HUNDREDS of Big Brother hopefuls tried to impress the show's producers at auditions in Manchester over the weekend.

Despite the chilly weather, around 1,500 people queued on Saturday before the auditions for Channel 4's reality show began at 9am.

Hundreds more flocked to the CIS Building as the auditions continued into Sunday evening.

The international outrage sparked last month when the eventual winner of Celebrity Big Brother, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, was subjected to alleged racist bullying by Jade Goody, model Danielle Lloyd and former S Club singer Jo O'Meera, did not put people off.

The eighth Big Brother will run for 13 weeks during the summer.

Wannabes were given group and one-to-one interviews at the auditions, and those successful were invited to further interviews later in the year.

Lucy Wilkinson, aged 22, of Whitefield, said: "Being on Big Brother is something I've wanted to do for ages. I want to be on TV and I think it'll be a real laugh.

"I'm loud and I can be nasty, but I can also be very nice."

Her friend, Nathan Chadwick, aged 19, of Prestwich, who was also auditioning, said: "I want to be on the show for the entertainment value. I'm hoping to make some new friendships and it will hopefully kick start my career in television."

Gemma Smith, aged 20, of Nelson, near Burnley, was hoping to get into the house to show her boyfriend "what she's made of".

She said: "Big Brother has been so boring in the past few years so I want to bring some entertainment into the house. I'm not really bothered if I don't get anything out of it , I just think it'll be a laugh."

The Channel Four show used to select contestants from video submissions, but for two years it has been inviting would-be housemates to turn up in person.

A spokesman said: "The final line-up won't be decided until a few weeks before the show begins in the summer."