Phone lines allowing volunteers to apply for the second series of Big Brother have been jammed by over a quarter of a million calls, it has been reported.

The unprecedented number of calls took place within just 48 hours of being opened to the public, according to the Daily Star.

The first series attracted just 40,000 applicants, said a Channel 4 spokesman, describing the response as "amazing".

The hotline is 0900 1447799.