Big Brother is to return to Elstree Film Studios next week - minus celebrity housemates but with a cunning twist.

Channel 4 is to show Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack after the channel took the decision to not air a full series of Celebrity Big Brother following a race row in the last series.

Celebrities will participate in the show but not as housemates, instead acting as Big Brother and making rules, organising tasks and talking to housemates in the Diary Room.

Different celebrities will take over every day and housemates will compete for a £50,000 prize.

The celebrity hijackers include comedians Matt Lucas and Jimmy Carr, art historian Brian Sewell, ex-footballer Ian Wright, artists Jake and Dinos Chapman and ex-manager of the Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren.

Presenter Dermot O'Leary said: "There are two fundamental differences to this show.

"Firstly, the celebrities will actually be Big Brother, which is really good fun.

"Secondly, rather than doing auditions, we went out and deliberately cast people to be in the house - very gifted people including young scientists, young athletes, young acrobats, young Mensa members.

"Hopefully it'll lead to a really fun experience."

The live launch show for Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack will be on Channel 4 and E4 at 9pm on January 3.