The UK version set up a rich and poor divide in 2002

The fifth series of the show in Germany begins on 1 March - with nine contestants competing for a prize of 1m euros (�700,000).

An Endemol spokeswoman said the house will be divided into three sections - "rich", "poor" and "normal" - for the duration of the series.

The German series is filmed in a house outside Cologne.

Programme-makers are looking for a cross-section of people to take part in the show, including millionaires, academics and factory workers.

Frisky

The German Big Brother has continued to be a huge success but frisky contestants have proved a problem for producers.

Two contestants were even slapped with a two-day no touching ban to keep them away from each other because the coverage was deemed too steamy.

Once the ban was over the couple headed straight for a bed.

And two contestants from the second series were married after leaving, but there was talk of a divorce soon after.

Series four produced another romance when two contestants announced their engagement live on air.