HOUSE RULES

CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER HOSTS WILL BEST AND 1 AJ ODUDU TALK TO YOLANTHE FAWEHINMI ABOUT THE SHOW'S RETURN

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WITH household names like Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Fern Britton taking up residence, last year's Celebrity Big Brother - the first to be broadcast on ITV - was always destined to hit the headlines.

And sure enough the former X Factor sparring partners and the ex-This Morning host kept viewers hooked.But Celebrity Big Brother (CBB) co-host Will Best believes that there is more to the show than just star power.

"I think you want those names that are universally recognised. It means that everybody at the very beginning of the show can have a vested interest. But as soon as the show begins, it doesn't matter, because the format is the star really," says 40-year-old Will, who presents both Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother with AJ Odudu.

"People come up to me often and say how much they love - I still feel weird calling it this - the civilian series," adds Will referring to the original, non-celebrity version.

"It has given us some of the most legendary moments in Big Brother history.

"Once it starts, the size of the names doesn't necessarily matter. It's just how people fit together, and that's always the most important thing."

While the housemate line-up is kept top secret until the show begins, names rumoured to be going in this year include Coronation Street actor Jack P Shepherd, pop singer Chesney Hawkes, Love Island stars Tommy Fury, Chris Hughes and Mitch Taylor and TOWIE's Ella Rae Wise.

Will continues: "I think when they are casting the celeb one, they put as much thought into how the group is going to work together. Where will be the tension points? Where will be the alliances? Will this collection of people gel or not?