The newspaper columnist Liz Jones and former world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield are among the contestants in the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother, which started on Channel 5 on Friday night.
The unlikely pairing were among a familiar mixture of pop stars, models and reality TV contestants to enter the Big Brother house. The series also features the show's oldest ever male contestant, the entertainer Lionel Blair, 82.
Jim Davidson, who pulled out of last year's series following his arrest over alleged historical sexual offences – he was later told by prosecutors he would face no further action – will also take part.
But Jones is likely to generate the most attention if her columns for the Daily Mail are anything to go by. The former Marie Claire editor, who writes in minute detail about her life, including her childhood anorexia and failed marriage, has been described by the ITV presenter Phillip Schofield as "bitter, nasty and unhinged", and by Rihanna as a "sad, sloppy, menopausal mess".
But even Jones's capacity for a soundbite might be eclipsed by her fellow housemate Lee Ryan, of boyband Blue – the bookmakers' early favourite – who said following 9/11: "What about whales? They are ignoring animals that are more important. This New York thing is being blown out of proportion."
Axed by Channel 4 in 2010, this is the sixth celebrity edition of the reality show to air on Channel 5, and is rapidly establishing itself as the channel's most popular show.
The line-up also includes Luisa Zissman, the cupcake entrepreneur who was runner-up on BBC1's The Apprentice last year; presenter Linda Nolan; and reality TV stars Ollie Locke, of E4's Made in Chelsea, and Sam Faiers, of ITV2's The Only Way is Essex.
Boyd Hilton, TV editor of Heat magazine, said: "It's a promising lineup and certainly better than the last one. I like the fact it's got some maverick oldsters. There's been a bit of a tendency to have younger people who can be a bit boring. Liz Jones is a classic eccentric and Lee Ryan is prone to saying some absolute corkers.
"The fact there are so many people in it from reality TV does suggest it's become a bit of a roundabout – stars from one reality TV show going on to appear on another."
Channel 5 said the Big Brother house, in a sprawling studio lot in Elstree, north London, had been given a "high-class upgrade" and promised the show's "most controversial and cruellest twist yet", including a garden prison.
The contestants will be followed around the clock on 45 cameras around the house, which will feature chandeliers, fine art and "theatrical model animals swathed in costume jewellery", said Channel 5. There will also be that reality TV staple, the hot tub.
Other contestants include rapper Dappy, of hiphop group NDubz, actor Jasmine Waltz who Channel 5 said was "best known for being a fixture on the celebrity dating circuit", and model Casey Batchelor.
The last Celebrity Big Brother final, watched by just over 2 million viewers in August last year, was won by another reality TV star, Charlotte Crosby, who appeared in MTV's Newcastle-set Geordie Shore.
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