Celeb Big Brother's Coolio on drugs charge

Rap star Coolio, who recently appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, has reportedly been charged with drug possession in Los Angeles.

The BBC News website reports that the 45-year-old - real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr - was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday and later released on $10,000 bail.

His manager Susan Haber said she had not spoken to him since his arrest on Friday and could not comment further.

Coolio was a controversial housemate on Celebrity Big Brother, who provoked a strong reaction from both his viewers and fellow housemates, particularly the female ones.

He had a blazing row with actress Tina Malone during which he branded her "a bowling ball on legs", and also reduced former Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton to tears in the house after accusing her of fancying fellow housemate Ben Adams.

However he later apologised to Michelle, admitting he had been a "sexist, male chauvinist pig".

Despite his unpopularity, however, he lasted the entire duration of the series, eventually finishing third in the final. The series was won by Ulrika Jonsson.