The third season of reality TV series, Big Brother Nigeria  (BigBrotherNaija) was launched on Sunday with 20 contestants also known as “housemates”. A pilot, media personalities, entrepreneurs, students and persons with interest in academic pursuit made the list.

This year’s edition, which is tagged “double wahala” stars Vandora, Teddy A, K Bruce, Nina, Miracle, Alex, Princess, DeeOne and Ahneeka.

Other housemates are Rico Swavey, Bito, BamBam, Leo, Khloe, Angel and Ifu-Ennada, Anto, Tobi Bakare, Cee-C and Lolu.

The show  is running for a second consecutive year as it  had previously suffered a 10-year hiatus after holding its first edition in 2006.

Popular artists, Mayorkun and Kiss Daniel performed live during the launch.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, who returned to host the show for the second time, introduced the housemates in groups of four.

This year’s contestants are a cross section of musicians, comedians and entrepreneurs.

The housemates were given their first task of finding bed spaces as those available were limited.

The number of contestants is an increase from last year’s 12 housemates, which saw Efe Ejeba emerged winner, taking home the 25 million Naira cash prize and an SUV.

A reunion show featuring some of the previous housemates had been aired for one week before Sunday’s launch

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that every Sunday on the show, viewers are expected to witness an eviction of a housemate.

The winner of the 85 – day contest will be given N25 million cash prize and a brand new SUV car. Other prizes totaling N20 million would also be won by both viewers and contestants, a departure from the old order.

NAN reports that the Big Brother Naija, which was introduced in 2006, is a special Nigerian version of the continental show Big Brother Africa.