New Year can only mean one thing: Celebrity Big Brother returns to Channel 4 with an even bigger fifth series. A brand new gaggle of celebrity housemates will move into a transformed Big Brother house and viewers will be able to watch their every move on both Channel 4 and E4.

Since the summer, Big Brother has been busy plotting and scheming and the unsuspecting group have no idea what lies in store for them. From the second the famous doors shut behind them, the celebrity housemates will dwell side by side, abiding by Big Brother rules, taking part in elaborate tasks and nominating each other for eviction. Stripped of their worldly possessions, mobile phones, airbrushes and agents, they will be left at the mercy of Big Brother…and each other.

Until launch night, the housemates’ identities remain shrouded in secrecy, but one thing is certain: each of them will face eviction until the last celebrity is standing. The decision as to who stays and who goes is controlled by the viewers, who will be able to vote via telephone and text message.

Each celebrity housemate will nominate a charity to support and the total money raised via voting revenue will be split equally. This means each housemate will raise an equal amount of money for their chosen charity, regardless of where they finish in the show. All eviction votes cost 50p per vote.

This year sees the return of hit spin-off shows Celebrity Big Brother’s Little Brother and Celebrity Big Brother’s Big Mouth on E4, plus Celebrity Big Brother’s Big Brain, the live psychology show for Monday nights hosted by Dermot O’Leary.

The Celebrity Big Brother website’s newsroom will be working round the clock to keep fans up-to-date on all events in the house, as well as offering email updates and chat forums. In addition, website users will be able to follow all the house action by subscribing to the live streaming.

Celebrity Big Brother starts Wed 3 January 2007 on Channel 4 and E4