Celebrity Big Brother 6 (Jan 2009)
CELEBRITY Big Brother is to return — with cheeky MP Lembit Opik on it.
Limelight-loving Lembit has signed up for the show — back next January after a year’s break.
Bosses picked the goofy-grinned Lib Dem hoping he’ll reveal all about his doomed affair with Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia.
Lembit might even copy fellow MP George Galloway when he was on the show — and don a skin-tight red leotard.
Oddball Lembit, 43, and Gabriela, 25, got engaged after he popped the question in Rome in April, but split a few months later.
He’s also had a relationship with TV weather girl Sian Lloyd, 50.
A Celebrity Big Brother insider said: “Lembit is a brilliant signing for us.
“He’s wacky and funny, but more importantly it’s hoped he’ll spill the beans on his romance with one of the Cheeky Girls.
“We are all convinced he won’t be able to resist putting his mouth into gear about it — he seems a very outspoken character in general.”
Lembit, who quit his frontbench job in a bid to become the Liberal Democrats’ president, has a long list of entertainment credits to his name.
He’s been on Question Time and Any Questions, and hosted satirical BBC quiz Have I Got News For You.
He’s also appeared on Al Murray’s Happy Hour, The All Star Talent Show and All Star Mr and Mrs.
Other names in the frame for CBB include former Sugababe Mutya Buena, 23, and American singer Whitney Houston, 45.
CBB took a break in 2007 after alleged racist bullying of Bollywood babe Shilpa Shetty, 33, by Jade Goody, 27, Danielle Lloyd, 24, and 29-year-old Jo O’Meara.
Channel 4 was forced to broadcast three on-air apologies after Ofcom found that the series had breached the broadcasting code.
This year’s replacement E4 show Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack attracted only 600,000 viewers, so producers were keen to return to the original format
Mini-Me in Celebrity BB ?
TINY Austin Powers favourite Mini-Me is in talks to appear on Celebrity Big Brother.
The 2ft 8ins star — real name Verne Troyer — is tipped to be in the Channel 4 show in January.
Also in the frame are Cliff Richard and Whitney Houston.
Verne, 39, hopes he won’t be singled out because of his size.
The actor — whose hotel sex video with ex Ranae Shrider, 22, was leaked on DVD last year — said: “A lot of people look at somebody of my stature as being a leprechaun.
“I’d rather they look beyond that. I can do many things.”
Celebrity Big Brother race row over 'secret' David Irving invite
Big Brother bosses have been slammed for inviting infamous Holocaust denier David Irving to take part in the next celebrity show.
Irving, described as "anti-Semitic and racist" by a High Court judge, met producers about starring in January's series.
The disgraced historian, who was jailed in Austria for his beliefs, bragged on his website that Endemol sent him a "secret invite".
The 70-year-old was only told he had not made the final cut last week.
Jewish campaigner Mark Gardener said: "It's pathetic in the extreme that a Holocaust denier should even be considered as light entertainment for a reality TV show."
Endemol was criticised by media watchdog Ofcom after the Shilpa Shetty race row last year.
A spokesman said Irving was "not seriously considered" as a contestant.
It's Celebrity Bog Bother
SIR Cliff Richard has been ruled out of Celebrity Big Brother over his plea for a private loo.
The veteran singer’s participation in the next series hinged on demands for privacy while washing and going to the toilet.
The idea of giving Sir Cliff, 68, his own facilities away from the house and cameras was discussed with show bosses.
But an agreement could not be reached, causing negotiations to collapse.
A show insider told The Sun: “Everyone was really excited about the prospect of having a legend like him on the series.
“But, early on in negotiations, reservations were raised about the lack of privacy and whether any alternative arrangements could be made.
“One suggestion raised was that Cliff could have his own bathroom away from the main house which would not be filmed — but ultimately that proved not to be possible.
“Producers were disappointed but are confident the cast they have gathered will more than make up for his absence.”
A spokesman for Channel 4 said: “Negotiations are held with a lot of people and many raise certain conditions for appearance. We weigh each one up on its own merit.”
The reality show wasn’t broadcast this year following the race row storm surrounding Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in 2007.
It returns for its sixth series on January 2, with tiny actor Verne Troyer, 39, who played Austin Powers favourite Mini-Me, a confirmed starter.
Sir Cliff has sold more than 260million discs worldwide, and had 14 UK No1 singles..
A spokesman for the star confirmed last night: “Cliff won’t be taking part this year.”
Sheridan in the big brother house
GEORGE Galloway famously dressed up in lycra and pretended to lap up milk like a cat.
Now Celebrity Big Brother bosses hope his suntanned pal Tommy Sheridan will follow in his pawprints when he joins the show next month.
A Channel 4 insider said: “We think Tommy will really stir up the House. He’s our new George Galloway.”
The former MSP — who’s facing perjury charges over his 2006 defamation action against the News of the World — will be tracked around the clock by 35 cameras and 40 microphones when he enters the famous set on January 2.
The 44-year-old, who founded the Solidarity party after splitting from the SSP, snubbed a big-money offer to appear in the 2007 series of the show.
But producers have talked him round — and last night our insider confirmed: “Yes, Tommy is in.
“Channel 4 have already secretly filmed an interview with him in Glasgow and he’s set to stir it all up and get on everyone’s nerves.”
Sheridan has previously admitted being a big fan of the hit reality series, saying: “It’s mind-numbing claptrap, but I can’t help it.”
And speaking about his decision not to go on last time, he said: “They made a very generous offer but there were no guarantees of communicating my political ideas.”
Insiders hope Sheridan will prove as controversial as fellow political firebrand Galloway.
Galloway, who formed his own Respect party after being booted out of Labour, was famously seen in a red Lycra catsuit in 2006.
He was roundly ridiculed after he pretended to be a cat and mimed licking milk from actress Rula Lenska’s hand.
CBB wasn’t broadcast this year following the race-row storm surrounding Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in 2007.
But joining Sheridan in the BB House in 2009 will be tiny actor VERNE TROYER, 39, who played Mini Me in the Austin Powers films.
Grammy Award-winning American rapper COOLIO, 45, has also been signed up, along with radio and TV presenter TERRY CHRISTIAN, also 45, who fronted controversial Channel 4 show The Word in the 1990s.
Sheridan was awarded £200,000 in August 2006 after he convinced an Edinburgh jury that reports in the News of the World that he had taken part in orgies at a swingers club were untrue.
But trial judge Lord Turnbull raised concerns about contradictory testimony during the trial, and police launched a criminal investigation.
Last December Sheridan was arrested outside the studios of radio station Talk 107 in Edinburgh, where he was hosting a phone-in show, and charged with perjury.
In February this year, his wife, Gail, father-in-law Gus Healy, former MSP Rosemary Byrne, and Solidarity members Pat Smith, Graeme McIver and Jock Penman — all of whom gave evidence on Sheridan’s behalf in court — were also charged with perjury.
Our TV source revealed: “Channel 4 have a time delay on the show and any contentious comments Sheridan could make on his possible trial will be blanked out of the coverage.”
