THE THEME for next month’s series of Celebrity Big Brother has been unveiled.

Channel 5 bosses have made it their aim to get a number of controversial stars to appear and are basing the series around the subject “eye of the storm”, according to the Daily Star.

3 Emma Willis fronts Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother on Channel 5 Credit: Channel 5

The new eye logo for the upcoming series is said to be dark in colour and surrounded by murky clouds.

People rumoured to be taking part include Meghan Markle’s half-sister Samantha Grant, former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole, model Chloe Ayline and The Only Way Is Essex star Bobby Cole Norris.

There were rumours Big Brother was facing the axe after a dip in ratings . . . but it’s not heading off to the scheduling graveyard yet.

Production firm Endemol Shine Group has renewed the lease of the famous house at Elstree Studios for another THREE years.

3 Emma Willis and Ryan Clark-Neal may be concerned as Channel 5's contract to air the show runs out this year Credit: C5

This month Endemol filed a planning application to the local council saying it wanted to retain the buildings and film shows there for the next three years.

Despite this apparent comitment to the show, which launched 18 years ago, Channel 5’s contract to air it, alongside Celebrity Big Brother, runs out at the end of 2018.

That will be a concern for presenter Emma Willis and Big Brother’s Bit On The Side host Rylan Clark-Neal.

C5's Director of Programming, Ben Frow, cast doubt on its future by admitting he wouldn’t be interested in continuing to air the reality show “in its current form”.

3 Chiefs have filed a planning application to the local council to retain the buildings used for the show at Elstree Studios

He added that he would not authorise spending a huge sum to keep it. Endemol has vowed to refresh the format of the series amid strong competition from shows such as ITV2’s Love Island.

Endemol’s chief creative officer Peter Salmon, the former BBC boss, said: “Big Brother has got to last. You have to roll your sleeves up and renew it for a different generation.

“It is having a tougher competitive time in the UK but it’s huge around the world. Love Island has been sensational. If Big Brother is not on top form, we have to keep changing it.”

The 19th series starts next month — and a lot rides on it.

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