Model Victoria Silvstedt pulls out of Celebrity Big Brother

by Sam Matthews,, Brand Republic 04-Jan-05, 08:45

LONDON - Swedish underwear model Victoria Silvstedt has pulled out of Channel 4's 'Celebrity Big Brother' three days before the show is due to start, as former Chelsea goal keeper Mark Bosnich and former Happy Monday dancer and maracas player Bez have been added to the line-up.

Silvstedt, 30, who was tipped last October to be taking part in the third series of 'Celebrity Big Brother', refused more money to appear in the show. Channel 4 bosses are also said to be desperately looking for a glamorous female to take her place, according to reports.

The show, which starts on January 6, has been billed as being bigger than ever before with a record eight celebrity housemates who will stay for two weeks in the house compared with 10 days in previous series.

So far, Bosnich, who is also famous for being model Sophie Anderton's ex and who notoriously tested positive for cocaine before being axed as Chelsea's goalkeeper, has confirmed he will take part in the show alongside 40-year-old Mark Berry, who used to dance with the Happy Mondays and is better known by the name Bez.

They will be joined by 1980s actress and former wife of Sylvester Stallone, Brigette Nielsen, who has made a splash in the US reality television programme 'The Surreal Life'.

Kiss-and-tell queen Alicia Douvall, who cites P Diddy, Simon Cowell and 'EastEnders' star Dean Gaffney among her conquests, and former Libertines' frontman Pete Doherty are also reported to star in the show -- although they have not yet been confirmed.

The housemates' identities are supposed to remain a secret until they enter the house, the same dwelling used in the Channel 4 main 'Big Brother' series last year.

The first 'Celebrity Big Brother' was a ratings success for Channel 4, with chatshow host Vanessa Feltz notoriously losing the plot and comedian and overall winner Jack Dee entertaining the nation with his humorous escape bids.

The second series also fared well, with former Take That band member Mark Owen winning the show, and former Page 3 model Melinda Messenger and drum and bass DJ Goldie among the contestants.

Channel 4 is hoping to steal the ratings crown from ITV after another successful run of 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' averaged 8.4m viewers. The last 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2002 was watched by an average 7m viewers.

'Big Brother 5' sponsor Talk Talk is sponsoring the show.

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