THE pop singer Leo Sayer, veteran film director Ken Russell and Jermaine Jackson, brother of superstar Michael, were last night unveiled as among the 11 people taking part in this year's Celebrity Big Brother.
The version of the Channel Four programme, now in its fifth series, launched last night and will dominate the network's output for January.
The contestant line-up - described by one leading PR expert as "a mixture of has-beens, would-bes and neve
r-beens" - mixes veteran talent with members of defunct pop bands, actors and actresses. The age-span ranges from 79-year-old director Russell - known for films such as The Devils and Tommy - to Danielle Lloyd, the 23-year-old "glamour model" and girlfriend of former England footballer Teddy Sheringham.
While 58-year-old Sayer has enjoyed a recent career revival on the back of a re-release of Thunder In My Heart, some of the other musical contestants are more obscure.
Donny Tourette, 25, is described as lead singer of the band Towers of London and occasional boyfriend of Peaches Geldof, daughter of Bob.
He said his reason for appearing in the show was because: "I've got ****-all else to do at the moment." He also admitted to having "a lot of dirty habits".
Shilpa Shetty, 31, star of the Bollywood cinema industry will be a highly glamorous addition to the house. Famous for her dance routines she had also won critical acclaim for her portrayal of an Aids sufferer in the 2004 film Phir Milenge (We will Meet Again).
Wearing a pink sari and silver high-heeled shoes she spent some time posing for photographers outside the house.
"I constantly travel with an entourage and I know I won't have that in the Big Brother house,"
she told presenter Davina McCall
"I just want every Indian to be extremely proud that I'm in here."
But she admitted she had never seen the show.
Ian "H" Watkins, 29, a former member of the band Steps and who now performs in West End musicals, came out as gay only hours before the show.
Another pop star was 27-year-old Jo O'Meara, an ex-singer with pop group S Club 7.
The other American in this year's show part from Jermaine is 61-year-old Dirk Benedict, a member of cult 1980s television series The A Team.
Jackson now goes by the name of Muhammad Abdul Aziz after converting to Islam in the 1980s but has continued to record albums. He may face some issues in the claustrophobic Big Brother household as he describes his greatest fear as "sharing the toilet".
The remaining celebrities are Fleet Street columnist Carole Malone, 47,and actress Cleo Rocos, 44 - best known for her comedy cameos in The Kenny Everett Show.
First into the house was Jermaine, 52, who told McCall: "Michael's in Vegas right now but he has a way of seeing everything."
Next in was Danielle who clearly didn't recognise Jermaine leaving the star looking bemused and uncomfortable.
Danielle confessed that her boyfriend Sheringham supported her stint in the house seeing it as a way "to stop me going to the shops."
A fragile Ken Russell was helped down the steps into the house after belting out Singing In The Rain to the crowd before the sound was cut and he was warned by McCall who apologised for his swearing.
"I am an old English film director," he told his new house guests.
Last year's Celebrity Big Brother ran over 23 days and was won by Chantelle Houghton, a 23-year-old from Essex who pretended to be a pop star to her other housemates.
However, the marathon reality show - in which contestants are set tasks and are constantly monitored on camera - created some memorable TV moments.
The MP George Galloway was widely ridiculed for a sequence in which, dressed in a red leotard, he pretended to be a cat licking cream from the hands of actress Rula Lenska.
Channel Four says this year's Celebrity Big Brother will run for even longer than the 2006 series, though it is refusing to reveal the date of the final.
The producers also plan to create a number of spin-off shows which are to be broad- cast on Channel Four's digital channels.
HOW TO WIN: DO'S AND DON'TS OF LIFE IN THE BB HOUSE
• DON'T whinge about being famous. The moment Jodie Marsh started banging on about how terrible life was in the media spotlight during CBB4, an irritated nation raised its eyes to heaven, filed her under M for Moaner and booted her out the house.
• DO cry over photos of your children. Jack Dee sniffled his way to victory in the original Celebrity Big Brother by displaying his soft and mushy side and missing his wife and kids. Simple yet effective.
• DON'T flaunt your plastic surgery. Pete Burns's lips, Brigitte Nielsen's breasts, Jackie Stallone's face... folks, these things are not attractive. Put 'em away.
• DO be humble and pretend you think everyone has forgotten who you are. Ex-Take That member Mark Owen won CBB2 by being a normal guy who had reverted to a pre-celebrity life.
• DO remember you're there to entertain. Germaine Greer thought she was there to talk about feminism and swan around in grey woollens.
• DON'T have a breakdown on television. Watching Michael Barrymore slurring his words and crying in the diary room last year felt like lurking behind a one-way mirror in a psychiatric ward. Vanessa Feltz scrawling on the kitchen table was downright disturbing.
• DON'T role-play in a weirdly sexual way with Rula Lenska. "Would you like me to be the cat?" No George. We wouldn't.
