CELEBRITY Big Brother fans were overcome with emotion as Emma Willis kicked off the last ever series of Big Brother tonight with a quirky farmer, sexy call centre worker and a Tory vlogger.
The star, 42, got the ball rolling tonight on Big Brother series 19 - just hours after it was announced the network had axed the programme.
Those watching at home took to Twitter as they watched the final launch on Channel 5 and revealed their upset.
One person wrote: "Can’t believe this might be the last time I watch a Big Brother Launch night too emotional."
While another wrote: “So emotional that this is the last big brother #bigbrother.”
And someone else wrote: “Kind of sad that this is the final #BigBrother.”
Emma kicked off the show by addressing the news of it's ending, saying: "Big Brother viewers. This is Emma. You still have 53 days to say your goodbyes.
"For one final time on Channel 5, Big Brother is coming to get you!
"As you may have heard today, it was officially announced that this will be the last ever series of Big Brother on Channel 5.
"Our mission for tonight and for the rest of the series is to make it the biggest and the best yet.
"Especially for all of you watching at home and for every single person that joins us in the audience every single week, as you are the people who have kept us going for 18 solid years. Thank you."
She revealed that 20,000 people had applied to be a housemate for the final Channel 5 series, which had been whittled down to the 14 contestants who will appear on screen.
Famous quotes from the show's previous series will adorn the walls of the house during the show's swansong.
Among them is the phrase "Live by the sword, die by the sword" which was uttered by series one contestant "Nasty" Nick Bateman.
The first housemate to enter was Cian Carrigan, a farmer from Ireland.
Second in the door was Anamelia Silva, a spiritual adviser.
Housemate three is Lewis, who will no doubt be the heartthrob of the series... and he knows it.
Fourth down the stairs was Kenaley, whose earring fell off as she walked through the crowds.
Fifth in the house was Tomasz, who's from Poland but has been living here for 11 years.
Housemate number six was die-hard Conservative Cameron.
Sian, whose boobs cost her her £4k, was the seventh person to take up residence in the house.
The eighth housemate was Ellis, a 19-year-old fast food worker from Glasgow.
Former footballer Issac, who hates pointless conversation but is desperate to win, was the ninth contestant to enter. He has a tattoo on his bum that says 'money'.
Brooke, a 21-year-old graphic designer, was the tenth housemate to enter.
She has a blog about Buddhism and insists she is "not your typical lesbian'.
Akeem, a twin who's been in a relationship for the past six years, was the 11th housemate to enter the house.
Housemate 12 was Kay - who insists she's "humbly" sexy.
The 13th housemate was Zoe, who admits she might need plastic sheets because she often wets the bed.
Housemate 14 was Lewis, who's a bricklayer from London and claims his mum lived in the Playboy mansion.
Most read in TV & Showbiz
This year, Big Brother has introduced its own currency - Big Coins.
Whichever contestant has the least coins at the end of next week, gets booted off the show.
It's a slight twist on the eviction process, which BB is calling 'Survival of The Richest'.
Waitress Sian took the early lead, being chosen by the public to receive 100 Big Coins whilst all the other housemates were forced to scramble for coins as they dropped from the ceiling on to the Big Brother house floor.
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220.
We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.