports that among the names rumoured to be entering the house are Liberty X's Michelle Heaton, former Sugababe Mutya Buena, broadcaster and former presenter of The Word Terry Christian, Austin Powers actor Verne Troyer and soul singer La Toya Jackson.
However, those behind the programme have said not all the rumours going around are accurate.
But Jonsson is thought to be one of the housemates. The former TV presenter's eventful love life includes links to former England head coach Sven Goran Eriksson, whose previous fling Faria Alam was on the show in 2006.
Programme bosses have also declared that while precautions will be taken to ensure there is no repeat of the Shilpa Shetty scandal, Celebrity Big Brother will not be "sanitised".
The race row in 2007 attracted 45,000 complaints to Ofcom - the most in the UK television regulator's history.
Commenting on this year's approach, David Williams, Channel 4 commissioning editor, said: "There's never been a case of sanitising Big Brother. There are, however, plans for preventing scandals like the last one. We've got procedures in place so we can cope with any eventuality."
Phil Edgar Jones - creative director of Brighter Pictures, the Endemol-owned production company behind the programme -added: "We have so many checks and balances we've imposed upon ourselves."
Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Michael Barrymore will turn roving reporter for the new series.
Barrymore will appear on the fanzine show Celebrity Big Brother's Little Brother, offering his thoughts on the celebrities, as well as becoming an on-the-street reporter. He was beaten into second place in the contest in 2006 by "fake" celebrity Chantelle Houghton.
The 11 stars lined up for this series were under strict orders to avoid excessive New Year's Eve partying with the creative minds behind the reality TV show hoping they have conserved their energies for the programme.
Organisers have said this year's tasks will be about life as a celebrity.
The house remains almost the same as it was in the non-celebrity version of Big Brother in the summer, with only the garden having received a makeover. The outdoor area has been transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with carousel horses and a heated seating area.
There is also a smoking area resembling a giant ashtray.
For the more health-conscious celebrities, gym equipment has been provided in the lounge following requests from some of the housemates-in-waiting.
But they will not be given much of a special treatment, the producers said. Their food budget will be the same as that of the non-celebrity housemates, and they will still need to earn tokens to obtain privileges such as use of the house's hair-straighteners.
The first eviction from the house is expected to take place in a week's time on January 9, with the show set to run for two weeks.
Celebrity Big Brother launches live at 9pm tonight on Channel 4.
RTE
Celebrity Big Brother is back for the first time since the race and bullying incident involving Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty that marred its last outing in 2007, and rumours about who will take part are rife.
PA reports that among the names rumoured to be entering the house are Liberty X's Michelle Heaton, former Sugababe Mutya Buena, broadcaster and former presenter of The Word Terry Christian, Austin Powers actor Verne Troyer and soul singer La Toya Jackson.
However, those behind the programme have said not all the rumours going around are accurate.
But Jonsson is thought to be one of the housemates. The former TV presenter's eventful love life includes links to former England head coach Sven Goran Eriksson, whose previous fling Faria Alam was on the show in 2006.
Programme bosses have also declared that while precautions will be taken to ensure there is no repeat of the Shilpa Shetty scandal, Celebrity Big Brother will not be "sanitised".
The race row in 2007 attracted 45,000 complaints to Ofcom - the most in the UK television regulator's history.
Commenting on this year's approach, David Williams, Channel 4 commissioning editor, said: "There's never been a case of sanitising Big Brother. There are, however, plans for preventing scandals like the last one. We've got procedures in place so we can cope with any eventuality."
Phil Edgar Jones - creative director of Brighter Pictures, the Endemol-owned production company behind the programme -added: "We have so many checks and balances we've imposed upon ourselves."
Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Michael Barrymore will turn roving reporter for the new series.
Barrymore will appear on the fanzine show Celebrity Big Brother's Little Brother, offering his thoughts on the celebrities, as well as becoming an on-the-street reporter. He was beaten into second place in the contest in 2006 by "fake" celebrity Chantelle Houghton.
The 11 stars lined up for this series were under strict orders to avoid excessive New Year's Eve partying with the creative minds behind the reality TV show hoping they have conserved their energies for the programme.
Organisers have said this year's tasks will be about life as a celebrity.
The house remains almost the same as it was in the non-celebrity version of Big Brother in the summer, with only the garden having received a makeover. The outdoor area has been transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with carousel horses and a heated seating area.
There is also a smoking area resembling a giant ashtray.
For the more health-conscious celebrities, gym equipment has been provided in the lounge following requests from some of the housemates-in-waiting.
But they will not be given much of a special treatment, the producers said. Their food budget will be the same as that of the non-celebrity housemates, and they will still need to earn tokens to obtain privileges such as use of the house's hair-straighteners.
The first eviction from the house is expected to take place in a week's time on January 9, with the show set to run for two weeks.
Celebrity Big Brother launches live at 9pm tonight on Channel 4.
RTE