Celebrity Big Brother’s new series for summer 2016 kicked off in style on Thursday, and a very varied bunch of stars have entered the house.

Affable actor Christopher Biggins was joined by Loose Women star Saira Khan, Geordie Shore regular Marnie Simpson, page 3 icon and pop singer Samantha Fox, Ex On The Beach star Stephen Bear, ex-TOWIE hunk Lewis Bloor, US pop star Aubrey O’Day, Anthea Turner’s ex-husband Grant Bovey and former X Factor hopeful Katie Waissel, among others.

There are 15 in the compound in total, and here’s everything you need to know about this year’s mixed bag of stars.

Christopher Biggins on Celebrity Big BrotherChristopher Biggins was the first to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Christopher Biggins

The pantomime regular first found fame in sitcoms Porridge, Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? and Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, but is best known to younger audiences for winning I’m A Celebrity in 2007.

The 67-year-old has also featured on other reality shows including Come Dine With Me and MasterChef.

Christopher – fondly known as just Biggins – has appeared in numerous pantomimes as the dame, but has said he feels he is nearing the end of that part of his career.

Celebrity Big Brother's Saira Khan Celebrity Big Brother’s Saira Khan (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Saira Khan

The 46-year-old rose to fame as the runner-up on the first series of The Apprentice in 2005, and soon became a familiar face on television, presenting shows including The Martin Lewis Money Show, Guess This House and Temper Your Temper.

Earlier this year she hit the headlines after remarking on Loose Women that she had lost all interest in sex and had given husband Steve Hyde permission to sleep with other women.

“I’ve lived life and I’m proud to be a Loose Woman. I think when people hear my name they think loud, gobby, in your face opinion. I just can’t help talking the truth, that gets me into serious trouble,” she commented before going into the house.

She told the show’s host Emma Willis just minutes before entering the house that there is “no subject that is taboo for me”.

Frankie Grande has entered the Celebrity Big Brother houseFrankie Grande is seen entering the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Frankie Grande

The older half-brother of pop superstar Ariana Grande, he recently starred on the American version of Big Brother and has a huge social media following.

The 33-year-old is also a musical theatre star.

Frankie said upon entering the house: “I am the consummate entertainer, if there is a camera that millions of people are going to watch, you’ve got me, ready to go, suit up for entertainment.

“Glitter is an outward personification of my inward personality which is literally just shiny and sparkly all the time.”

Ricky Norwood has gone into the Celebrity Big Brother houseRicky Norwood has gone into the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Ricky Norwood

Ricky is best known as Fatboy from EastEnders.

The actor’s five years on the BBC soap were not without scandal, as he was suspended for two months in 2014 after being caught on video apparently smoking cannabis.

He said: “Fatboy was East London boy, a bit gangster… You’re going to get to know the real me. Being nice is a strength. I am definitely a ladies’ man, I love women, I’m a lover not a fighter.”

He promised he would add a bit of “cheekiness and a bit of a flirt” to the house.

He said: “There have been a couple of negative press stories about myself and you’ll hear the story in the house, but a mistake is only a mistake if you carry on repeating it. I do have a game plan, to be cool, be calm, it’s not that serious, just laugh man.”

Renee Graziano on CBBRenee Graziano is seen entering the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Renee Graziano

Renee, 48, is best known to American audiences for her role in reality show Mob Wives, which follows New Jersey women who are connected to the mob either through family or marriage.

In an expletive-filled introduction she said: “If you don’t know me you f****n should. I hate liars.

“Mob Wives is about the mafia, when you grow up in it, that’s all you know, you know where to hide the money and no matter what you stick by the family. You violate us, we’re coming.

“I have no filter, I say what’s on my mind and I don’t give a f***.”

She starred on the show for six years before quitting, and frequently argued with many of the other women.

In 2013, she was admitted to rehab to deal with addiction problems.

Marnie Simpson on Celebrity Big BrotherMarnie Simpson is seen entering the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)


Marnie Simpson

Best known as a cast member of reality show Geordie Shore, Marnie will be the third star of the MTV programme to enter the Big Brother house. Scotty T and Charlotte Crosby both won their respective series.

She was previously engaged to The Only Way Is Essex star Ricky Rayment and has recently split up with her Geordie Shore co-star Aaron Chalmers.

The 24-year-old made it very clear she is not a “slag”, adding: “I’m not a nun either, I’m somewhere in-between.”

She added: “I’ve got strong opinions and I don’t like being told what to do and I won’t back down, I’ll argue until I’m blue in the face.”

Radio presenter James Whale entered the CBB houseJames Whale is seen entering the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

James Whale

James was a host on LBC from 2008 until 2013 and currently hosts a show on BBC Kent.

The 65-year-old said he and former Ukip leader Nigel Farage are “quite pally”.

He said: “I’ve always been the person who was picked when they couldn’t get the person they always wanted and that suited me fine. Everybody wants men and women to be equal, but men and women can never be equal.”

The controversial housemate said he was only going into the house for the “rest and the money”.

US pop star Aubrey O'Day is another CBB housemateDanity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day is one of the Celebrity Big Brother housemates (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Aubrey O’Day

Former Danity Kane singer Aubrey, 32, did not mince her words as she was introduced.

She was the breakout star of reality show Making The Band 3 but was fired from the group in 2008 after a row with mentor P Diddy. She reunited with them in 2013 and is now a member of duo Dumblonde.

