Jonny Derbyshire
16, from Manchester.
He lives with his single mum, has left school, and is doing a 'not school' programme where he studies at home online. He hangs out with his friends in a nearby park sometimes till 5 in the morning, not keeping to his mum's midnight curfew.

Jonny says that he's considered a no-hoper by people in his area so he wants to prove them wrong.

Suzie Downing
16, from Hastings.
Suzie is being homeschooled by her mum and going on a round-the-world-trip for a year with her family. Her hero is Tony Blair and she still believes in Father Christmas. She's academic, articulate, and into green issues, recyling, cross-stitching and cooking.

Her mum thinks she's naive so she wants to prove she can hold down a job and pay the bills.

Beau Keefe
15, from London.
Beau claims to do things round the house like "watch tv to make sure it's working and sit on the sofa to make sure it's comfortable". Funny, confident, larger than life, he wants to be a Black cabby like his Dad.

Beau wants to prove to his mum that he can cope without her – he doesn't need her to put the toothpaste on his toothbrush or lie his clothes out.

Amy Fenwick
15 (turns 16 in the house), from Northumberland.
She admits she doesn't do any household chores - she says that is what her mum is for... With her 50 pairs of shoes, blonde hair and wiggly hips, she idolises Jordan, and worries she might annoy the other housemates for being a vain chatterbox.

Amy wants to prove to people around her that she is not just a blonde spoilt bimbo and that she can earn her own money.

Jade Goodger
16, from Surrey.
She's prepared to do chores around the house – if her mum pays her.

Tonnes of attitude, independent and opinionated, Jade is seriously workshy, but does want to prove she is capable of getting a job.

Neelam Patel
From Cheshire.
One of five siblings, with two older sisters, they all live with their mum.

Neelam is a headstrong girl and convinced she's ready to lead an adult life. Her mum's not so sure, and thinks Neelam needs to hold down a job and learn there's more to life than clubbing.

Elliot Steer
16, lives with his single dad in Wolverhampton.
He's 6ft 5" and feels stifled by his dad's strict rules: he's not allowed out on weekdays and has a 10pm curfew on weekends.

Elliot's an emo kid – he plays a bit of guitar and loves rock, hates Chavs, and hates R&B. He wants to prove to his father that he deserves more freedom.

Tanique Wilcox
16, from Essex.
Lives with her Gran because she clashes with her Mum.

Tanique says she's "a leader not a sheep". She's bad with money, bad with authority and can't cook, but she's articulate and opinionated and wants to prove that she can live alone.