New BB6 rumours hit Sunday tabloids

Eleven housemates will get the boot on the first night, the Sunday Mirror claimed today.

The newspaper reports that 24 people have been chosen for this year's show - but only 13 will be staying.

The group will be split into two "teams" of 12, each unaware of the other's existence. One dozen will be allowed to stay while eleven of the other will be evicted by the public vote "after just a few hours," leaving one to join the real team.

The astonishing - and unlikely - proposition is being billed as Big Brother's biggest con to date.

The tabloid also makes a number of other claims about the new series, mostly an amalgamation of previous rumours to have done the rounds. They include:

  • The show will last 100 days: One of the earliest rumours about BB6, which appeared to be quashed recently with an apparent confirmation of an eleven week duration
  • The (surviving) group will be split into two - half in the Sun House and half in the Owl House: Another internet rumour of late. A split of some kind seems likely, as recent aerial photos of the compound reveal a two storey house
  • Housemates can win individual prize money: The report claims that each housemate will be given an initial £5,000 allowance, with an extra £5,000 for each week they stay in. If they are evicted during the first half of the series, they must allocate half their earnings to a surviving housemate. The winner gets an extra £75,000.
As a final offering, the tabloid also serves up what it claims are the identities of 16 of the 24 inmates. They include:

  • Wendy: A married woman likely to be a "mother figure" to the younger ones.
  • Abby: Sexy, long-haired brunette describes herself as a hippy chick.
  • Bruce: Tanned, blue-eyed 26-year-old IT expert tipped to be this year's BB hunk.
  • Christopher: No-nonsense, trendy male nurse who could patch up after rows.
  • Darren: Marginally better looking than The Office's Gareth, a desperate wannabe.
  • Fiona: Fun-loving sex-kitten aged 20 set to be a sure-fire rival to Sophie.
  • Christopher: "Laugh-a-minute" Jack-the-lad labourer, aged 28 and "up for anything".
  • Wayne: Balding, speccy, goatee geek in his early 30s, who works as carpenter.
  • Steve: Cheeky-chappy builder in his 20s and possibly in touch with feminine side.
  • Shell: Bottle-blonde mutton-dressed-as-lamb in her 40s - cringe-worthy TV.
  • Sophie: Blonde bombshell in her 20s - BB bosses' big hope for nookie in house.
  • Rupert: Ex-male stripper working as a dustman in his 20s and in love...with himself.
  • Mike: A receptionist in his 20s who hopes the house will be like a mini-Ibiza club.
  • Leonard: Mid-life crisis dad in his 50s - oldest ever Big Brother contestant.
  • David: Rugged ex-cop in his 30s - bound to be the housewives' favourite.
  • David (again): Chubby dad-of-three churchman in his 40s, now working as a teacher.
The DS:BB Verdict: Treat with the utmost cynicism. The newspaper's claims incorporate virtually every internet rumour of the past month and appear to exclude the only confirmed detail: the fun theme.

The musical chairs setup with the initial 24 housemates - all apparently within the space of a few hours - is not only logistically problematic but also confusing from a viewer standpoint.

Concrete details about the new series will be unveiled by Channel 4 on Tuesday.