She described herself as not being superficial or a “surface person” and admitted she has had botox, adding “that’s why you don’t see too much expression on my face”.

Stephen Bear has gone into the CBB compoundEx On The Beach star Stephen Bear has made his way into the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Stephen Bear

Reality TV star Stephen from Ex On The Beach swore repeatedly while being interviewed by host Emma.

Introducing himself prior to taking to the stage, he said geography is not his strong point, but “I know where the bar is”.

The 25-year-old is the former flame of Geordie Shore and Loose Women regular Vicky Pattison.

He was recently reportedly dating Lillie Lexie Gregg, the ex of Geordie Shore star Gaz Beadle, and frequently shares nude or topless photos of himself on social media.

Stephen said he was most famous on Ex On The Beach for “kissing all the birds”.

Celebrity Big Brother contestant Katie WaisselCelebrity Big Brother contestant Katie Waissel is best known for appearing on X Factor in 2010 (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Katie Waissel

Former X Factor contestant Katie described herself as being “not away with the fairies, I’m very grounded”.

She starred in the 2010 series of the singing competition.

In September 2012, the singer, 30, married male model Brad Alphonso but announced they had split just two months later. In 2015, she married comedian Brian Moote.

Katie referenced her controversial stint on the ITV singing show, saying: “I just don’t want to even address it. When I was on the X Factor I think people got to see the wrong side of me.

“Life on the X Factor was definitely an experience … I wanted to shut myself in a dark room and I pretty much did that for a long time.”

She eventually came seventh in the X Factor after a rocky auditioning process that saw judge Simon Cowell dismiss her song choice and her fail to remember the lyrics to her second option.

Lewis Bloor smiled as he arrived for Celebrity Big BrotherFormer TOWIE star Lewis Bloor smiled as he arrived for Celebrity Big Brother (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Lewis Bloor

A former star of The Only Way Is Essex, Lewis said he has “outgrown Essex”.

The 26-year-old wreaked havoc on the reality show, getting into arguments with cast members and kissing multiple girls including Sam Faiers, Nicole Bass, Lauren Pope, Chloe Lewis and Kate Wright – many of whom had boyfriends at the time.

The reality show veteran, who is a fitness fanatic, is no stranger to arguments in front of the cameras.

He admitted he was “a bit of an asshole” on the show.

Lewis said he is single and added confidently that he thinks he is “easy on the eye”.

Celebrity Big Brother star Grant BoveyCelebrity Big Brother star Grant Bovey is best known for being Anthea Turner’s ex-husband (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Grant Bovey

Twelfth to make a grand entrance as the next celebrity contestant was Grant, the ex-husband of Anthea Turner.

He was declared bankrupt in 2010 before Turner divorced him after he had an affair.

Grant, 55, gave a frank introductory message saying he had made “mistakes in my life”.

He said: “If I could have my time again, there are certain things I would change. Public perception (of me) is not great at all. Once people decide they want to portray you like a villain it’s very difficult to break those shackles.

“I have lots of regrets. I regret all the hurt I caused … to my first wife and to Anthea, there are things there I am not proud of”.

In 2003 he set up his property business called Imagine Homes, rumoured at one point to have been worth £100 million, before it went into administration in 2008 owing a reported £50 million.

Playboy model Chloe Khan is in the CBB housePlayboy model Chloe Khan is seen entering the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Chloe Khan

Playboy model Chloe, 25, described herself as being a self-proclaimed princess and “quite bloody confident”.

She appeared on the X Factor in 2010 under the name Chloe Mafia and is often described as one of the show’s more controversial contestants after she was featured in a Sunday newspaper taking drugs and for working as a call girl.

After being booted off the ITV show for turning up to auditions straight from a night of partying, the aspiring singer has reinvented herself as a Playboy model and owner of a successful webcam business after boosting her chest size to a 32HHH.

Chloe will be leaving behind her daughter Destiny, who she had when she was 17, to enter the house.

“I’m ready for it,” she told Emma on stage, “My mum’s nervous, don’t worry, it’ll all be fine and I love you to bits.”

Storage Hunters UK star Heavy D was the penultimate person to enter the CBB houseStorage Hunters UK star Heavy D was the penultimate person to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house on Thursday (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)


Heavy D

The second to last person to enter the house was Heavy D, real name Colin, from the UK series of Storage Hunters.

He described himself as “a London geezer, born and bred, proper London” and revealed his nickname is the Boominator.

The internet tradesman said: “I am a self-styled fashion guru, I make my own clothes, fashion is a part of me. I’m the full package.”

He chose as his debut outfit a lime green suit, with ice-creams printed on it and a t-shirt with the word ‘Wasteman’ emblazoned across the chest.

The final celebrity to enter the house was former glamour model Sam Fox The final celebrity to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house was former glamour model Sam Fox (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Samantha Fox

The final celebrity to enter the house was former glamour model Sam, who said she had “helped a lot of young men grow up in the ’80s”.

She launched a successful singing career, with her debut single Touch Me (I Want Your Body) reaching number one in 17 countries.

Sam, 50, said: “I’m very confident within myself. I know myself and I won’t take no s**t and if I don’t like someone, I think they’ll know about it.”

In August 2015 she lost her long-term partner and manager Myra Stratton to cancer.