Back to school for Big Brother

The Big Brother housemates went back to school today for the latest challenge in the reality TV house.

From this morning, the nine will have to don school uniform – including boaters for girls and shorts and caps for boys – and shout “here” when headmaster Big Brother calls the register after the school bell sounds.

And in what could be a particularly difficult rule for lovebirds Michelle and Stu to follow, snogging and smoking will only be allowed behind the bike sheds in the garden during Big Brother Primary School hours, or the “pupils” risk punishment.

This week’s task is a three-day challenge and will include lessons, with an historical re-enactment today, a presentation tomorrow and a spelling bee on Wednesday.

If they are successful, the housemates will receive a treat. If they again fail their task, they will have no shopping next week.

A Big Brother spokesman explained the school rules: “Each morning the headmaster will sound the school bell to start the school day.

“Pupils will have five minutes from the end of the bell to dress in their full uniform and stand by the benches in the garden.

“The headmaster will take the register. Pupils must reply “here” when their name is called.

“Any absentees at registration, not excused with a doctor’s note, will count as a fail.

“Pupils will be allowed three fails over the course of the entire weekly task.

“Pupils must wear their full school uniform, provided by the headmaster, for registration, or they will incur a fail.”

A minimum “uniform” must be worn in the house during the school day, and any pupil found not wearing it will be punished at the headmaster’s discretion.

And in a worrying development, “inappropriate” behaviour outside school hours could result in punishment as the housemates are considered to be representing their school.

In the Saturday Challenge at the weekend, the housemates lost another £2,500 (€3,719) from the prize fund after one pair failed the task of clambering through mud, pretending to be farmyard animals.