The Celebrity Big Brother 2018 female line-up in full

Here's who's headed into the house so far
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The first group of housemates has entered the Celebrity Big Brother house as the Channel 5 reality show kicked off with an all-female line-up to mark 100 years since women were given the right to vote.

Male contestants are set to be added in gradually throughout the series, but first here's all you need to know about the women who will be calling the Elstree Studio home for the next few weeks.

Amanda Barrie

Age: 82

Amanda Barrie
PA

Known for: Playing the role of Alma Sedgewick in Coronation Street for over 20 years, as well as parts in Bad Girls and Carry on Gabby.

Says: “I should be a very old housemate, wise and giving advice. That nobody will take. This year’s Celebrity Big Brother theme is wonderful. It’s about women and empowerment. Oh darling, we’ll just welcome the [male housemates]. I think anybody that goes in there, anything there will cause a ruckus.”

Ann Widdecombe

Ann Widdecombe
PA

Age: 70

Known for: Being a Tory politician and opposing abortion, voting for the reinstatement of the death penalty and opposing gay marriage during her time in office. In 2010, she appeared on BBC ballroom show Strictly Come Dancing.

Says: “Maybe Big Brother thinks I’ll be very easily irritated with some of the other people. Maybe they think I’ve got a short fuse and that I’ll provide them with a lot of very interesting clashes.”

“I think the sort of person I wouldn’t really want to have to get on with for any prolonged period of time, would be somebody who was tawdry. Somebody who talks sex all the time, took their top off in the hot tub, whatever it might be.”

Ashley James

Ashley James
PA

Age: 30

Known for: Being a cast member on E4 reality series Made in Chelsea.

Says: “The thing that I’m looking forward to the most about Celebrity Big Brother is celebrating the year of the woman, celebrating our female history. I’m excited just to be in CBB, it’s a show I’ve loved since I was young so to actually get to go in the diary room, I’m sorry but I think that is the coolest thing ever.”

India Willoughby

India Willoughby
PA

Age: 52

Known for: Being Britain’s first transgender TV newsreader and ITV chat show Loose Women’s first trans panellist.

Says: “I’m very much a people person, I can’t wait to meet my fellow housemates. I’ve no idea who’s going in the house; I’m really looking forward to it. I think it’s terrific that Big Brother is actually doffing its cap to the suffragettes and everything they did 100 years ago. Rights for women!”

“You’re gonna have the tough girls and the softer girls and there’s gonna be a hierarchy in play. And then the guys are gonna come in -­‐ some of the girls are gonna fancy some of the guys. Some of the guys are gonna fancy some of the girls. And then it’s all gonna kick off.”

Jess Impiazzi

Jess Impiazzi
PA

Age: 28

Known for: Appearing on The Only Way Is Essex and Ex on the Beach, she also works as a glamour model.

Says: “I’m most looking forward to going into Celebrity Big Brother to meet new people, have fun and just enjoy the experience. I think I’ll be quite a fun housemate. I get bored very, very, very easily and lose concentration so probably be a bit annoying, but I don’t mean to be I just want to have fun and enjoy myself.”

“Depending what females are in there, either there’s going to be fuming arguments with different opinions from men and women, or there’s gonna be love.”

Maggie Oliver

Maggie Oliver
PA

Age: 62

Known for: Exposing the Rochdale grooming scandal during her time as a detective constable in the Greater Manchester Police. She has also appeared as a guest on shows including BBC News, Loose Women and Lorraine to discuss her experiences.

Says: “I think I’ll be the mum of the house maybe or the agony aunt, listening to other people’s problems. I’m quite a good listener. My ideal housemate would be somebody who’s good fun.”

“I think it’s great to have a theme which is marking 100 years since women got the vote. Women have come a long way in 100 years and there’s still further to go, but we’re doing okay I think.”

Malika Haqq

Malika Haqq
PA

Age: 34

Known for: Being best friend to Khloe Kardashian and appearing on various reality TV shows including Dash Dolls and Famously Single 2.

Says: “I’m mostly looking forward to winning Celebrity Big Brother. Isn’t that what everybody would say? I think I will be the fun housemate. The talkative housemate. The housemate that cries. The helpful housemate. I think I will be a lot of things.”

“I think that this year’s theme is actually really special. I have never heard of anything like it. Everything gets their opportunity to be celebrated and it’s women’s turn to be celebrated. You put a bunch of women together for a couple of days, we will get sick of each other. The men coming into the house will be an exciting experience.”

Rachel Johnson

Rachel Johnson
PA

Age: 52

Known for: Working as a journalist for publications including the Financial Times, The Telegraph, the Evening Standard, writing novels and making TV appearances, as well as being sister to Boris Johnson and daughter of Stanley.

Says: “I think what I’m looking forward to most about Celebrity Big Brother is it actually starting and me stopping dreading going in the house.”

“I want to be a good housemate. I want to be seen as a good egg. You know, not the b**** from hell. I think that the women will be really pleased when the men come in because women adore men and it’s gonna be fun, it’s gonna be more fun. But it will change the whole dynamic, there’s no question."

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