Big Brother (UK) - may be axed

Still amazed they spent the money on the second house only to use it really for just a couple of weeks in one series then almost forget about it, though it does get used for tasks occassionally.

I believe the contract with Elstree is also up this year so it'll be a case of wait and see I guess. Personally though I think a complete new start for the show would be preferable, though cost wise probably more attractive having the house in price. That said Dancing on Ice seemed to find it more viable to build a completely new set entirely from scratch at a non-traditional studio than to hire existing facilities, so no house wouldn't be a deal breaker, and to be honest I think the show kind of needs that fresh start.

Hypothetically, if there is interest from another broadcaster, what other channel than Channel 5 do you think would take on the show if they dropped it? When C4 cancelled it, I specifically remember ITV, Five and Sky saying they wouldn't be picking it up. (This was before the change in ownership at Five)


Will that have changed? Could ITV or Sky want it now? Or is it even more damaged goods?

Would a surprise pick-up by C4 be possible? 2020 is coming up so perhaps they could revive it for the shows 20th in an unexpected move?

Series 1-4 were the original BB format. I think they just got lucky with the contestants they chose for series 1 and series 3 in particular - series 1 of course made a huge splash thanks to Nasty Nick, and it's interesting to ponder whether the show's popularity would have been as high if it weren't for that. Series 2 was not as explosive but the concept was still novel. Series 3 was probably the perfect mix of housemates and format choices. Then with series 4, because the show had been on for a while already and the expectation was high due to the standard set by the previous year, it was suddenly labelled 'boring' and viewers had lost interest.

So for series 5 they purposely went all out manipulative, choosing housemates that were polar opposites of each other, and doing, in hindsight, really quite horrible things such as putting two housemates in a secluded bedsit for five days, watching 24/7 video footage of people saying terrible things about you behind your back, which can't be good for anyone's health.

It was successful in making the show explosive again, but it was artificial, or at least much more artifical than previous years had been.

Could they not convert the house into studio space?

Would probably be cheaper and more practical to knock it down and rebuild if they wanted to do that. There was a plan at one point to build two new studios on the land next to the house but it never happened.

I'd say it's highly unlikely the format will be bought by anyone anytime soon. The big channels don't need it and the small channels can't afford it.

As for converting the house into studio space I very doubt the old house could be converted as it was purpose build for the show, I wonder however if the extension was built with the possibility of it eventually being turned into a small regular studio post Big Brother, it does seem odd it's been used so little other than as a task room.

I think the Big Brother format went past it's sell by date years ago. Do people still enjoy watching randomers in a house for 6 weeks these days?

It has pretty much had its day really.

If they ever think about doing more somewhere else - I think it should be an online only show with the option to live stream. I don't think there's a place in TV for Big Brother anymore.

There's a slightly random but no doubt quite interesting behind the scenes programme on Big Brother tonight at 10 after the main show that should be of interest to people on here who aren't actually watching the series.

The "civilian" series will go but I still think they'll stick with the Celeb series.

I wouldn't surprised if the money they save from axing Big Brother goes into original drama as the channel is making a push into that.