Leo Sayer tipped to win Celebrity Big Brother

LONDON, Jan 5 (Reuters) Reality TV show ''Celebrity Big Brother'' has returned for a fifth series, with 1970s pop star Leo Sayer favourite to beat the 10 other famous and not-so-famous personalities.

The singer is up against veteran film director Ken Russell, Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine and American actor Dirk Benedict, who starred in the 1980s TV series ''The A-Team''.

The others are: Former beauty queen Danielle Lloyd; ex-Steps singer Ian 'H' Watkins; newspaper columnist Carole Malone; Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty; actress Cleo Rocos; rocker Donny Tourette and singer Jo O'Meara, formerly of S Club 7.

Critics have dismissed this year's housemates as a rag-tag collection of ''has-beens and wannabes''. Newspapers dubbed it the ''Z-list Big Brother''.

Bookmakers named Sayer as the 4-1 favourite, ahead of Benedict and Watkins, joint second favourites at 5-1.

''This mob look the motliest of motley crews ever assembled,'' said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

The 11 celebrities entered the camera-filled studio on Wednesday night to cheers and jeers from a crowd that braved the pouring rain in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

Once inside the house, many appeared not to recognise each other.

Russell, who directed The Who's ''Tommy'' and ''Women in Love'', introduced himself to Jackson, saying: ''I am an old English film director.'' They will spend up to three weeks in the house, performing humiliating tasks for food. The public will vote to evict them one by one.

The winner will be named in a live final show, with money raised from the votes split between the stars' nominated charities.

Last year's winner was Chantelle Houghton, previously unknown to the public, who was planted in the show as a ''fake'' celebrity.

REUTERS MQA RAI0855