Joining them were former 'Baywatch' actress Traci Bingham, party goer and former Essex Wives star Jodie Marsh and actress Rula Lenska.
However, the biggest surprise of the night was the arrival of controversial leftwing MP Galloway who was thrown out of the Labour Party and went on to form his own far left party, Respect. The news of Galloway's surprise entry into the world of celebrity television was broken yesterday by political blog He is best known for his anti Iraq war views and support for Saddam Hussein.
Other stars completing the line-up were Samuel Preston, lead singer of indie band the Ordinary Boys, and Sven Goran Eriksson's former lover and ex-FA personal assistant Faria Alam.
Viewers were in for a shock as the cross dressing 80s pop star and plastic surgery lover Pete Burns turned up in full drag, although former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman, who is also partial to donning women's clothes, went for a more relaxed look in tracksuit bottoms and yellow jumper.
Big Brother played an unusual twist by introducing a non-celebrity, the peroxide blonde model Chantelle, to the mix. The Essex girl must try to convince the other 10 celebrities she is in a girl band called Kandyfloss whose biggest hit single was called 'I Want it Right Now'. If she fails she will be booted out of the house on Sunday.
Highlights from last night's opening show included Chantelle and Bingham thinking Rula was called Ruler; Maggot, rapper for Welsh band Goldie Lookin' Chain explaining to everyone who he was, and Rodman trying to get away from Bingham screaming "Get away from me Traci" after she asked him to "give her love".
Barrymore, who has been off UK screens for four years since moving to New Zealand after a man died in his pool after a drug-fuelled party, was seen hogging the limelight on his much-anticipated return, spending over five minutes walking up and down the red carpet greeting crowds. Later he was seen wiping away tears.
Sharon Powers, executive producer of 'Celebrity Big Brother', said: "We have a truly diverse bunch of housemates and who knows what might happen when they all start living under the same roof. Big Brother will be as twisted as ever, so it should make for a good watch."
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
