[James]

HOUSE TO GO HYPERACTIVE

Ian Steps into BB

FORMER Steps star Ian Watkins is hoping his comeback plans won’t be a “Tragedy’’.

The 30-year-old singer, nicknamed “H” for hyperactive, has signed up for the new series of Celebrity Big Brother, starting on January 3. He has been eager to make his mark again in showbiz since his chart-topping band split five years ago. They had hits with Tragedy, Stomp and 5-6-7-8. Ian tried to re-launch a pop career with Steps babe Claire R i c h a r d s when the group split.

But it didn’t take off, because many fans blamed the pair for c a u s i n g S t e p s ’ surprise break-up in 2001. He was then snapped up to appear in the West End musical Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, before enrolling at London’s Royal College of Music to study music and drama.

The Welsh graduate’s college days were also filmed for an E4 fly-on-the-wall documentary.

A CBB show source said: “Ian is a nice guy, but he can be a bit of a diva if he doesn’t get his own way.

“He’s certainly an all-round entertainer, so he may get the celebs in the house to start doing that famous Tragedy dance with their hands.

Reunion “He wasn’t called H for nothing. He is hyperactive and a fidget and may get on people’s nerves, so expect a few blow-ups.

“If he is a hit Channel 4 might ask the other members of Steps – Lee, Faye, Claire and Lisa – to drop in for a reunion gig!

“Apparently they’re all friends again now after their bitter split.”

CBB chiefs are really coughing up the cash for their Channel 4 show, which will run for 25 days.

Daily Star