Think you've seen it all before? Just wait. These American has-beens have nothing to lose and with a larger-than-life Dane with absolutely NO inhibitions this is not your average British reality-TV fodder. And so from this admittedly uninspiring premise, something magical was born.
With the mansion gates locked, life goes from real to surreal in no time at all. The celebrities go surfing, cook naked, attempt to record a group single and, most surreally of all, love blossoms between the statuesque Brigitte Nielson and pint-sized Flavor Flav.
Don't believe us - just click on our exclusive clips below and you can literally see the sparks fly off the odd pairing!
Of course, it’s not all sweetness and light. Living just a little too close for comfort and a little too far from reality leads to celebrities behaving badly, prima donna tantrums, all-star bust ups, and that’s just on just day one!
Meet the cast
CHARO – A pop culture pure original. A master of the flamenco guitar, she made the most "Love Boat" appearances ever - and nobody understood one word she said!
DAVE COULIER - You Ought To Know he was Alanis Morissette's inspiration for that smash hit! Uncle Joey from American comedy Full House - the show which shot the Olsen twins to fame - is bringing all the voices in his head with him.
FLAVOR FLAV - The "OG" hip-hop pioneer of Public Enemy. He's back and he's still got the clock!
JORDAN KNIGHT - The original boy band-er. Once a "New Kid" he is taking a shot at the “Surreal Life” before his first national solo tour.
BRIGITTE NIELSEN - The original female action star! At over six feet tall, Red Sonja looks great when she kicks butt with or without her clothes.
RYAN STARR - From the original American Idol, she's 22 and still the hottest woman to ever sing for Simon.
The Surreal Life premieres on VH1 at 9pm every night from Monday 27 December
TheSun