Former Shameless star Jody Latham has pulled out of Celebrity Big Brother just hours before the new series starts.

The TV hunk, 35, had been excited to be a part of the 19th series of the hit reality show.

3 Shameless star Jody Latham has quit Celebrity Big Brother before it even began

He previously told friends he would be one of the new contestants for the series – which returns to screens tonight.

And he had appeared proud to be taking part as it was seen as a clean slate to put a troubled 2016 behind him after he cleared of harassing former Apprentice star Adam Hosker.

Related articles Shamelessly exciting Who is Jody Latham? Shameless actor and EastEnders bad boy - here's what we know Exclusive He'll bring the lip! Shameless star Jody Latham signs for Celeb Big Brother after being cleared of harassment TV STAR CLEARED Shameless actor Jody Latham cleared of harassing ex Apprentice contestant in feud over his ex-fiance ‘MY HEART GOES OUT TO HER FAMILY' CBB star Shilpa Shetty pays tribute to fashion designer pal killed in Istanbul attack Looking forward Danielle Lloyd claims her wedding to Celebrity Big Brother star Jamie O'Hara 'wasn't important' Revealed HEIDI-BYE? Heidi Montag hints that she's QUIT Celebrity Big Brother already after posting cryptic 'goodbye London' tweet Revealed Big Bother Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag threaten to quit CBB before it even begins over diva fish and chip demands Exclusive BACK TO REALITY The OFFICIAL Celebrity Big Brother All Stars and New Stars line-up revealed in full

“Jody hasn’t had it easy this year and after a series of dramas he wants people to remember him for good things again,” a source told The Sun Online last month.

“He was one of the nation’s most promising actors during his time on Shameless and he’s hoping he’ll be able to recreate that success again after going on CBB."

3 Jody shot to fame as a star of Shameless on Channel 4 Credit: Channel 4

But Jody was conspicuously absent from the official line-up confirmed by The Sun.

A source told us: “He told other housemates he was pulling out a couple of days ago."

The latest series of the long-running reality show is set to pit former contestants against a range of new talent who will enter the house for the first time.

2012 contestant Nicola McLean, 2015 contestant Austin Armacost and married 2013 runners-up Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are among former stars returning for another roll of the dice.

While fresh faces to the CBB world include US singer and actress Stacy Francis, footballer Jamie O’Hara, and Kim Kardashian’s sex tape co-star Ray J.

3 American reality stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag cause fireworks in 2013 Credit: Getty Images

But the show has been blighted with upsets before it has even begun – with contestants Heidi and Spencer causing tension with diva demands, and Heidi even hinting she has fled the UK ahead of the show starting.

A spokesperson for Jody told The Sun online: "Jody was never even signed up to do CBB so I have no idea where this story has come from."

She revealed the star is instead focusing on his career, adding: "He's focusing on his acting and has joined the creator of Shameless Paul Abbot again to star in Paul's C4 show No Offence. It's great that he's back working with Paul the writer who launched Jody's career on Shameless."

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220