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THIS year’s Big Brother will see more housemates than ever – sparking a record number of punch-ups.

A whopping SIXTEEN wannabes will enter the famous telly house on launch night – and they’ll be the most hot-headed housemates the show has ever seen.

The fiery combination of loud-mouth chavs and yobs with ASBOs means arguments and even fights are likely to kick off at any time.

And security staff have been warned to be ready for bust-ups to get out of control. A show source said: “Get ready for Big Big Brother. With so many people waiting to burst through those doors at Elstree TV Studios, it’ll be like the January sales at Next!

“The house may have had some alterations but in such a confined space it’s a tight squeeze – and tempers can flare quickly in there.”

Producers sent 14 new wannabes in on launch night during BB7 two years ago, including eventual winner, Tourette’s sufferer Pete Bennett, 26, and serial whinger Nikki Grahame, 25.

This year presenter Davina McCall, 40, will unveil the 16 new housemates in a two-hour Channel 4 extravaganza on June 5.

The show will run for 13 weeks and already leaks have started about what is in store.

Builders have reported that a wet room has been installed – meaning the bathroom will be completely exposed without any shower screens.

A child-sized bed has also been spotted being delivered, which sparked rumours of a housemate’s son or daughter being invited to stay the night.

Producers know a lot is riding on the success of Big Bruv 9.

They suffered a backlash after replacing Celebrity Big Brother with BB Celebrity Hijack, following the controversial race row which dogged last year’s show.

Now viewers are eagerly awaiting a new series of Big Brother.

A C4 source said: “We have taken a lot of time and effort to ensure the new series reaches expectations.”

The spy added the final line-up will be selected “in the next few weeks”.

“And as the show has a long run, expect a few fresh faces to be thrown into the mix along the way.”