Michael Barrymore was one of TV's highest-paid stars

Media speculation is rife that entertainer Michael Barrymore will be among those entering the house.

But Channel 4 refused to confirm the line-up and added it could change before the series begins on Thursday.

Previous winners of the show are former Happy Mondays' star Bez, Take That singer Mark Owen and acerbic comedian Jack Dee.

Audience

Bez - real name Mark Berry - beat Blazin' Squad rapper Kenzie and actress Brigitte Nielsen in the Channel 4 final in January last year to win �50,000.

The last series of Celebrity Big Brother drew an average audience of 4.1 million viewers - slightly down on previous series.

Barrymore became one of the highest-paid earners on television by presenting shows such as Strike it Lucky, My Kind of People and Kids say the Funniest Things.

But he 53-year-old star has had personal problems since the death of Stuart Lubbock, 31, in the pool of his Essex home in 2001.

He now lives in New Zealand.

Others rumoured to join the new series show are TV presenter Esther Rantzen, Dead Or Alive frontman Pete Burns and comedian Liza Tarbuck.

Davina McCall will once again host the three-week competition.