Celebrity Big Brother's 2018 series will kick-off with ALL-FEMALE line-up to mark 100 years since women won the vote... as Rylan Clark-Neal says a 'weird mix' of stars have signed up

It is one of the most hotly anticipated - and explosive shows- in the reality TV calendar.

And when Celebrity Big Brother returns in January, it will be with a twist as for the first time in its history, the hit show will kick off with an all female line-up.

Emma Willis and Rylan Clark-Neal will return to host the main Channel show and Celebrity Big Brother's Bit On the Side respectively, with the show set to challenge gender stereotypes to mark 100 years since women won the right to vote.

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As men are gradually introduced housemates will take part in funny tasks and hidden experiment to test their and the public's assumptions about gender stereotypes.

Teasing the line-up, a CBB spokesman said 'Celebrity Big Brother will initially explore how the all-female housemates interact, from politicians to performing artists, as they enter the house first, ahead of the celebrity male housemates.

They added: 'See what happens when women hold the power, as Celebrity Big Brother January 2018 is set to be celebratory, surprising and insightful.'

Rylan teased that a 'weird mix' of celebrities had signed up for the show, in a chat on Monday's This Morning. 

CBB has had some notable Celebrity female contestants, including Chantelle Houghton who won the 2006 series, becoming the first woman to take the crown, despite not being a celebrity.

Girls Aloud Singer Sarah Harding, 36, won the summer series of the show this year with former X Factor finalist Amelia Lily, 23, coming in second.

The previous winter series saw Coleen Nolan thrash Jedward to win the show.

Denise Welch, Charlotte Crosby, Shilpa Shetty, Ulrika Jonsson and Katie Price are also among the show's female winners.

The career of the late Jade Goody was launched via her appearance on  Big Brother on 2002, with the star returning as a celebrity to the 2007 version of CBB.

Controversial housemates include Kim Woodburn, who raised eyebrows with her continual spats with Nicola McLean in the January 2017 series and Chloe Khan, who famously engaged in raunchy acts with Stephen Bear on the show in summer 2016.