Oh brother, Big Sister starts with a shock for the girls

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They will, of course, be Big Brother's idea of a cross-section of modern womanhood, from a lap dancer to the cousin of a Premiership footballer, from a political protester to a member of the Women's Institute. No lawyers or check-out girls, then.

The bigger surprise, perhaps, is why anyone will bother to watch it. The eighth series of what has become an increasingly tired format, Big Brother has already been tarnished by the racism row during Celebrity Big Brother, and on Dutch television the makers of the original show have started auctioning off human organs.

Linda Lusardi, the Page 3 girl turned Emmerdale actress, is calling for a Big Brother boycott after the Shilpa Shetty scandal. Modern cultural icon she may be, but it is probable that not many people will follow her example.

The identities of tonight's contestants have not been revealed, although Channel 4 has given a few hints. They include a nanny, a former child genius - possibly not a genius any more, one might assume - and the oldest housemate yet.

A Channel 4 insider was quoted as saying: "It'll be a brilliant opening. The girls will be wondering where the boys are. Their behaviour will be fascinating to watch."

On Friday the first man will be introduced in the hope that the women will fight over him.

The footballer's cousin, is - depending on which tabloid you read - either Charlie Richardson, 20, a cousin of Manchester United star Kieran Richardson, or Wayne Rooney's cousin Natalie Rooney.

Our money is on Ms Richardson, who is variously described as "sexy", "gobby", and possessing a "fiery temper", and was once questioned by police when two groups of girls attacked each other in a row at Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant's 24th birthday party.

A class act - just like Big Brother.