© ITV
Following reports that several new editions of the reality drama are being planned by ITV2, The Sun claims that bosses will begin screentesting the hopefuls in Liverpool this week.
Former British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith Jnr is already believed to have been lined-up as the "alpha male" of the series, while ex-WAG Amanda Harrington is also in the running to appear on the show.
"Amanda loves the spotlight and it would be her dream come true to become one of the faces of the show," a source told the paper. "She impressed producers when she met them and they think she'd be a good asset considering she's already got a huge following in the glamour model industry."
On Smith Jnr, the source said: "Producers think he'd be very popular with female viewers who like a bit of brawn."
The paper claims that other names tipped to appear in the show include teenage dancer Claudia Pitter and a member of Britain's Got Talent hopefuls MC Show Group.
"All three have been asked to find pals who are willing to appear on the show," the insider added. "The producers want it as over the top as possible with as many wannabe WAGs, models and flashy posers as they can get. They think it can be even bigger than The Only Way Is Essex."
The original version of the ITV2 hit, which features Amy Childs and Mark Wright, will begin its second series on March 20.
