The Big Brother house is open for business again - complete with a jail for contestants who step out of line.

Early friction could be caused by the two bedroom set up for series nine. One bedroom is luxuriously fitted with plush beds, the other dormitory-style room has inch-thick mattresses and a stark interior.

Big Brother has promised that this year's contestants will not have an easy ride, and that the game-playing will begin immediately.

First to enter the house were Warrington couple Shaun, 42, who calls himself Mario the Italian Stallion, and his girlfriend Lisa, 40.

Big Brother has instructed them that they must pretend they are not a couple - and has paired Mario up with 19-year-old Girls Aloud reject Stephanie McMichael from Liverpool.

If the group succeed in their challenge they will be immune from the first eviction.

The 16 housemates include Ipswich-born songwriter Darnell, 26, an albino who was deported back to the UK from the US after getting involved in gang culture.

Blind contestant Michael, a radio producer who calls himself Mikey, 33, lost his sight ten years ago during an operation.

Dance student Dennis, 23, from Edinburgh, wore a sparkly hat as he literally pranced into the house, and stated that the reason he is doing Big Brother is to massage his own ego.

Three of this year's contestants were born abroad.

Kathreya, 30, a rotund massage therapist originally from Thailand, is obsessed with cookies and carries a cookie jar everywhere she goes.

Sylvia, 21, from south London, fled from Sierra Leone with her family at the age of 11.

Mohamed, 23, a Toy demonstrator at Hamleys in London, was born in Somalia.

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