Celebrity Big Brother line up: Who is Nick Leeson? The rogue trader inside CBB House
CELEBRITY Big Brother is back on our screens with opening night introducing the 12 new housemates. Who is rogue trader Nick Leeson?
Celebrity Big Brother: Nick Leeson enters the house
The house brings together public figures from all walks of life, with potential for romance, friendships and even blazing arguements.
Rumours around the line-up this year have been rife - especially around adult film star Stormy Daniels, who has yet to appear in the show.
Whilst some housemates are TV and film stars, one this year has been the subject of a film about his life.
Who is Nick Leeson?
Famous - or infamous - trader Nick Leeson shot to the public’s attention for his dodgy dealings.
Nick caused the downfall of historic Barings Bank with his high-risk bets, costing the investment house more than £800 million.
The bank, who boasted the Queen on its client list and was founded in 1700, collapsed in February 1995.
Nick Leeson was born in Watford and grew up in a council house - before moving to London during the 1980s boom.
The 51-year-old became a senior trader at Baring’s Bank, stationed in their Singapore office.
There, Nick earned £50,000 a year and took home annual bonuses of three times that amount - owning a yacht and living in an exclusive apartment block.
But after a string of debts and market crashes, Nick was left with losses totalling more than $1billion.
The senior trader fled his office, leaving a note on his desk saying: “I’m sorry.”
An international manhunt ensued and Nick was arrested in Frankfurt, before being sentenced to six-and-a-half years in a Singapore jail.
However, he left jail in 1999 after less than four years inside.
During his imprisonment, Nick wrote a book detailing his experiences at Baring Bank titled “Rogue Trader”.
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This later became a Hollywood film in which Ewan McGregor played Nick.
Since leaving jail, Nick has written further books and is a popular after-dinner speaker as well as the commercial manager of Galway United FC.
This isn’t the first celebrity reality show for Nick, having appeared in Celebrity Apprentice Ireland - being fired in week four.
Celebrity Big Brother is on tonight at 9pm on Channel 5.