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Celebrity Big Brother starts tonight — the first series since the controversial race row involving Jade Goody and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty two years ago.
And contestants on this year’s programme have been warned to ensure there are no similar incidents which took place in 2007 which resulted in it becoming the most notorious show in Channel 4's history.
It is understood all participants have been advised that they should watch the last series in full to ensure that they know how not to behave.
Celebrities that are expected to walk into the Big Brother house this year are Ulrika Jonsson, Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan and Austin Powers actor Verne Troyer.
Other participants include former Sugababes singer Mutya Buena, former Liberty X band member Michelle Heaton, 1980s supermodel Paula Hamilton, rapper Coolio and ex-footballer Ian Wright.
The Channel 4 crisis was sparked two years ago after Miss Shetty's treatment by housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara.
It led to public outrage with around 54,000 complaints made to Ofcom and Channel 4 about the perceived racism.
The row led to the cancellation of the 2008 show.
The 2007 show was also condemned by politicians including Gordon Brown and in India effigies were burned on the streets.
Ofcom ruled that Channel 4 had breached the broadcasting code and Channel 4 was also forced to air three apologies ahead of the 2008 Big Brother series.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s show Celebrity Big Brother executive producer Sharon Powers said all the celebrities had been spoken to about the 2007 controversy and been sent DVDs of previous series of the show.
“We have spoken to the celebrities. If they have not seen it already we have explained to them the things that happened in the last Celebrity Big Brother and made the rules really clear to them, what sort of language won't be tolerated and unacceptable behaviour.
“We have spoken to all of them in detail and they are all very clear what the boundaries are. I think they have all seen [the show]. We have told anyone who hasn't seen it to go and look at it on YouTube.”
Executive producer Phil Edgar-Jones added: “Frankly they are not stupid. They know if they say anything like that they will be chucked out.”
Miss Jonsson, a former weather girl and panelist on the BBC2 show Shooting Stars, is reportedly being paid a £175,000 fee. It is understood to be the highest a celebrity has received for appearing on the show.
Celebrity Big Brother begins tonight at 9pm on Channel Four
