Meet the Big Brother celebrities
The BBC News website profiles the runners and riders in this year's Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 4.
FARIA ALAM
Age: 39
Job: Model and former PA
Lives: London (born in Bangladesh)
Famous for: Best known for her affair with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and the media scandal linking her to FA chief executive Mark Palios.
Nicknamed 'Ferrari', Faria has had various jobs and a taste for the high-life. She has worked in IT and PR and is fluent in several languages. She said the person she would least like to encounter in the Big Brother house is Eriksson's partner Nancy Dell'Olio.
MICHAEL BARRYMORE
Age: 53
Job: TV personality/comedian
Lives: New Zealand
Famous for: After a turbulent childhood, Michael entered showbusiness working as a Red Coat at Butlins holiday camps for eight years.
After appearances on TV shows like Little and Large and Blankety Blank, Michael was given his own series The Michael Barrymore Show in 1982 and quickly established himself as one of the UKs favourite entertainers. In 1995 , he "came out" as gay, bringing his marriage to an end.
In 2001, he was questioned by police over the death of Stuart Lubbock, who drowned in his swimming pool. Following an investigation, Michael received a caution for possession and use of cannabis. No other charges were filed against him.
He was dropped by ITV following an inquest, which recorded an open verdict, and he found it difficult to find work.
TRACI BINGHAM
Age: 37
Job: Actress and model
Lives: Beverly Hills, California (born in Massachusetts)
Famous for: Harvard-educated Traci is best known for her role in the hugely successful Baywatch series, as lifeguard Jordan Tate. After two years in the show, she made numerous TV and film appearances, most recently in US reality shows.
Traci describes herself as something of an exhibitionist, a flirt, and says that things "could get a little crazy" after a couple of drinks.
PETE BURNS
Age: 46
Job: Singer in '80s band Dead or Alive
Lives: Italy (born in Liverpool)
Famous for: Pete shocked audiences in the 1980s with his flamboyant dress sense including skirts, stockings, high-heels, corsets, exotic hairstyles and make-up. Dead or Alive hit the big time in 1985 with You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) which reached number one in the charts.
A self-confessed diva with rooms full of Vivienne Westwood outfits, Pete counts Jackie Stallone and Madonna among his idols. He has had extensive cosmetic surgery.
GEORGE GALLOWAY
Age: 51
Job: RESPECT (political party to the left of Labour) MP for Bethnal Green and Bow
Lives: East London (born in Dundee)
Famous for: His passionate left-wing stance and campaign to have the UK government overturn economic sanctions against Iraq. His controversial meetings with former Iraqi-leader Saddam Hussein in 1994 and 2002 have raised eyebrows in some quarters.
Teetotal George, whose dream date is actress Julia Roberts, does not like drunkenness, bad manners, bigotry and ignorance, but likes football and snooker.
RULA LENSKA
Age: 57
Job: Actress
Lives: London
Famous for: Born Countess Roza-Marie Leopoldnya Lubienska, Rula grew up in London where she became an actress and a star of Rock Follies in her early twenties. Rula met her second husband, Dennis Waterman, on the set of Minder.
Rula aims to give up smoking whilst she is in the house, and has brought nicotine patches. She describes herself as a gay icon and "a crazy Polish countess who likes a challenge". Rula is also a practicing Buddhist and chants on a daily basis.
MAGGOT
Age: 24
Job: Rapper in band Goldie Lookin' Chain
Lives: London (born in Newport, Wales)
Famous for: Being in comedy rap group Goldie Lookin' Chain as the "crafty character who sells sexy DVDs". The band got into trouble in September by dedicating their song Your Missus is a Nutter to David Beckham at the England v Wales World Cup qualifier.
Maggot - who got his nickname as a teenager when he donned a flesh-coloured puffa jacket that made him look like a giant maggot - said he would like to "get into politics" in the future.
He said he entered the Big Brother house because "there's not much else to do in January".
JODIE MARSH
Age: 27
Job: Glamour model
Lives: Essex
Famous for: Jodie rose to fame in the TV documentary Essex Wives and has since been a fixture in the tabloids and lads mags.
Her public rivalry with fellow glamour model Jordan is well documented and Jodie admits she would hate to meet her in the Big Brother house.
Jodie is also a strong anti-bullying campaigner.
SAMUEL PRESTON
Age: 23
Job: Lead singer/guitarist
Lives: Brighton
Famous for: Preston dropped out of university to form the band The Ordinary Boys with three friends from his native Worthing. They burst onto the music scene nearly two years ago with Maybe Someday, and their debut album went gold in the UK in 2004. The band has recently finished supporting Paul Weller on tour.
Preston has strong views on politics, and hates bullies and small-mindedness.
DENNIS RODMAN
Age: 44
Job: Former professional basketball player
Lives: California, USA (born in New Jersey)
Famous for: Rodman was one of the best defensive professional basketball player of all time, winning five NBA titles. Since retiring he has reinvented himself as a celebrity, and is known for his controversial behaviour and cross-dressing. He has written three auto-biographies and has appeared in a number of films.
He was married to Carmen Electra, but filed for an annulment after just nine days.
And anti-fur campaigner, Rodman is also an outspoken supporter of gay rights, AIDS and breast cancer.
CHANTELLE
Job: Model
Lives: Essex
Famous for: Nothing! Chantelle is not a celebrity at all, but must convince her fellow house mates that she is to avoid being evicted. Chantelle's cover story is that she is a pop star from a girl band named Kandy Floss, whose biggest hit single was called I Want it Right Now.
