officialleafan
11-01-2008, 02:52 PM
Celebrity Big Brother has been axed for good, the Daily Star can reveal.
Falling ratings for the current Hijack version have plunged the whole BB format into crisis.
So in a sensational move, Channel 4 chiefs have decided not to do another celebrity show.
Instead, they will concentrate on trying to save the entire future of Big Brother by making this summer’s regular series the best ever.
Bosses feel the BB brand suffered a massive blow last year over the CBB race row that saw Jade Goody, 26, bully Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty, 32.
We have to make the next series count, or we could be in serious trouble.
Senior C4 insider
And the regular summer show was hit by tumbling viewing figures.
New spin-off show Celebrity Hijack has also failed to live up to expectations. Ratings for the opening night were just 3.4million – less than half the number who tuned into the celeb show proper last year.
That figure has now slumped to just 600,000 for nightly screenings on digital channel E4.
Despite making stars of the likes of Danielle Lloyd and Chantelle Houghton, both 24, bosses have now decided to scrap the CBB format for good. And they are already turning all their attention to BB9, which kicks off in May. A senior C4 source admitted: “It’s time to get back to basics.
The concept of CBB is great, but it will be virtually impossible to get celebrities to
sign up for the show after everything that happened with Jade and Shilpa.
“The summer’s flagship show is what started the brand in the first place, yet it’s been neglected. Now is the time to hatch a plan which will turn it back into the exciting, vibrant show it once was.”
Telly chiefs are holding crisis meetings to come up with ideas to put the ailing reality show back on track. And they are determined to turn BB9 into a ratings winner, with exciting new tasks, better housemates and more twists to keep fans hooked.
A senior C4 insider admitted: “Last summer’s show saw our viewing figures slump by 20%. We simply can’t have that again.
“Celebrity Hijack has done well for us on E4, but it has not been the success we wanted.
“What it has done is give us time to regroup and come up with a serious battle plan about how to make BB9 the best yet.
“It feels like the Last Chance Saloon.
“We have to make the next series count, or we could be in serious trouble.”
Falling ratings for the current Hijack version have plunged the whole BB format into crisis.
So in a sensational move, Channel 4 chiefs have decided not to do another celebrity show.
Instead, they will concentrate on trying to save the entire future of Big Brother by making this summer’s regular series the best ever.
Bosses feel the BB brand suffered a massive blow last year over the CBB race row that saw Jade Goody, 26, bully Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty, 32.
We have to make the next series count, or we could be in serious trouble.
Senior C4 insider
And the regular summer show was hit by tumbling viewing figures.
New spin-off show Celebrity Hijack has also failed to live up to expectations. Ratings for the opening night were just 3.4million – less than half the number who tuned into the celeb show proper last year.
That figure has now slumped to just 600,000 for nightly screenings on digital channel E4.
Despite making stars of the likes of Danielle Lloyd and Chantelle Houghton, both 24, bosses have now decided to scrap the CBB format for good. And they are already turning all their attention to BB9, which kicks off in May. A senior C4 source admitted: “It’s time to get back to basics.
The concept of CBB is great, but it will be virtually impossible to get celebrities to
sign up for the show after everything that happened with Jade and Shilpa.
“The summer’s flagship show is what started the brand in the first place, yet it’s been neglected. Now is the time to hatch a plan which will turn it back into the exciting, vibrant show it once was.”
Telly chiefs are holding crisis meetings to come up with ideas to put the ailing reality show back on track. And they are determined to turn BB9 into a ratings winner, with exciting new tasks, better housemates and more twists to keep fans hooked.
A senior C4 insider admitted: “Last summer’s show saw our viewing figures slump by 20%. We simply can’t have that again.
“Celebrity Hijack has done well for us on E4, but it has not been the success we wanted.
“What it has done is give us time to regroup and come up with a serious battle plan about how to make BB9 the best yet.
“It feels like the Last Chance Saloon.
“We have to make the next series count, or we could be in serious trouble.”