OH BROTHER!

With Celebrity Big Brother back on TV, CHARLOTTE McLAUGHLIN looks at memorable moments

1 The first Celebrity Big Brother in 2001 on Channel 4 saw Jack Dee, left, make a short-lived attempt to leave before returning to win the show. The comedian and actor had been persuaded to do the show for BBC’s Comic Relief, but after managing to avoid eviction he decided to escape. He first tried to dig his way out of the house with a rake, then he opted for the gate, which he just walked through.

2 Comedian and Family Fortunes presenter Les Dennis went into the house in 2002 still dealing with his break-up from then wife Amanda Holden. He told everyone in the house – even the house chickens and Big Brother – about how miserable he was, but was eventually runner-up on the show.

3 Jackie Stallone, Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone’s mum, entered the house with the words “Yeah, Jackie!” in 2005. She arrived after her ex-daughter-in-law, Brigitte Nielsen, and she resolved their differences in the house. The former wrestling promoter said she was unable to do tasks such as make a cup of tea or open a bottle of wine, saying they were normally done by her staff.

4 George Galloway, who was recently elected MP for Rochdale, got down on all fours pretending to be a cat and pretended to lap milk from a saucer for a shopping task when he entered the Big Brother house in 2006.

5 Paris Hilton lookalike Chantelle Houghton entered the house in 2006 and had to fool the celebrities that she was in a girl band, which she did. She also developed a relationship with The Ordinary Boys singer Preston and the two later married, splitting up in 2007.

6 The late reality TV star Jade Goody, right, glamour model Danielle Lloyd and S Club star Jo O’Meara were accused of racism over a row with Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in 2007. Complaints from viewers reached 45,000 and the show even sparked censure from politicians. Jade left the BB House after a row over a chicken, but Shilpa later forgave the reality star.

7 Singer Leo Sayer escaped the CBB house in 2007. “I’m leaving the house, guys, ‘cos Big Brother won’t provide me with underwear,” he told housemates, before beating his fists on a two-way mirror, grabbing a broom and forcing his way out through one of the walls.

8 More than 200 people complained to Channel 5 in 2016 after American TV personality Tiffany Pollard mistakenly thought fellow contestant David Gest, pictured, had died. She became hysterical when Angie Bowie confided in her that ”David’s dead” – after she was told that her former husband David Bowie had died. David Gest had been having a nap at the time.

9 How Clean Is Your House? star Kim Woodburn was removed from the Celebrity Big Brother house by security in 2017 after an explosive argument with several housemates. As she exited, she called her fellow housemates “chinless wonders”.

10 Soap star Ryan Thomas won the last Channel 5 series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, and during his time on the show was embroiled in a scandal after actress Roxanne Pallett claimed he had deliberately hurt her with a punch. Viewers defended the action as playfighting.