THE 10th series of Big Brother starts tonight, Thursday, and former housemates Mario Marconi and Lisa Appleton will be appearing in a special launch night quiz.

Mario, aged 43, and Lisa, aged 40, from Latchford, shot to fame following their stint as the first couple on the hit TV programme last year.

And the duo will be following the new series on an MSN UK Big Brother blog.

Mario said: “I think nothing can prepare you for the magnitude of it all whether it’s the time in the house or the press afterwards.

“It is pretty similar to what Susan Boyle of Britain’s Got Talent is going through now – you have to experience it for yourself.

“A year on people still come up to us and talk about us being the BB couple and shout our names out in the street.”

While Mario lasted five weeks on the show, Lisa narrowly missed out on a space in the final.

But she pocketed £25,000 and became engaged to Mario during her last week.

She said: “It changes your life completely when you come out of the house. These people about to go in have no idea really.

“It is a fantastic experiment I have to say and while some people love to hate it they still tune in and watch it.

“I won a lot of money, I became engaged and I came through a great challenge… I will never forget all those things.”