MILLIONS tuned in to watch Hampshire glamour model Lucy Pinder enter the Big Brother house with a host of celebrities, it was revealed today.

The 25-year-old entered the reality programme last night andmet her new mates who include La Toya Jackson and 2ft movie star Verne Troyer.

Troyer was greeted last night with a sign reading ''Mini Me - will you marry me?'' as he clambered out of his chauffeur-driven limousine.

The return of the prgramme made an immediate impact on viewing figures with millions tuning in to see the new contestants, Channel 4 said.

An average of 5.66 million viewers watched the show, with figures peaking at 6.06 million at 9.30pm last night.

CLICK HERE FOR A PROFILE OF ALL THE HOUSE GUESTS

Last night's viewing figures represent an increase on those watching the launch of this summer's Big Brother 9 which drew an audience of 5.33 million when transmitted on June 5.

Celebrity Big Brother was the most watched programme at the time of its programming last night.

Meanwhile bookies slashed odds for Troyer - who featured in the Austin Powers films - to win the show after a flurry of bets by fans of the show.

He arrived to cheers moments after ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena and Jackson received cool receptions as they entered the house.

After receiving a chorus of boos, Jackson, the sister of Thriller star Michael, showed she was less than familiar with Buena's work as the pair were introduced.

Jackson whispered: ''What was your name again?''

The trio were followed into the house by firebrand socialist Tommy Sheridan, then came Lucy, Nineties pop singer Ben Adams and Shameless actress Tina Malone.

CLICK HERE FOR A PROFILE OF ALL THE HOUSE GUESTS

Sheridan - at 20/1 - is the rank outsider to win, with Ladbrokes taking 4/1 on Troyer.

Ladbrokes spokesman Robin Hutchison said: ''Troyer has been hugely popular with punters so far, attracting over 80% of the early money.''

Shooting Stars panellist Ulrika Jonsson - reportedly the best-paid housemate - received a mixture of boos and cheers as she arrived shortly after Gangsta's Paradise rapper Coolio, former Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton and music journalist Terry Christian.

As the housemates settled in to their new surroundings Christian was told he would be the first Celebrity Head of House, giving him immunity from eviction for a week.

Host Davina McCall - who introduced the show by quipping ''the egos have landed'' - will return to the house on Tuesday to find out how the Celebrity Head of House has managed all of the housemates' egos.

Jonsson's eventful love life includes links to former England head coach Sven Goran Eriksson, whose previous fling Faria Alam was on the show in 2006.

The treatment of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty by Jade Goody and other housemates on the programme caused a furore two years ago.

The Channel 4 reality show's future appeared in jeopardy after the race row in 2007 attracted 45,000 complaints to Ofcom - the most in the regulator's history.

Yet bosses still declared that the programme would not be ''sanitised'' as it returned.

Organisers have said this year's tasks will be about life as a celebrity.

The house's outdoor area has been transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with carousel horses and a heated seating area.

There is also a smoking area resembling a giant ashtray.

For the more health-conscious celebrities, gym equipment has been provided in the lounge.

But they will not be given much of a special treatment, the producers said.

Their food budget will be the same as that of non-celebrity housemates, and they will still need to earn tokens to obtain privileges, such as use of the house's hair-straighteners.

During this series three charities will receive a percentage of the money raised from eviction phone voting. They are the Make a Wish Foundation, Leonard Cheshire and the Terrence Higgins Trust.