Big Brother mole set 'impossible task'

A surprise extra housemate for the final series of Big Brother is starting his 'impossible task' - trying to avoid detection as a mole while dressed in a mole suit. Mario, who was born near Venice and is half Italian and half British, will be set secret missions and have to live undetected - despite his giveaway costume. If he's discovered by the 13 main housemates he'll be ejected from the show. The 28-year-old from Essex entered the house to looks of surprise and suspicion from the other contestants. Before going in he was told his task was impossible, and informed that 'with great randomness comes great responsibility...' Six men and seven women were chosen to take part in the 11th series of the reality TV show, which is being dropped by Channel 4 after this summer. Unknown to the wannabes, the winner of the 11-week series will then immediately take part in a further two-week series featuring all-stars from previous shows. This year's contestants include Beyonce imitator Rachael, squatter Shabby and David from Pontypool, a former pest controller turned Christian minister who believes in UFOs. Corin from Stockport paid £4,000 for a boob job to take her from a B-cup to a G-cup and is often mistaken for Katie Price. Other contestants include medical student Yvette and professional dancer Ife, who has backed Cheryl Cole and appeared on The X Factor.

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.