Updated 28 May 2004, 23.03

Marco
Age: 21
From: Middlesex
Job: Law student
Status: Single
Why Big Brother? "I want a really unique experience that will help me to learn about myself and what other people think of me. I also think it will be a laugh."
Marco describes himself as a "stirrer". He is half Italian and an ex-Samaritan.

Ahmed
Age: 44
From: Liverpool
Job: Property developer
Status: Separated
Why Big Brother? "I'm doing it to confirm my existence."
Ahmed is originally from Somalia, but had to flee during the civil war. He came to England as an asylum seeker but is now a British citizen. He is a Muslim and speaks English, Italian, Arabic, Somali and Merkani and recently graduated from university with a law degree.

Jason
Age: 30
From: Glasgow
Job: Air steward
Status: Single
Why Big Brother? "For the past five years I've had the same routine and going into the house will shake that up. I want to see how I'll feel without being able to do my fitness routine. It will be a little bit of self discovery for me."
Jason has worked as refuse collector and a model. He openly confesses to be one of the vainest people you could ever meet.

Daniel
Age: 30
From: Hull
Job: Hairdresser
Status: Single
Why Big Brother? "It's about time I was unleashed upon the nation."
Daniel is also a DJ, sings with an electro-disco band and practices Ju-Jitsu five times a week.

Stuart
Age: 20
From: Macclesfield
Job: Psychology student
Status: Single
Why Big Brother? "I just want the opportunity to spread a little love and stand up to the whole country and say `Hi, I'm Stu'."
Stuart got four A's at A Level, was head boy at school and is planning to stay on at university to do a masters degree. He and his friends call themselves "Team Handsome" and he aims to be a millionaire by the age of 25.

Victor
Age: 23
From: London
Job: Gap year student
Status: In a relationship
Why Big Brother? "I want to go in to win the prize money and to make it a good show. It's reality TV and you can't have reality TV without the realest person around."
Victor describes himself as being "like Marmite" because people either love him or hate him. At university he was president of the African and Caribbean society.

Vanessa
Age: 26
From: Leeds (originally from South Africa)
Job: Student
Status: Single
Why Big Brother? "Purely because it's an incredible experience and very few people will ever have the chance to have it. I feel very honoured to have been selected and the opportunity comes at the right time in my life."
Originally from Cape Town, Vanessa moved to the UK six years ago. She's a self-confessed adrenalin junkie and was South African archery champion for two years in a row. She loves rugby and runs for an hour every morning.

Emma
Age: 20
From: Oldham
Job: Legal administrator
Status: Single
Why Big Brother? "Because I'm bored with my life at the moment and I want to have some fun. I'm just here for a giggle."
Emma's previous job was as an entertainer in Spain. She hates her current job and has been sacked from pretty much all her previous jobs. She is a party girl, loves meeting new people, going out and eating.

Kitten
Age: 24
From: Brighton
Job: Political activist
Status: In a relationship
Why Big Brother? "I'm intrigued to be put into a situation where power is completely taken away from you and you are watched 24 hours a day. I don't respond very well to authority, I don't like it, so it will be interesting to see how I manage the situation. I have no desire for fame but to earn a bit of money would be great."
Kitten is a human rights and animal rights activist. A strict vegetarian, she is angered by sexism, racism and George Bush. She has two cats called Puddypuddyquadropodteddyteddyteapot and Kittikittiquadropodtabbytabbypeaches.

Michelle
Age: 23
From: Newcastle
Job: Mortgage advisor
Status: Single
Why Big Brother? "I want to enjoy the experience and the thrill of being in the Big Brother house. I hope I'll be there until the end."
Michelle's ambition is to be a model. She has worked as a shop assistant, a chambermaid, a Tesco cashier and a make-up artist before training for her current job. Her proudest achievement is losing a lot of weight. She used to be a size 18 but is now a size 10.

Shell
Age: 21
From: Glasgow
Job: History of art student
Status: In a relationship
Why Big Brother? "To pay off my Mum's mortgage! And so my Dad can see me on television."
Shell is a conscientious student. She loves long walks, architecture and art galleries. She is a passionate reader and works part time in a museum. She has been a life model in the past and in her spare time is training to be a sculptor.

Nadia
Age: 27
From: Surrey (originally from Portugal) Job: Bank clerk
Status: Single
Why Big Brother? "Because it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the world is not full of strangers, only friends that you are yet to meet."
Nadia is the eldest of six children. She was born in Portugal but moved to England eight years ago. She has previously worked on a perfume counter in a department store and managed a children's bookshop. She loves shopping, going out with friends and walks by the sea.

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