As the strangers start to work each other out, slowly but surely, it's like a slightly cringe-worthy house party. Scroll down for the latest from the Big Brother house ...
10.20pm: Well, what to make of that? We've already had boos from the crowd, choked-back tears and near-nudity. It's oh so easy to judge at the start - make instantaneous assessments on someone's appearance, their accent, how they react to the cameras and say hello to the other housemates ... so let's get on with it.
My vote, if I had to cast it tonight, would go with Bonnie. The first contestant to enter the house, her video was all brash bravado, but since then she's had what looks like a nasty reality shock. Booed by the audience on her walk into the house, she seems lost already, while at the same time gently trying to make friends with those around her - and getting drowned out by their over-the-top personalities.
Joker Pete looks like the most likely to get on everyone's nerves, even though he was Mr Popular on the red carpet. Posh George looks like he might come out of the closet at some point, while it looks like there might be a bit of competition between Nikki and Lea.
Looks-wise, there's a lot of new stuff to delight, and possibly dismay, committed viewers. For a start, the house has been completely redesigned this year, with the topsy-turvy furnishings that see wallpaper in the garden and faux grass in the kitchen intended to confuse the contestants and make them as uncomfortable as possible. I'm sure the psychologists will enlighten us as to the theory behind this on Monday night's Big Brother's Big Brain.
10.40pm: It sounded like promo-girl Nikki and self-confessed Sloane Ranger Grace knew each other, which could cause the producers some concern, so it will be interesting to see their catch-up chat.
A snippet of action just showed City boy Sezer admiring Imogen's open-toe sandals. A budding romance already?
As for the fancy factor, there's seemingly someone for everyone whatever your sexual persuasion or taste, including two gays - the self-confessed "Paki poof" Shahbaz and Canadian "man-eater" Richard.
11pm: Shahbaz has started singing and is getting everyone to dance to 80s disco tune Celebration. The contestants look nervous, but most of them are getting involved in cutting up the rug.
11.20pm: As the strangers start to work each other out, slowly but surely, it's like a slightly cringe-worthy house party.
Chat is of the amazing, exhausting day they have had, ex-boyfriends, exercise routines and what they could or couldn't fit in to their overnight bags. No one seems particularly fazed by the cameras, or troubled by the omnipresent Big Brother eye, who is clearly watching closely.
The sound keeps cutting to the noise of chirping birds when the contestants start talking dirty - Richard and Lea seem to be doing a lot of that. Some of the others, including Bonnie, have decided to invade the diary room, but doesn't look like they're having much luck so far.
The ones that stand out the most are the quieter ones - Mikey, for example, who maybe finds himself surrounded by too many ugly people (or too many feminists?).
Pete, on the other hand, shocked Shabhaz and skinny lifeguard boy Glyn with an uncontrolled outburst of "you w*nkers!" as they surveyed the outdoor pool and now he's sunk into a sort of stunned silence. I'd love to see his full audition video. Apparently he told George that he has Tourette Syndrome.
What's also interesting is the ads that have been screened every 15 minutes or so. To begin with, it was Lost, McVities, Closer and Heat magazines (would they survive without Big Brother?), and DFS. Now, as the audience gets more "adult" - or sad - it's erotic darts. And more DFS.
And did anyone manage to work out if there were any hidden messages in the BB logo?
