UPDATE: It seems there is some confusion over this report from the Star, and it may have been premature according to @OfficialDOGNews on Twitter, so please do click here to sign an online petition to bring Dog to the UK. Or click here to see other ways to support his application for a visa.

An insider from the Celebrity Big Brother camp has told the Daily Star today that Duane Chapman, who is of course Dog the Bounty Hunter, has had his visa granted by the Home Office and will therefore be going into the CBB house on Wednesday!

It’s fantastic news because I’m such a fan of Dog, I was delighted to hear that he’d be taking part, but that was of course tempered by the news that due to his criminal history, his visa for entry into the UK had been denied.

However, according to the insider, it’s now all sorted at “the eleventh hour.”

The source said, “To say he’s had a colourful past would be an understatement.

“He’s been to prison so many times the Celeb Big Brother house will probably be easy for him.

“No housemate has ever had a criminal record quite like this…

“Getting the paperwork proved a massive problem.

“It was touch and go whether or not he’d be able to take part.

“It was only finalised at the 11th hour.”

Duane was sent to prison in Texas in 1976 after he was charged following the shooting death of Jerry Oliver. He was not involved in the shooting and in actuality was merely in the car that was used to drive the shooter away from the scene of the murder.

He served just 18 months of a five-year sentence before being released on probation. However, in 2003, Duane captured Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster, a violent rapist who fled to Mexico from the US.

But as bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, Duane was thrown in jail along with his son Leland and his ‘brother’ – he’s not actually related but Dog calls him his brother – Tim Chapman.

All three were released and returned to Hawaii, but were given tags and subject to a curfew before all charges were later dropped.

The insider added, “Duane is known all over the world and he’s an amazing character. He will pull in viewers and help boost ratings.”

Celebrity Big Brother launches on Wednesday at 9pm on Channel 5.

I literally cannot wait to see Dog in the house! #dogtowin