| Subject: Big Bro In Meltdown |
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Date Posted: 11:20:01 08/08/06 Tue
by KATIE BEGLEY
BIG BROTHER was risking meltdown last night as the show faced the full fury of viewers and TV watchdogs.
The crisis-hit Channel 4 reality show may even be put up for sale – and could even switch to ITV.
It comes as the programme faces humiliating public criticism in two official reports.
Television regulator Ofcom is launching an official probe after receiving a record 1,500 formal complaints in two days over tonight’s “comeback kids” stunt.
And later this week the Advertising Standards Authority is due to report into claims that the KitKat Golden Ticket contest was a con.
Meanwhile angry fans are continuing to call for a national boycott of the Big Brother phonelines in a bid to put a black hole in bosses’ pockets.
They are furious that Nikki Grahame and Susie Verrico look set to re-enter the house, despite the fact viewers paid to call in and boot them out.
One senior TV insider said last night: “Its an absolute mess. The whole thing seems to be falling apart at the seams.”
Storm
ITV chiefs are already said to have held secret unofficial talks with Big Brother programme makers. Director of television Simon Shaps is understood to have begun courting Endemol.
The channel would be keen to snatch the ratings-grabber, but Endemol will have to ride out the storm before any new deal could be thrashed out.
Huge numbers of disgruntled BB fans have swamped Ofcom with complaints about tonight’s show, which will see four ex-housemates return to get a second chance of winning the £100,000 prize.
The TV regulator received 1,500 complaints in just two days – a record for Big Brother and second only to the number received over Jerry Springer: The Opera – and that number is expected to surge further over the next 24 hours.
That’s 1,000 more complaints than the show attracted when BB6’s Makosi Musambasi, 25, and eventual winner Anthony Hutton, 24, appeared to have sex in the pool.
And when, during the same series, racy Kinga Karolczak, 21, performed a sex act with a wine bottle only 300 viewers complained.
Fans of the show reckon the comeback of four housemates is simply a cynical move by Endemol to increase its profits. Bosses insist that all profits from the “comeback kids” phone lines are going to charity.
But to make matters worse for Big Brother one of the front-runners to reenter the house tonight is Susie, 43, the KitKat Golden Ticket contestant.
She was selected to enter the house in a ballot of Golden Ticket holders. But many viewers suspected the draw was a fix. And Susie later dropped hints that she knew before the ballot that she’d be the winner.
Also hotly-tipped to go back in the house tonight is dippy Nikki, 24, who has divided the TV audience like no other contestant in the show’s history.
Die-hard fans have launched a blistering internet campaign urging all viewers to boycott the rest of the series.
They want fans to refuse to pick up their phones and vote, which would cripple the show’s profits.
Last night Ofcom warned that any formal investigation into the return of the ex-housemates could take months due to the sheer number of complaints.
Sanctions
One source there told the Daily Star: “Every complaint is taken seriously. But with the sheer volume we’re dealing with, the most in Big Brother history, we will definitely be tracking this issue extremely carefully.
“It’s too early to say what, or if, sanctions can be used. But we will have to see whether Channel 4 and Endemol have a case to answer.”
Last night Big Brother bosses remained defiant that their successful show would remain a hit – and stay on Channel 4.
And they insisted that tonight’s comeback stunt was the “most popular” of the current series by far. A show spokeswoman said: “Big Brother always receives a large number of calls from viewers wishing to comment on the programme and this year is no exception.
“For the first time in the history of Big Brother the public have been given the power to grant a reprieve for up to four evicted housemates.”
And she insisted: “Almost has already been raised for from this vote alone.”
The spokeswoman added that there was no way Channel 4 would give up Big Brother “without a fight”.
The channel has owned the rights to £150,000
charity the spy-on-the-wall series ever since it was launched in 2000.
It originally paid £40million for a four-year deal for all UK rights to the show. And last year, Channel 4 renegotiated the contract until 2007.
It’s a big money-spinner and has also helped give its fellow channel E4 a boost with spin-off shows Little Brother and Big Brother’s Big Mouth.
The series has attracted a key target audience to the channel – those aged 16 to 34.
Last night a Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “Big Brother is here to stay with us.”
And an ITV official spokeswoman denied any talks had been held with Endemol over buying Big Brother. katie.begley@dailystar.co.uk
FROM TODAY'S DAILY STAR NOT ONLINE
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