Big Brother is back

Big Brother9 is launched this evening on C4tv. Earlier blogs of mine have revealed my interest in this reality tv show. Please do not confuse my interest with approval of life styles and behaviour of most participants. My interest is in human psychology and group dynamics displayed in an entertaining and educational format. What is here thrust in your face is what you can also find in more 'polite' society if you dig just below the surface. Some aspects of human psychology and social interaction are universal in the 'unredeemed' human. This is an opportunity to study the different type of 'human animal'. It is an experience comparable to that of visiting a zoological park.

"Big Brother 9 starts tonight and MTV can exclusively reveal some clues to the contestants identities...

One Housemate does stand-up comedy

One Housemate has been deported from America

One Housemate is a DJ

One Housemate is a Buddhist

One Housemate is Muslim

One Housemate wears a watch worth £13,000

Three Housemates have children

Three Housemates were born outside the UK

One Housemate has appeared in a film with Hugh Grant

One Housemate has had a breast enlargement

One Housemate has never watched Big Brother

The eldest Housemate is 42."

Big Brother: Blind man, breast implant woman and Buddhist in the house
By John Bingham(Telegraph)

A woman with breast enlargements, a Buddhist and a DJ are among contestants entering the Big Brother house as the reality television show begins its ninth series.

A total of 16 housemates - the highest ever - have been lined up for the 13-week run.

They also include a stand-up comedian, one woman deported from the United States and - a blind man.

Another of the housemates has appeared in a film with Hollywood star Hugh Grant and one is a reject from another reality show Popstars - the programme which created Girls Aloud.

Programme makers hope to push the boundaries further than ever and, with new super-sensitive microphones, the contestants will have nowhere to hide.

Never far from controversy, the Channel 4 programme suffered from flagging ratings last year.

The spin-off celebrity version was cancelled last year in the wake of racism and bullying rows.

Instead, digital channel E4 screened Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, a new format for the series. It managed to pull in only 600,000 viewers on average.

Programme makers hope this series will give the format, which made a household name of Jade Goody, a new lease of life.

Some housemates will have to endure sleeping in a dormitory-style bedroom and could even find themselves spending time in a "jail" but others will enjoy a luxury room.

Not for the shy, the house also has a bathroom with a transparent wall.

The housemates will also have to work for their keep - growing potatoes and carrots in the garden.

Davina McCall will be hosting the programme which begins at 9pm on Channel 4. Viewers will have their first chance to evict a contestant on Friday June 13.

Last year's winner was Brian Belo, who beat the bookmakers' favourites, twins Sam and Amanda Marchant.