The 12 people chosen for this year's reality 'event', which kicks off on Channel 4 at the end of the month, will only be allowed to take one magazine each through the doors of the show's new achingly-hip house in Elstree, Hertfordshire.
Outgoing Endemol UK entertainment head Ruth Wrigley, whose company is making the show, said the change in policy was designed to encourage contestants to spend more time interacting. 'It gives them no place to hide,' she said.
She added that past series had not made the most of some of the more colourful participants as they were always seeking comfort in activities they could only do on their own. '[Last series] we had Josh who was a really exciting character with lots of potential, but all he did was bury himself in his book. Likewise Dean just played his music by himself.'
As well as the ban on books and musical instruments a range of strict new rules have been added, including a 'three strikes and your out' policy for any infringements. The most significant amendment governs the eviction process. If, when giving their secret nomination, a contestant fails to give an adequate reason as to why they want someone to go they will be given a warning.
C4 executives privately expect some contestants to be kicked out for flouting the rules - thinking which prompted the increase in participants from the usual 10 to 12.
The task process - in which contestants undertake challenges to determine how much money for food they will be allocated - has also been made a lot tougher. Whereas in the last two series tasks have been handed out several days in advance, they will now be given at the beginning of a new live Saturday night show, and contestants will have to complete them during the programme. Winning tasks will garner 'big rewards'.
C4 commissioning editor, nations and regions Julian Bellamy, who is overseeing the show, said there would be a number of new twists
to the format to keep the new recruits 'on their toes'. 'We're dealing with people who've seen two Big Brothers so we're looking at things that will surprise them and keep them on their toes.'
The new house - which is 20 per cent bigger than the former building in Bow - has been redesigned but offers little in the way of alterations except for a wide central staircase which the evicted contestants must climb to leave the house.
Elsewhere, it again features relatively plush furniture and fittings scattered over a solid wood floor; a modest garden with 'plunge pool' (the jacuzzi is in the bathroom); a chicken coup dominated by a chicken-shaped henhouse; sun loungers and a small patch of grass that appears to climb up the garden fence (!).
BB3 launches live on E4 at the end of the month with a 30-minute show fronted by Dermot O'Leary. He will then hand viewers over to the main C4 channel which will screen the contestants entrance into the house.
C4 will then air daily 30-minute highlight shows along with the Saturday night task show and eviction for the ten weeks of the show. E4, which will screen footage 24 hours a day to digital viewers, will run his Big Brother's Little Brother show five days a week at 19.00 from Sunday to Thursday. The Sunday show will feature the first interview with the previous night's evictee.
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