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The ninth series of Big Brother begins tonight, with a record number of contestants and a promise that they'll suffer more than in any previous series.

Tonight viewers will see 16 contestants - the most ever - make their debut. This year's wannabes include a contestant deported from the United States, a stand-up comedian, three parents, three contestants born outside the UK, a Buddhist, a Muslim and a DJ.

One of the contestants has appeared in a film with Hugh Grant, another has undergone breast enlargement and one housemate claims never to have seen Big Brother.

A luxury bedroom, an uncomfortable dormitory-style room, a bathroom with a transparent wall and even a "jail" awaits them.

This year's housemates will have to grow their own food, cultivating their own potatoes and carrots in the garden.

Channel 4 will be hoping that the 13-week series reignites interest in the reality show after last year's poor ratings.

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.

Producers have promised that they will be tougher on the contestants than ever before.

Davina McCall once again presents the show - the first eviction takes place on Friday, June 13.

Last year's winner was Brian Belo, who beat the bookmakers' favourites, twins Sam and Amanda Marchant.

Channel 4 bosses cancelled January's spin-off Celebrity Big Brother in the wake of racism and bullying rows. Instead, it showed Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, but the new format, screened on digital channel E4, only attracted an average 600,000 viewers.

The Big Brother Launch Show screens at 9pm tonight on Channel 4.

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