Celebrity Big Brother - Celebrity Big Brother Launch: 5 Million Tune In

Celebrity Big Brother returned to our screens last night, and gave Channel 5 one of its biggest ever audience shares, as an average 5.1 million people switched on. According to associated press, the figures peak at 6 million just before 10pm. These figures are only just below the last series of Celebrity Big Brother, which aired on Channel 4 on 2010, which averaged at 5.6 million and peak at 6.2 million. Most experts had been expecting viewing figures to plummet due to the channel switch, but channel 5 will be encouraged by the only very slight drop off. Previous shows that have switched to 5 have experienced a massive drop off in viewers, such as Neighbours and Home & Away.

According to the Daily Mail, there had been rumours that Channel 5 had secured some major stars for the programme - Pamela Anderson, Charlie Sheen and Bobby Brown - but the most recognisable faces were Kerry Katona and Jedward. However, the entry of SALLY BURCOW, the wife of the Speaker of the House of Commons, did generate some much needed controversy, with some MP's demanding that she give back the £30,000 she has made from going on the show. The BBC reported that when presenter BRAIN DOWLING asked her about whet her Husband thought of her decision to go in the house, she said; "He is not exactly chuffed about it. He was not very pleased but he knows what I am like. He respects the fact that I do my own thing."