Celebrity Big Brother 2016 lineup rumours: David Gest 'paid six figure sum' to join reality TV home

The American producer could be one of the show's highest ever paid stars if he signs up
Moving in: David Gest is among those rumoured to be joining the Channel 5 show
Palace Lee/Rex Shutterstock
Emma Powell23 December 2015

David Gest looks set to make his reality TV return in Celebrity Big Brother.

Gest, 62 – who starred on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2006 – has been paid a staggering $1 million (£600,000), according to reports.

The deal would make the American producer one of the highest paid guests to ever appear on the Channel 5 show.

A source told BANG Showbiz: “It’s a big deal to get Gest in the house - he has pretty much turned his back on reality TV in the last few years instead choosing to focus on his actual jobs of being a concert-and-television producer as well as a live artist.

Celebrity Big Brother 2016: the house

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“But now he’s signed on the dotted line he’s sure to be very popular with his stories about his close friends Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston and of course he has a legion of fans to get behind him from his stint in the jungle on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ who fell in love with his antics.”

Kim Kardashian’s best friend Jonathan Cheban is also among those rumoured to be entering the famous bungalow in January.

A source told the Daily Mirror: “Jonathan has a unique insight into the world’s most famous couple.

"He’ll also make great TV as he’s not afraid to shy away from a row and he’s pretty outspoken.”

Other names linked to the show are Gemma Collins, Spencer Matthews, Scott Disick and Bianca Del Rio, aka Roy Haylock.

The new series is set to have a vaudeville theme, with the contestants taking a step back in time to the Victorian era.

Speaking ahead of the series, host Emma Willis said it will be “explosive”.

Channel 5, January 5, 2016.

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