CELEBRITY Big Brother has officially been AXED according to reports, and reality-TV junkies across Britain have officially entered into mourning.
The show that created the ‘wannabe’ reality star famous for literally sitting around doing nothing will air its final series on Channel 5 this summer.
CRAIG PHILLIPS – BB’s FIRST EVER WINNER
Channel 5 bosses reportedly won’t renew the contract with production company Endemol Shine UK, which makes the hit show according to the Daily Star.
Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother have aired on Channel 5 since 2011. The show originally aired on Channel 4 were it took Britain by storm.
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During its heydey between 2002 and 2006, more young people voted in the Big Brother Finals than in the 2001 and 2005 General Elections according to Endemol.
Fans blame Channel 5, who have ‘destroyed’ the series by moving away from its original concept of a ‘social experiment.’ and with rise of social media, being locked away from the outside world is a big selling point – but Channel 5 ‘forgot’ about the shows roots in a bid to chase ratings, that never really paid off.
Channel 5 will now have to fill over 110 hours of programming a year and media experts predict the channel will return to obscurity, as Big Brother was its main attraction.
The show will return in Mid-August for a Celebrity run followed by the final ever series of ‘Normal’ Big Brother.
Rumoured Celebrity residents include Stormy Daniels, Nadine Dorries MP and Meghan Markle’s sister, Samantha Markle.
Big Brother’s Bit on the Side host and BB super fan Rylan Clark said he would be ‘devastated’ if the show was axed.
He told The Sun: “If it didn’t come back, I would be utterly devastated.
“I can’t imagine TV without Big Brother. When Channel 4 got rid of it, I rang the helpline in Heat magazine. I was that devastated.
“Not many reality shows can say they’ve been on air for 18 years. I’d love to see it make 20 years – of course I would.
“I think it’s time to make Big Brother what it was. I’ve always had one million per cent faith in the format and that it can be the greatest show on telly.”
Channel 5 told Politicalite: “The situation remains unchanged; Big Brother is currently contracted until the end of the year, there’s no update on future series beyond 2018.”
