REIGNING champ Stephen Bear was banned from re-entering the Celebrity Big Brother house due to contract wars with E4’s Celebs Go Dating.

Producers were so desperate to get the controversial Ex on the Beach star back in they hiked up his initial fee of £12,000, which he rejected at the start of the series, and he agreed – but was stopped from entering the show at the last hour on Friday.

6 Fans are desperate for last year's winner to go back in Credit: Ruckas

A source said: “Stephen was one of the first celebs they approached to go on the CBB and was the frontrunner when producers needed replacements for Ray J and Brandon Block last week following their shock exits.

“He was originally offered £12k to return on this series, but he told them that wasn’t good enough – he’s the reigning champ and felt he was worth more, so he went with Celebs Go Dating instead.

“They hiked up the offer massively to try and get him back on last week with an offer he simply couldn’t turn down.

6 The star enjoyed a fling with Chloe Khan in the house Credit: Ruckas Pictures

“Stephen said yes, but his new show Celebs Go Dating blocked him. He was devastated.”

Before CBB’s new hosuemates Chloe Ferry, Kim Woodburn and Jessica Cunningham entered the show last Friday, Stephen had spent the night retweeting messages of support from his army of fans who were desperate to see him back in.

6 Controversial Bear outraged viewers and housemates last summer Credit: Channel 5

He then posted a picture of the CBB emoji with the word “gutted” after learning his fate.

Instead, he will now entertain viewers when he appears on Celebs Go Dating next month where he has already been causing most of the entertainment by doing a runner midway through his date.

The reality star told his date he was going to the toilet, but never returned.

He then instructed production staff to tell the date that he had to leave urgently as he “had a chicken in the oven.”

6 Stephen Bear celebrates winning Celebrity Big Brother with former flame Chloe Khan Credit: PA:Press Association

A source told The Sun: “Bear walked out on his date last week during filming for Celebs Go Dating.

“He ran off halfway through and claimed to the girl that he was going to the toilets, but in actual fact he was never coming back.

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“He told the producers and runners to tell the poor girl that he had to go because he ‘had a chicken in the oven.’

“It was ridiculous but that sort of behaviour is to be expected from Bear. The production team weren’t best pleased as they had to let the girl down.”

6 Stephen Bear has a legion of fans wanting to see him back on the show Credit: Instagram / stevie_bear

He was rumoured to be dating former Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, his co-host on MTV show Just Tattoo Of Us.

The couple have been pictured together on numerous occasions over the past weeks and she even kept him company on his nightclub tour in December.

6 The Ex on the Beach star Stephen Bear emerged victorious after being clear favourite Credit: PA:Press Association

But she denied the pair were an item, saying: “We’re just very good friends. Just good friends.

We spent a lot of time together, but that was just filming 16 hours a day for Just Tattoo of Us.

“When we were filming, we were constantly play-fighting with each other, or doing something to wind each other up.”

Other stars signed up for E4’s new series of Celebs Go Dating include Ferne McCann and Jorgie Porter.

Stephen’s antagonistic behaviour divided the nation on last year’s CBB. Despite this, he still managed to beat Ricky Norwood and Renee Graziano to be crowned winner.