Big Brother 9: Exclusive launch details

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By Dan Wootton, TV Editor

Hidden in secret locations across Europe are the new crop of housemates Big Brother bosses think will make this summer's series the best yet.

Show chiefs have been secretly planning the return of the hit Channel 4 series for nine months, after shelving Celebrity Big Brother to concentrate all their energy on the main show.

And now plans are in place to make series nine the toughest and sexiest Big Brother ever, kicking off with a 100-minute launch show on Thursday, June 5.

A show source revealed: "Believe me, Big Brother is not going to die a quiet death. This is going to be a landmark series that will put the show back on the map.

"Everyone's had a break from the show and the whole point of that was to build anticipation for summer.

"There's a lot riding on BB9 being a huge hit. That's why we delayed the start by a week so we didn't have to go up against the finals of Britain's Got Talent.

"We've got around 25 potential housemates locked away in Europe at the moment but the final cut won't be decided until next week at the earliest. There'll be other faces added during the run as well."

The show will still run for a whopping 13 weeks, with the winner not set to leave the house until Friday, September 5.

Speculation is already swirling about who might turn up on launch night, as everyone asks who will be this year's Ziggy and Channelle or Brian and Amanda.

There have been reports Wayne Rooney's wayward cousins - cross dressing Stephen and boob flashing Natalie - were turned down for the show.

Suggestions that busty Essex bird Jill Demirel, who's had flings with famous footballers, is being lined up to enter seem off the mark too.

An insider explained: "Channel 4 is desperate to keep the names under wraps so if people start talking about going onto the show to friends they're usually dumped from the line-up."

What's also unclear is how many folks will enter the house. Reports say there could be as many as 16, increasing the chances of heated rows.

There's also plans for it to be the sauciest series so far, with a special wet room with showers that have no protective screens.

Builders from the site of the house at Elstree Studios in north London have also reported the delivery of a child size bed, prompting rumours that the son or daughter of a housemate might get to stay a night.

The face of Big Brother is also being freshened this year, with Russell Brand and Dermot O'Leary both out of the presenting line-up to pursue grander ambitions.

Dermot had such big shoes to fill that two hosts, including a little sister, will be taking his place on Big Brother's Little Brother - music show presenters George Lamb and Zezi Ifore.

But, as ever, Davina McCall will be back hosting the live Friday night evictions, possibly for the last time.

She said: "Big Brother is no longer going to be lenient in any way, shape or form. If there's any kind of rule breaking, they're going to come down on them like a ton of bricks.

"You're not just going to be able to saunter into the Diary Room and go: 'Hi yeah, can I just get some gas for my curling tongs?' No, no, no, no - they're basically gonna make housemates suffer a bit more, which will be a good thing, I think."

She added: "We've been a bit soft the last couple of years. This is not a holiday camp, you know."

 

 

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