Housemates mystery for last Celebrity Big Brother

The final series of Celebrity Big Brother kicks off tonight but Channel 4 is determined to keep the identities of the housemates a closely guarded secret until they enter the house.

Among those rumoured to be taking part are former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, ex-footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones and Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood’s former girlfriend, Ekaterina Ivanova.

Model Katie Price’s on-off boyfriend, cross-dressing cage fighter Alex Reid, and her ex, singer Dane Bowers, are also rumoured to be taking part and have already come to blows before going in, according to reports.

Celebrities, like the usual contestants, have been limited to one suitcase in previous series.

The luggage limit has been lifted this year so viewers will be keen to see who can pack light and who cannot live without lots of luxuries.

This year’s celebrity housemates can expect a rough ride if the Diary Room chair is anything to go by.

The chair, which seats two, is modelled on a waltzer ride and sits in the middle of fairground-themed Diary Room which also includes a distorting mirror to confuse the image-conscious contestants.

Celebrities will be able to talk directly to Big Brother when they are in the Diary Room and there is likely to be some screaming from the waltzer chair as the series has the theme “hell lies in others”.

Executive producer Shirley Jones said the famous line from Dante’s Inferno “Abandon hope all ye who enter here” had inspired much of the house’s makeover.

The property – which is fitted with nearly 50 surveillance cameras and 25 microphones – is opulent but oppressive with plush velvet sofas, boudoir lighting, fake fur pelts and antique animal skulls.

The kitchen is designed to look like an “autopsy room” with clinical stainless steel fittings, Damien Hirst-style pickling jars, and walls painted in hospital scrubs green.

Celebrity Big Brother, which will raise money for Comic Relief, begins tonight at 9pm and will be live on Channel 4.