[Redderst]

TROUBLED new Big Brother show Celebrity Hijack was hit by a mutiny last night.

Channel 4’s flagship show was plunged into a fresh crisis as one of the 12 contestants threatened to quit hours before it is screened.

It was claimed the housemate, a teenage Midlands prodigy, was on the verge of walking out on the show, hosted by Dermot O’Leary, 34.

Panic set in as the hand-picked contestants, being unveiled today, realised they would be “bossed” about by three of the meanest, abrasive comedians in the business.

Celebrities who will act as Big Brother in the Celebrity BB replacement show include acid-tongued Joan Rivers, 74, cynical Jimmy Carr, 35, and Bo Selecta character Keith Lemon, alias Leigh Francis, 34, who played creepy fan Avid Merrion.

Snooty art critic Brian Sewell, 76, Sex Pistols guru Malcolm McLaren, straight-talking soccer pundit Ian Wright, 44 and Little Britain star Matt Lucas, 33, are the others.

Producers hope the 12 unknown housemates, some of the UK’s hottest musicians, artists and athletes, will emerge as the real stars.

But, sources claim the “highly-strung” classically-trained musician was unhappy with the format.

She became very concerned that the housemates, competing for £50,000, were being set up for ridicule and would become the butts of jokes. A source said: “Some of the contestants are worried that they will simply become figures of fun.

“They also fear they’re being set up as fall-guys for the comedians who’re going to be running the show and don’t fancy being on the receiving end of nasty comments.

“That’s hardly surprising when you look at some of the people playing Big Brother who don’t suffer fools gladly and aren’t slow in making barbed comments.

“This year’s line-up is different because they’re not the usual desperate fame-hungry wannabes, but talented, sensitive and very intelligent bunch of youngsters.

“One girl hated the idea of being mocked by celebs and threatened to walk out. Staff tried to allay their concerns, keep them all happy and stop the girl from walking out.

“There’s always some last-minute attack of nerves but this mutiny is the last thing needed.”

The latest problems come after the Daily Star revealed that trials for the show were a disaster.

Fans turned on C4, calling for Celebrity Hijack to be dumped and Celebrity Big Brother, “rested” after last year’s race row, brought back.

The house now has 12 single beds instead of huge four-person beds, plus a new gym and outdoor hot tub.

C4 insisted it would be “brilliant”.

Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack tomorrow Channel 4 and E4 – 9pm E4. And then nightly at 9pm on E4.


Just another load of rubbish from the star. What will they be saying on launch night "The celebrity have said they dont want to do hijack" load of crap. Why are the papers been so bad to BB at the min.

Anyway if BB:CH and BB9 are brill then the paper will soon change there tune. They just jump on the bandwagon to keep on the good side of vewers.