Celebrity Big Brother 2015: 10 of the best and most controversial US housemates

Viewers will see stars from both sides of the Atlantic – rumoured to include actor David Hasselhoff, model Janice Dickinson, Lindsay Lohan’s mother Dina and wrestler Hulk Hogan – pitted against each other. Whatever happened to the Special Relationship?

Over the years, the celebrity series has seen stars of varying fame hop over the pond to take part in the madness that is Big Brother. We celebrate some of our favourites.

1. Jackie Stallone

A woman enters the CBB house in 2005, actress Brigitte Nielsen gasps: “Omigod, Jackie!” and her former mother-in-law responds: “Yeah, Jackie!” With those two little words, Sylvester Stallone’s mum became a legend.

Jackie was high maintenance. Asking Big Brother for a harpist to play while they ate dinner is just one example of her many demands. She didn’t know where she was half the time or how the show worked, although she was 83 years old so we can’t blame her for thinking Madonna would be visiting the house – just because she lived in England.

In addition, her heated clashes with controversial racing commentator John McCririck were totally hilarious (she described him as looking like “a seedy homeless victim”). Jackie, we salute you!

2. Dirk Benedict

Who knew Faceman from TV’s The A-Team was so witty? He lightened up CBB’s explosive race-row 2007 series with a quip for every occasion. When musician Donny Tourette greeted him as “Dirk f***ing Benedict!” he replied: “I don’t usually use my middle name.”

Also, his crush on Bollywood actress (and eventual winner) Shilpa Shetty was so cute to watch.

3. Coolio

The Gangsta’s Paradise rapper must have enjoyed his 2009 CBB experience because he signed up for Ultimate Big Brother a year later.

Unfortunately, he ended up walking out on day five after another row with Nadia Almada, the first transgender Big Brother winner. Coolio hid some of her shoes and all hell broke loose. He promptly asked to leave.

4. Verne Troyer

The diminutive actor, best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films, was good value for money in the CBB house back in 2009. Who can forget his impersonation of Coolio (which mainly involved making crude remarks to some of the female housemates)?

But the 2ft 8in housemate’s funniest moment came after knocking back some alcohol – he ended up crashing into the Diary Room door with his mobility scooter.

5. Perez Hilton

When he entered the CBB house in January 2015, the celebrity blogger was virtually unknown in the UK, but everyone knew his name by the time he left. Christening the series “The Perez Show” – he made it all about him to such an extent, quieter housemates barely got any airtime.

There were numerous bust-ups with rent-a-gob columnist Katie Hopkins, a shocking confrontation with George Best’s son Calum and bizarre antics including simulating sex in the garden.

Say what you like about him, but Perez Hilton was brilliant TV.

6. Gary Busey

The eccentric Hollywood actor beat boxer Audley Harrison to become the first American to win Big Brother in September, 2014.

There were disagreements with fellow housemates, particularly argumentative ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan, but the Oscar nominee remained calm under pressure and didn’t let it get to him. Little wonder the viewing public decided he was their winner.

7. Michelle Visage

RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage was the epitome of fabulousness during her January, 2015 stint in the CBB house. Who would’ve thought such a fun, wise woman would get on so well with Katie Hopkins? But their unlikely friendship was a surprising highlight as the American had a wise word for every situation.

However, even Michelle had to admit defeat with Perez Hilton: “I work with drag queens – do you understand the level of need? And 20 of them do not compare to him!”

8. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt

Everyone must bow in the presence of this husband and wife team because Speidi, as they are collectively known, are reality TV royalty. The stars of US series The Hills became a phenomenon in the UK following their combative CBB appearance in 2013.

Speidi quickly established themselves as public enemy number one inside and out of the house with their refusals to take part in certain tasks and heated confrontations with housemates, especially eventual winner Rylan Clark (at that time, best known for X Factor).

Diary Room rants and constant demands for their lawyers soon saw them labelled as Britain’s most hated reality TV couple, but boy, were they fabulous entertainment.

9. Jasmine Waltz

The Femmes Fatales actress was involved in a torrid love triangle with Blue singer Lee Ryan and 34GG-sized glamour model Casey Batchelor in January, 2014. It was simultaneously cringe-inducing and compelling viewing – Lee and Casey got cosy and then it was Lee and Jasmine, but following the American’s eviction, he slid back to Casey.

Big Brother set him up for the perfect fall when Jasmine re-entered the house during a task and gave them both a piece of her mind. Ouch!

10. Jeremy Jackson

The former Baywatch star was thrown out of CBB in January, 2015 for pulling open the dressing gown of glamour model Chloe Goodman. The incident occurred after he had too much to drink and disappeared into the toilet to be sick.

A concerned Chloe followed him inside, but emerged in tears shortly afterwards. Speaking in the Diary Room, Jackson said: “I made a mistake and now I’m in boiling water for it.”