All worn out after 2009’s festive celebrations? There's no doubt you’ll be getting ready for some 2010 couch potato action because it’s a brand new year, which can mean only one thing - a brand new series of Celebrity Big Brother!
This year’s Celeb edition is the last ever series of a true reality TV pioneer so it’s a sure thing that Channel 4 bosses are going to make sure the series that sparked some of the most cringe-worthy, touching and disgraceful celeb moments in history goes out with a bang.
Still, with ex-housemates like Jack Dee, John McCririck and Shilpa Shetty in the BB roll-call there’s some stiff competition for the final Big Brother housemates. Let’s take a look at the past seven glorious years of Celebrity Big Brother, the reality TV show that started out as a humble charity competition and turned into a PR monster...
CBB1 (2001)
Long before SuBo, we had the original in middle-aged breakdowns with Vanessa Feltz when she decided to scrawl words across the house dinner table wearing sunglasses and a leopard print dressing gown in a great display of being mental. Bravo Vanessa. Alas, Anthea Turner wasn't far away, ready to play up to her 'perfect housewife' persona and clean it all up with a wet cloth. Party Pooper.
Still in its infancy, Celebrity Big Brother was a modest affair but it was enough to make winner Jack Dee try to flee the nest before he was due to depart. Even so, his dry wit and sarcasm helped him win the show and become an even greater loved British comedian, begrudgingly.
Other housemates were Boyzone's Keith Duffy, former WBO middleweight champion boxer Chris Eubank, broadcaster and journalist Vanessa Feltz, actress Claire Sweeney and television presenter Anthea Turner.
CBB2 (2002)
Well, there’s always one loser in the Celebrity Big Brother Series and although lovely Take That star Mark Owen won 2002’s series of Celebrity Big Brother it’s a pretty honest assessment in saying that it’s probably the most boring of the lot. Well, with failing comedian Les Dennis and comedian Sue Perkins providing us with most of the laughs, what did you expect? Other housemates included musician and actor Goldie, TV presenter Anne Diamond and TV presenter and model Melinda Messenger.
However, it was Marks wicked sense of humour and his playful pranks that made everyone love him over again. At least it got lovely Mark a quick stint at a solo career, not that he needs to reminisce now he’s touring the world with the wonderful Take That boys. Bless.
CBB3 (2005)
By the time we had reached Celebrity Big Brother 3 it was clear fireworks were going to be had throughout the show, although what charmed the nation in CBB3 were not fireworks but the spark of an unlikely friendship between Happy Mondays’ Bez and Hollywood babe Brigitte Nielsen. The two shared a love for a boogie in the sauna room and with the fine tunings of Brigitte’s karaoke singing their fate as friends was sealed from then on.
However, trouble wasn’t far from paradise for the other housemates, who constantly battled with the chauvinistic, ignorant racing pundit, John McCririck. “Cash register” model Caprice and feminist Germaine Greer suffered his wrath particularly and he became one of the most hated Celebrity housemates yet.
If it wasn’t for his childish “I want my Diet Coke” rant and his infectious-to-watch tantrums he would have been voted out a lot sooner.
Bez who went on to win the show, despite a record 11 eviction nominations was also shacked up with actor Jeremy Edwards, musician Kenzie, DJ Lisa I’anson and astrologer Jackie Stallone.
CBB4 (2006)
CBB4 was a year of arguments from George Gallaway’s idiotic “poor me, pour me a drink” goading of Michael Barrymore to Michael Barrymore’s nasty bullying towards model and TV personality Jodie Marsh. Throw in a bit of Pete Burns’ sarcastic snarls and you had possibly the bitchiest Celebrity Big Brother yet. Not even Michael Barrymore’s stand-up act dressed as Hitler could lift the houses spirits! What a surprise...
Amongst the arguing there brewed a romance between Ordinary Boys’ front man Preston and fake-celeb and CBB4 winner Chantelle Houghton. The cute couple got through the ensuing media frenzy but didn’t last long after it all died down – fame whores anyone?
Goldie Lookin’ Chain star and all round joker, Maggot won the show.
Other celebs who blessed 2006’s CBB4 house were basketball star and actor Dennis Rodman, former PA Faria Alam, MP George Galloway, model and TV personality Jodie Marsh, TV presenter Michael Barrymore, musician Pete Burns, actress Rula Lenska, actress Traci Bingham.
CBB5 (2007)
The infamous Celebrity Big Brother 2007 sparked the race row between Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty and is one Big Brother series that not just the nation witnessed but that the entire globe had a look at. After Bollywood babe Shilpa Shetty rubbed up Jade Goody and co the wrong way she suffered racial jibes behind her back at the hands of Jade Goody, former S Club 7 member Jo O’Meara and glamour model Danielle Lloyd.
After finally cementing herself as a national institute in celeb stardom, Jade Goody moved her mum Jackiey Budden and partner Jack Tweed into the house with her only to ruin everything she had done for her reputation. Unfortunately for Jade, it was car-crash TV on a whole new level. It goes without saying that Shilpa went on to win the entire thing with as much grace as any woman could care to muster.
CBB5 was the biggest Celeb Big Brother House yet and featured a wopping 14 housemates including singer Leo Sayer, film director Ken Russell, singer and member of Jackson 5 Jermaine Jackson, former Steps band member and actor Ian ‘H’ Watkins, lead singer of band Towers of London Donny Tourette, actor Dirk Benedict, actress and theatre producer Cleo ROocos, journalist Carole Malone, former Big Brother housemate Jade Goody, partner of Jade Goody Jack Tweed, mother of Jade Goody Jackiey Budden.
CBB6 (2009)
The penultimate Big Brother was an exciting one, with even bigger Hollywood actors (pint-sized he may be), American rap heroes and lots of eye candy for the fellas with the likes of singer Michelle Heaton, singer song writer Mutya Buena and model Lucy Pinder. It’s fair to say hormones were running high in 2009’s Big Bro house and there were spats between Coolio and gobby scouser Tina Malone over shopping lists while TV presenter and eventual winner Ulrika Jonsson constantly struggled with the American rapper too.
In the meantime we saw flirtations between Michelle Heaton and singer Ben Adams, despite their denying that there was any attraction. Hmm.
However, the little ray of sunshine that emerged from the show had to be pint-sized Verne Troyer of ‘Austin Powers’ fame. Who could forget his drunken night of mayhem when he crashed his scooter into the Diary Room door and tried to chat up all of the female housemates! TV Gold.
Other housemates in the Celeb Big Brother 2009 house were recording artist and writer La Toya Jackson, broadcaster Terry Christian and politician Tommy Sheridan.
Phew - It's been a bit of a whirlwind hasn't it? Now bring on this year's competitors and wish Big Brother a farewell to remember!
FemaleFirst - Carla Pearce
Tagged in Big Brother