FARIA ALAM
Age: 39
Job: Model and former PA
Lives: London (born in Bangladesh)
Famous for: Best known for her affair with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and the media scandal linking her to FA chief executive Mark Palios.
Nicknamed 'Ferrari', Faria has had various jobs and a taste for the high-life. She has worked in IT and PR and is fluent in several languages. She said the person she would least like to encounter in the Big Brother house is Eriksson's partner Nancy Dell'Olio.
MICHAEL BARRYMORE
Age: 53
Job: TV personality/comedian
Lives: New Zealand
Famous for: After a turbulent childhood, Michael entered showbusiness working as a Red Coat at Butlins holiday camps for eight years.
After appearances on TV shows like Little and Large and Blankety Blank, Michael was given his own series The Michael Barrymore Show in 1982 and quickly established himself as one of the UKs favourite entertainers. In 1995 , he "came out" as gay, bringing his marriage to an end.
In 2001, he was questioned by police over the death of Stuart Lubbock, who drowned in his swimming pool. Following an investigation, Michael received a caution for possession and use of cannabis. No other charges were filed against him.
He was dropped by ITV following an inquest, which recorded an open verdict, and he found it difficult to find work.
TRACI BINGHAM
Age: 37
Job: Actress and model
Lives: Beverly Hills, California (born in Massachusetts)
Famous for: Harvard-educated Traci is best known for her role in the hugely successful Baywatch series, as lifeguard Jordan Tate. After two years in the show, she made numerous TV and film appearances, most recently in US reality shows.
Traci describes herself as something of an exhibitionist, a flirt, and says that things "could get a little crazy" after a couple of drinks.
PETE BURNS
Age: 46
Job: Singer in '80s band Dead or Alive
Lives: Italy (born in Liverpool)
Famous for: Pete shocked audiences in the 1980s with his flamboyant dress sense including skirts, stockings, high-heels, corsets, exotic hairstyles and make-up. Dead or Alive hit the big time in 1985 with You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) which reached number one in the charts.
A self-confessed diva with rooms full of Vivienne Westwood outfits, Pete counts Jackie Stallone and Madonna among his idols. He has had extensive cosmetic surgery.
GEORGE GALLOWAY
Age: 51
Job: RESPECT (political party to the left of Labour) MP for Bethnal Green and Bow
Lives: East London (born in Dundee)
Famous for: His passionate left-wing stance and campaign to have the UK government overturn economic sanctions against Iraq. His controversial meetings with former Iraqi-leader Saddam Hussein in 1994 and 2002 have raised eyebrows in some quarters.
Teetotal George, whose dream date is actress Julia Roberts, does not like drunkenness, bad manners, bigotry and ignorance, but likes football and snooker.
RULA LENSKA
Age: 57
Job: Actress
Lives: London
Famous for: Born Countess Roza-Marie Leopoldnya Lubienska, Rula grew up in London where she became an actress and a star of Rock Follies in her early twenties. Rula met her second husband, Dennis Waterman, on the set of Minder.
Rula aims to give up smoking whilst she is in the house, and has brought nicotine patches. She describes herself as a gay icon and "a crazy Polish countess who likes a challenge". Rula is also a practicing Buddhist and chants on a daily basis.
MAGGOT
Age: 24
Job: Rapper in band Goldie Lookin' Chain
Lives: London (born in Newport, Wales)
Famous for: Being in comedy rap group Goldie Lookin' Chain as the "crafty character who sells sexy DVDs". The band got into trouble in September by dedicating their song Your Missus is a Nutter to David Beckham at the England v Wales World Cup qualifier.
Maggot - who got his nickname as a teenager when he donned a flesh-coloured puffa jacket that made him look like a giant maggot - said he would like to "get into politics" in the future.
He said he entered the Big Brother house because "there's not much else to do in January".
JODIE MARSH
Age: 27
Job: Glamour model
Lives: Essex
Famous for: Jodie rose to fame in the TV documentary Essex Wives and has since been a fixture in the tabloids and lads mags.
Her public rivalry with fellow glamour model Jordan is well documented and Jodie admits she would hate to meet her in the Big Brother house.
Jodie is also a strong anti-bullying campaigner.
SAMUEL PRESTON
Age: 23
Job: Lead singer/guitarist
Lives: Brighton
Famous for: Preston dropped out of university to form the band The Ordinary Boys with three friends from his native Worthing. They burst onto the music scene nearly two years ago with Maybe Someday, and their debut album went gold in the UK in 2004. The band has recently finished supporting Paul Weller on tour.
Preston has strong views on politics, and hates bullies and small-mindedness.
DENNIS RODMAN
Age: 44
Job: Former professional basketball player
Lives: California, USA (born in New Jersey)
Famous for: Rodman was one of the best defensive professional basketball player of all time, winning five NBA titles. Since retiring he has reinvented himself as a celebrity, and is known for his controversial behaviour and cross-dressing. He has written three auto-biographies and has appeared in a number of films.
He was married to Carmen Electra, but filed for an annulment after just nine days.
And anti-fur campaigner, Rodman is also an outspoken supporter of gay rights, AIDS and breast cancer.
CHANTELLE
Job: Model
Lives: Essex
Famous for: Nothing! Chantelle is not a celebrity at all, but must convince her fellow house mates that she is to avoid being evicted. Chantelle's cover story is that she is a pop star from a girl band named Kandy Floss, whose biggest hit single was called I Want it Right Now.
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