Verne Troyer's psychological quiz

Wednesday 31st December 2008 - 13:00:11

'Celebrity Big Brother' contestants have been given psychological tests ahead of the show's launch on Friday (02.01.09).

Although contestants in the regular series must be screened before being given the go ahead to enter the house, this is the first time stars have been forced to undergo the same procedures because bosses on the hit Channel 4 series are determined to ensure participants are able to cope with the gruelling conditions and life after the programme.

A show source said: "The tests probably weren't good for their egos but they were important to try to get a good, trouble-free series."

Worried programme chiefs have sent this year's contestants - rumoured to include TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson, singer Mutya Buena and actor Verne Troyer - DVDs of the row, which took place in 2007, as an example of how not to behave

In previous years, both Vanessa Feltz - who scrawled random words on a table - and Les Dennis struggled to cope in the house, while former S Club 7 star Jo O'Meara suffered a breakdown due to the backlash following the alleged racist bullying of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty by Jo, Jade Goody and glamour model Danielle Lloyd.

Worried programme chiefs have sent this year's contestants - rumoured to include TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson, singer Mutya Buena and actor Verne Troyer - DVDs of the row, which took place in 2007, as an example of how not to behave.

Executive producer Sharon Powers said: "We told everyone to look on video-sharing website YouTube and sent them DVDs. We've spoken to them all in detail about what the boundaries are.

"We made it really clear exactly what kind of language and behaviour will not be tolerated."

'Celebrity Big Brother' starts on Channel 4 on Friday at 9pm.