The eyes of British TV fans were firmly fixed on the Big Brother house on Wednesday night as 11 fearless celebs bid farewell to their freedom and entered the glass-walled building that will be their home for the next few weeks.
Jermaine Jackson, the older brother of headline-friendly popster Michael, was the first to arrive. Flamboyantly dressed in a long burgundy coat and customised blue jeans, the 52-year-old singer told fans his younger sibling would be watching the event.
Hostess Davina McCall was also dressed to impress in a long black cape, while veteran filmmaker Ken Russell, who at 79 is the oldest contestant, was sporting a bright pink shirt and red trousers.
With press speculation about the line-up rife in recent days, crowds gathered outside the house already knew who to expect. There were some surprise inclusions, however, with the Seventies signer Leo Sayer and former S Club chanteuse Jo O'Meara both taking the press pack by surprise.
Former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd, who lost her title after embarking upon a relationship with footballer Teddy Sheringham, also caused quite a stir, along with TV presenter Carole Malone and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
Punk rocker Donny Tourette meanwhile lived up to his hellraising reputation by making a series of rude gestures on his way into the house. But it was American actor Dirk Benedict who turned in the most memorable entrance, rolling up in a replica A-Team van, just like the one he rode in on the hit Eighties series.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
