YOU'VE seen them on Celebrity Big Brother but did you spot them in Weymouth first?

Dancing along the Esplanade, strutting around the Pavilion in a technicolor coat or roaring around on a motorbike are just some of the potential sightings.

If several of the new Celebrity Big Brother housemates have a familiar look to you, it may be because they have each been out and about in the town.

Ian Watkins - best known as H from Steps - recently starred in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Weymouth Pavilion.

H and his 12-metre long silk coat entertained locals for a week in November, 2006, as part of a national tour.

Weymouth tourism spokesman Paul Beecroft said: "People would definitely have seen H out and about.

"He liked the Italian restaurant Prezzo, and went out in the town and to the gym.

"He was absolutely fine here - well liked, professional in what he was doing, very dedicated to the job. He gave an outstanding performance every time he was here."

Bollywood megastar Shilpa Shetty added a touch of spice to the resort as it was the location for her blockbuster Will You Marry Me?

The top Indian actress filmed the romantic melodrama five years ago. It was the first Bollywood movie to be shot in Weymouth and inspired dozens of others to do the same.

Shilpa was filmed roaring along the Esplanade on a motorbike behind her leading man, and shot three spectacular all-singing, all-dancing sequences along the seafront and harbour.

Her co-star Salman Khan is Bollywood's answer to Brad Pitt - and particularly famous for flashing his 42-inch chest and 17-inch biceps.

Jacqui Gisborne, who is Weymouth and Portland tourism communications manager and film liaison manager, said: "That was the first Bollywood movie we ever did.

"He was definitely Bollywood's version of Brad Pitt, and had a stunning girl on the back of his big motorbike - Shilpa.

"They wanted to drive on the road without a helmet because he wouldn't cover his stunning face and she wanted her hair blowing in the wind.

"We had to get the police down, who were brilliant and closed the road.

"The couple also danced along the harbour. She was much better than him - he was continually having his hair brushed and looking in the mirror."

Film boss Ken Russell, 79, from the New Forest, also has links to Dorset.

The director of countless TV and cinema films such as Women in Love and Tommy used to visit Highcliffe and Bournemouth at weekends as a boy. When he was making Tommy, he did some of the filming in Weymouth.

We asked people in Weymouth town centre if they will be supporting the BB housemates this year.

Kelly Spray, 25, a barmaid from Weymouth, said: "Personally I've never watched this one. There's been too much of it and it's getting boring. I knew H was around the town last November but I didn't see him.

"I watched the first four series of Big Brother but now they're just the same. It will make a difference to their career but only for about six months, then that'll be it."

Lauren Watson, 18, a student from Dorchester, said: "I'm not backing any of them. None of them are celebrities. It's a lot of rubbish.

"I could go on and be more well known than any of them. I watched two episodes but I'm not watching any more."

Marie Claxton, 20, a Morrisons worker from Portland, said: "I know who I'm supporting - Dirk Benedict. He was my favourite in the A-Team.

"I've never seen any of the stars in Weymouth.

"I'm also supporting Jo O'Meara from S Club 7. It's just good to see what they do and how they act in a group, this series will probably be as successful as usual."