View a slide show of the Big Brother house

Pictures of a new, larger Big Brother house have been released ahead of the embattled reality programme’s series nine launch next Thursday.

The house, decorated in the customary gaudy style, is the biggest that producer Endemol and broadcaster Channel 4 have constructed since the show began in 2000.

The house features a lavish living area and luxurious hot tub, juxtaposed with a military-style bedroom, fitted with basic bed frames and uncomfortably-thin mattresses. The garden, complete with the time-honoured pool and spa, is home to a giant ashtray to accommodate smoking contestants.

Producers will hope the photos capture viewers’ interest after scandal and low-ratings plagued previous series.

Despite a turbulent romance between contestants Ziggy Lichman and Channelle Hayes, Big Brother 8 ratings slumped to an average of 3.8 million. The show’s previous ratings low, during the sixth series, was 4.5 million.

The broadcaster cancelled this year’s Celebrity Big Brother after a race row erupted over contestants Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara’s treatment of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty during the 2007 series.

The high-rating show was replaced with a new format - Big Brother Celebrity Hijack – but it failed to capture the public’s imagination. The final was watched by just over half a million viewers, compared to the 2007 Celebrity Big Brother closing episode which pulled in 5.8 million.

The new series is already facing challenges as Davina McCall will return to present the main show but TV favourite Dermot O’Leary will not be back to host spin-off programme Big Brother’s Little Brother. He will be replaced by George Lam and Zezi Ifore, while the series’ other partner show, Big Brother’s Big Mouth, will be hosted by a series of guest presenters.

Big Brother 9 launches at 9pm, Channel 4 on Thursday, June 5.

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