Last Big Brother show to be launched today

The last show of Big Brother, which became the most-watched show in Britain is to be launched in London on Wednesday evening. Around 90 potential contestants are in the running and...

The last show of Big Brother, which became a British cultural phenomenon until Shilpagate doused its popularity, is to be launched in London on Wednesday evening.

Around 90 potential contestants are in the running and the final house mates will be announced during the inaugural show.

The most well-known face among the contentants is Rachel Christie, the first black Miss England. She was stripped of her crown last year after she was charged with assaulting Jones in the full-costumed rumble over the strapping Gladiators star known as Tornado. She is the niece of Linford Christie, the only British man to win a gold medal in the 100 metres at all four major competitions: the Olympics and the World, Commonwealth, and European championships.

The others include army veteran Steve Gill, from Leicestershire who is missing both legs and has suffered severe injuries to his face and arms after being involved in an explosion in Belfast in 1989, an Iranian dwarf Amin who is nicknamed Bigs, transsexual Donna who took part in Britain's Got Talent as part of transsexual pop group Kit Kat Dolls, former Miss Wales, Emma who recently had a breast enlargement for her birthday present from her boyfriend, former Playboy bunny Sarah who has spent over half a million on plastic surgery, and naturist couple Graham and Elizabeth who claim to have taken part in 50 reality shows.

Big Brother became a cultural phenomenon when it began 10 years ago. It became the most-watched show in Britain as the huge ratings stretched it into a 13-week drama. Numerous shows replicated its reality format.

It became a career propeller for some like Brian Dowling and Jade Goody who became the country's most quoted. It was also a controversy magnet as scandals such as race row involving Indian actress Shilpa Shetty and Goody broke complaints records and dented Big Brother's already-flagging viewing figures.