Celebrity Big Brother U.K. kicks off

Celebrity Big Brother kicked off in the U.K. last night with 11 housemates, ten of whom are genuine celebrities (if there can be such a thing) and one of whom is not.

U.S. readers will be familiar with basketball star Dennis Rodman and former Baywatch babe Traci Bingham, and possibly the Member of Parliament George Galloway, who took on the U.S. Senate over allegations he accepted payments from Saddam Hussein.

Also included are glamour model Jodie Marsh, Maggot from rap send-up group Goldie Lookin' Chain, lead singer Samuel Preston from The Ordinary Boys, actress Rula Lenska, disgraced television personality Michael Barrymore, Faria Alam (who had an affair with England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson) and the rather bizarre-looking Pete Burns, formerly of the pop act Dead or Alive.

The major twist this year is with the 11th housemate, called Chantelle, who must convince the others she is in a band called Kandyfloss, with a recent hit entitled 'I Want It Right Now'.