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Smoking ban hits BB house
SMOKING is to be stubbed out in the Big Brother house — after health chiefs declared it a workplace.

Producers could be fined up to £2,500 if housemates flout the no-cigs rule when it becomes law in England on July 1 — less than half way through the show’s run.

A source on BB, set to kick off next month, said: “The kind of people we sign up are often the type of people who like a fag. If they are banned from smoking, the atmosphere could get pretty tense.”

BB5 winner Nadia Almeida famously threw a wobbly after she was denied cigarettes and “Pussy Prat” politician George Galloway seemed to permanently have a cigar in his gob when he appeared on CBB.

The decision comes as the council that covers Elstree, Herts, told producers Endemol that the house is a working studio and NOT a home.

Catherine Feast, of Hertsmere Council, said: “We will implement the ban to protect the people working in that environment.

“If contestants do smoke in the house we will warn the producers — our aim is to educate, not enforce. But if it carries on we’ll have to decide if further action is needed.”

Under the legislation, smoking is banned in all public places including pubs, offices and public transport.

But it is allowed in private homes — plus places described by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt as “like homes”, such as army barracks and prisons.

Housemates will be allowed to light up in the garden.

Endemol said: “We will ensure the show is compliant with legislation.”

This year’s show will be the last at Elstree. A new house is being built in Hammersmith, West London, for 2008.

The Sun