This year’s line-up includes disgraced X Factor Frankie Cocozza, of ‘cocaine scandal’ shame, EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, already a reality veteran after a stint on Strictly Come Dancing, ex-Playboy Mansion twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon and Reservoir Dogs actor Michael Madsen.
Most likely to be tearing each other’s hair out within the first 24 hours are Nicola McLean and Natasha Giggs.
Glamour model McLean has slated Giggs, who was married to the footballer Ryan Giggs Rhodri, but had an eight-year affair with Ryan and exposed her story last year.
Here’s the low-down on 2012’s Celebrity Big Brother housemates.
Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Cassidy played Sonia Jackson in EastEnders and has presented TV shows including Natalie Cassidy Goes Wild in Australia.
She’s been in the headlines for losing lots of weight, releasing a fitness DVD and having a baby, but, like the other housemates, Cassidy is no A-lister and needs to raise her profile.
Frankie Cocozza
Frankie Cocozza was booted off the X Factor in 2011 after bragging to producers about taking cocaine. He had little chance of winning anyway and had lasted to the finals through personality rather than talent.
Sweetly, Cocozza has his bum tattooed with the names of all the girls he slept with on a lads holiday. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ll probably get your chance on this year’s Celebrity Big Brother.
Nicola McLean
Glamour model and WAG Nicola McLean is married to Kettering FC player Tom Williams and has two children.
She took part in I’m A Celebrity in which she regularly stripped to her bikini. McLean was voted Best Page 3 Girl of All Time by Sun readers.
She’s often heard slating women who sell stories about footballers. Watch out Natasha Giggs.
Natasha Giggs
Ignoring boos from the crowd as she entered the Big Brother house last night, Natasha Giggs will battle to win love from the public after revealing details of an eight-year affair with her husband’s brother, Ryan Giggs.
Natasha has called the sex sessions with Ryan Giggs “seedy”.
Nicola McLean hates her. Should be fun.
Kristina and Karissa Shannon
Competing for the bikini-babe tiara, Kristina and Karissa Shannon have joined the Celebrity Big Brother throng.
The twins are famous for having been two of Hugh Hefner’s three girlfriends during the time they lived in the Playboy Mansion.
Kristina and Karissa Shannon starred in E! series The Girls Next Door.
Michael Madsen
Easily the most successful Celebrity Big Brother contestant, Michael Madsen has starred in such cult movies at Thelma and Louise, Sin City, Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs, in which he played Mc Blonde.
Madsen also starred in whale film Free Willy, a fact that was drummed home by Natalie Cassidy when her first task in the house was to tell Madsen, “I loved you in Free Willy”.
Kirk Norcross
TOWIE star Kirk Norcross has left Essex for the Big Brother house where, along with Cocozza, he is likely to make a beeline for the ladies.
Norcross’s exes include Amy Childs and Lauren Pope and he has already revealed that he’s hoping to have sex in the Big Brother house.
Georgia Salpa
Yup, another glamour model in this year’s house. Irish lass Georgia Salpa recently dated Calum Best but dumped him when he was pictured leaving a club with Donna Air.
Last year Salpa was lined up to play ‘Queen Kardashian’ – she’s been dubbed The Irish Kim Kardashian – in The Cheerios Panto Sleeping Beauty in Dublin, but pulled out at the last minute.
Gareth Thomas
Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas is most famous for coming out as gay in December 2009.
Thomas now supports Childline, won Stonewall’s Hero of the Year award and was voted top of the 2010 Pink List’s most influential gay people in the UK.
Romeo Dunn
So Solid Crew member Romeo Dunn is rumoured to have been a second choice for the Celebrity Big Brother house after Lee Ryan pulled out after a row over how much he would be paid.
Dunn’s moment of fame came in the 90s with band So Solid Crew. He’ll be hoping to claw back some notoriety while in the Big Brother house.
Denise Welch
Loose Women presenter Denise Welch should whip the housemates into shape with her Geordie straight talking.
She’s a well known face in Britain having starred in numerous TV shows including Coronation Street and Waterloo road.
Andrew Stone
After rising to marginal fame alongside Louis Spence on Sky 1 reality show Pineapple Studio, Stone has been chasing the limelight ever since.
The self-proclaimed singer/dancer/actor has said he’s “In it to win it”.
Good luck then.
