[mrmattybeck1]

Originally Posted by RobInnes

I do like Ben frow - I think he has quite a realistic approach to the channel. Having said that I don't know whether to be relived or concerned by what he says about Big Brother:

1) The casting wasn't quite right this year.

I think the only real issue people had with casting was the order in which housemates went in over the two launch nights. I think if they had swapped a few of the night one and night two housemates over, the cast wouldn't have come under such scrutiny at the start. Plus if he thinks the housemates were the problem this year, what does he make of the real reasons people were moaning about this years series, I.E: the constant producer manipulation.

2) He's pleased with how BB15 performed against all the sport this year, albeit accepting that it was "a slightly weaker series than last year." He also says "I don't want Big Brother to be at the top of the ratings."

Double edged sword with this one I think. I think the series did hold up fairly well throughout the massive competition it had this year, but to say that he doesn't think Big Brother needs to be at the top. Is Big Brother not C5's most expensive show?

3) "Are you recommisining Big Brother?"
"Absolutely."

Above all, that's what we wanted and needed to hear. He doesn't really talk about what Viacom's influence on the show will be, but he said in broad terms that as a channel, Viacom are happy with what they're getting. It sounds like we might get some more diverse housemates next year, and I think it will be interesting to see what happens with it.
He sounds like despite everything he is fairly happy with the show still, he says similar to what he said last year about "one day Big Brother will fall" and he points out he means further than it did this year, and it can't be argued that the celeb series still do brilliantly.
I can't help but feel from what he's saying throughout though that if the right show comes along that is bigger and better than BB then we need to worry.

Utopia maybe