Big Brother producers are expecting a summer of conflict after a group of volatile guinea pig contestants had to be separated.

Participants entered the house for a test run last week, trying out a series of planned weekly tasks for this year's series.

The Daily Star claims that, at one point, staff members had to intervene as male housemates hurled abuse at each other. Producers believe that the design of this year's house, which is expected to be the smallest and most uncomfortable to date, was the chief cause of the tension.