Star holding out on Big Brother
A MYSTERY housemate was reported to be still resisting joining Celebrity Big Brother as the new series burst back on to TV screens with a live launch last night.
Producers were thought to be saving a big name for a surprise entrance but the mystery man was understood to be refusing to sign a contract.
The series kicked off with Cheers actress Kirstie Alley entering the house and being crowned House President by Big Brother.
The US actress was later joined by former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas, 34, and Liverpool footballer Jermaine Pennant, 36.
Before entering, Alley, 67, joked: “I’ve never been incarcerated and I’ve never been institutionalised, and I thought what better place to go than Big Brother Britain?” The fourth person to enter the house was Chloe Ayling, 21, a British model who hit headlines last year after she was kidnapped in Italy after being lured to a fake photoshoot.
She told viewers: “If I can survive what happened to me then I can definitely survive the Celebrity Big Brother House.” Brazilian-born Rodrigo Alves, known as “The Human Ken Doll” after spending in excess of £500,000 on plastic surgery, was the next star name revealed.
US reality star Natalie Nunn, former Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett and TV psychic Sally Morgan were all set to enter the house last night along with Married At First Sight lothario Ben Jardine, TOWIE hunk Dan Osborne, comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli and rogue trader Nick Leeson who caused the collapse of Barings Bank. Porn star Stormy Daniels, who said she had an affair with US President Donald Trump, is also widely expected to enter.
The Royal Family could be set for an embarrassing few weeks following news that Samantha Grant, the outspoken half-sister of Meghan Markle, may enter the house at some point.
Ms Grant, 53, told Good Morning Britain: “Why would I put my life on hold because of a family issue?”
The contestants were welcomed by returning presenter Emma Willis. The house has been decked out in tropical prints and designs for the new series. Its Eye Of The Storm theme is a nod to the fact that each housemate has been caught up in a “media storm”.