Big Brother's final fling watched by 7million

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Viewing figures peaked at 6.72million last night for Channel 4's reality show, which includes former footballer Vinnie Jones, actor Stephen Baldwin and Croydon glamour model Nicola Tappenden among the housemates this year.

An average of 5.91million watched the programme, an increase on last year when 5.27million saw the launch show.

Bookies favourite: Vinnie Jones

Viewing figures have been down since the racism scandal in 2007, when Indian actress Shilpa Shetty was bullied by fellow housemates.

That series' launch show had 7.1million viewers. There was no show in 2008.

Last night the launch programme attracted a 21 per cent audience share between 9pm and 10.15pm. BBC1's Wallander was watched by 5.35million and Poirot on ITV1 had 4.92 million viewers.

Jones is the highest paid housemate, with a reported £350,000 fee, and is Ladbrokes' 5-2 favourite to win.

Housemate: Stephanie Beacham is also among the 11 contestants

Other housemates include actress Stephanie Beacham, former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, and two former boyfriends of Katie Price: cross-dressing cage fighter Alex Reid and ex-boyband singer Dane Bowers.

Also taking part are Ronnie Wood's former girlfriend Katia Ivanova and rapper Lady Sovereign.