Celebrity Big Brother launched this evening with an explosive start and invited thirteen celebrities to give up their day job and become Housemates.

A mixture of personalities, backgrounds and nationalities have entered one of Britain’s most famous houses – find out who below.

ASHLEY McKENZIE

Ashley McKenzie is an Olympic Judo athlete and competed at the London 2012 Olympics. Ashley became involved in Judo at the age of 11. His mum introduced him to the sport after he had an altercation with someone over Pokémon cards. Ashley was ejected from his first primary school in Queen’s Park and went to a special needs school, where he was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD.

CHERYL FERGISON

Cheryl Fergison is a British actress most notable for playing Heather Trott in the long running BBC soap opera EastEnders. Heather was originally only meant to be a guest character but her contract was extended to six months after the character proved popular.

COLEEN NOLAN

Coleen Patricia Nolan is an English television presenter, author and member of pop group, The Nolans. The Nolans success included two Royal performances, record sales in Britain and more than 9 million records sold in Japan.

MIKE ‘THE SITUATION’ SORRENTINO

Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino is an American television personality. He has appeared on the MTV reality show Jersey Shore since 2009.

DANICA THRALL

Danica is a model, entrepreneur and star of Sex Lies and Rinsing Guys. She was discovered in 2006 when she won the Miss Derby title, and went on to compete in the Miss England competition, where she placed in the top 10.

MC HARVEY

Michael Harvey Jr aka MC Harvey is the tempestuous former member of So Solid Crew, reality star, self confessed womaniser and most recently, a proud father.

JULIAN CLARY

Julian Clary, born in 1959, is a comedian and television personality. As a teenager, his eldest sister Frances influenced Julian, she was starting her career as a Tiller Girl and Julian was fascinated with the illusion created by her heavy make-up.

JULIE GOODYEAR

Julie Goodyear is a soap opera legend most famous for her character, Bet Lynch in the world’s longest running soap, Coronation Street.

JASMINE LENNARD

 Jasmine shot to fame in 2005 as a finalist in the popular TV show Make Me A Supermodel. Jasmine is the daughter of playboy Brian Lennard, who founded Sacha Shoes, and actress Marilyn Galsworthy.

PRINCE LORENZO BORGHESE

Prince Lorenzo Borghese is a member of the Italian noble family, the House of Borghese, a cosmetics entrepreneur, animal advocate, and star of the ninth series of the U.S series The Bachelor.

MARTIN KEMP

Martin John Kemp is an English actor and musician, best known as the bassist in Spandau Ballet, as well as playing Steve Owen in EastEnders.

RHIAN SUGDEN

Rhian Marie Sugden is an English glamour model and Page Three girl. After being accepted by the Samantha Bond Agency in 2006, Rhian gave up her job as a network administrator for Global Telecoms and Technology in Bury at the age of 19.

SAMANTHA BRICK

Samantha is an ex-television executive, TV consultant, journalist, writer, yogi and French housewife and most famous for her controversially honest account of her own beauty.

Let us know your reactions and thoughts on this years celebrity line-up. Who will fall at the first hurdle? Who will spark the first argument?

• We’ll shortly be publishing the Housemate profile pages