[Matt]

Celebrity Big Brother to return to Channel 4

Channel 4 is understood to have decided to bring back Celebrity Big Brother to its main network next year.

Discussions have been taking place with the programme's producer Endemol for some months, and Channel 4 executives have now agreed to bring the show back, MediaGuardian.co.uk has learned.

This year the show was rested from the main Channel 4 network as part of a "creative renewal" by the broadcaster following the race row that engulfed the January 2007 series.

The treatment of the Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty by her fellow housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara elicited more than 50,000 complaints and led to effigies being burnt on the streets of India.

It is understood that under Channel 4's contract with Endemol, the broadcaster does not have to screen any Big Brother show if it does not want to.

However, it is believed insiders now feel it is the right time for Celebrity Big Brother to return.

A Channel 4 spokesman said no decision had been made about whether Celebrity Big Brother will return.

Channel 4 announced last August at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival that Celebrity Big Brother would not air on its main network this year.

Instead Channel 4 broadcast a replacement reality series on digital entertainment service E4 called Celebrity Hijack.

The Celebrity Hijack launch night was simulcast on Channel 4, but otherwise the replacement show was broadcast entirely on E4.

Channel 4 instead aired a successful food season in January with chefs Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, called the Big Food Fight.

Events since January 2007 have moved on to the extent that Goody recently appeared on the Indian version of the show, Bigg Boss, which is presented by Shetty.

But Goody, who was hugged by Shetty as she entered the Indian Big Brother house on Sunday, only spent two days on the show before learning that she had cervical cancer and flying back to the UK for treatment.

Channel 4 is also in a difficult financial position with falling advertising revenues and would welcome the ratings boost Celebrity Big Brother usually brings.

The broadcaster is facing potential budget cuts due to the downturn in advertising currently affecting the commercial broadcasters, plus it is arguing it will face a £150m "funding gap" within a few years.

Channel 4 maintains that the gifted analogue spectrum it currently receives from the government is worth about £150m a year, or 15% of its total income, and that after digital switchover this would need replacing with alternative funding.

The company's chief executive, Andy Duncan, has also come up with a series of ideas to boost Channel 4's public service output through his Next on 4 initiative, including the 4IP investment fund, which partners with regional development funds to fund new digital ideas.

One insider said: "The climate is now very different for Channel 4 than it was this time last year, so it has been decided to bring Celebrity Big Brother back."

It is not yet known when the popular reality show will air, though it is expected to be broadcast in January.

Although Celebrity Big Brother is coming back, Channel 4 is in talks to air another food season with Ramsay, Oliver and Fearnley-Whittingstall following the success of the Big Food Fight season.

The trio are set to take on a new controversial issue relating to the nation's eating habits after tackling intensive poultry farming this year.

Source: MediaGuardian.co.uk

[Conor]

I wish they'd just dump it and focus on the main series

[Magic]

Ohh, confirmed

[MrGaryy]

Nothing we don't already know.

[Matt]

Originally posted by Magic
Ohh, confirmed

A Channel 4 spokesman said no decision had been made about whether Celebrity Big Brother will return.

Not exactly confirmed, but the Guardian is a lot more reliable than any tabloid paper.

[Shaun]

I hope so; it's much better than the real series, and TONNES better than Celeb:Hijack...god that was awful.

[Marc]

Sometimes the celeb ones are better than the disappointing normal BB's
can't wait

[Conor]

CBB4 & 3 were some of the best series overall, but CBB1, 2 &5 along with BB Teen were rubbish (Didn't watch BB:CH , but it got bad reviews too)

[Magic]

Originally posted by Matt

Not exactly confirmed, but the Guardian is a lot more reliable than any tabloid paper.

Oh.... I see.
I am sure it will return though.

[Loukas]

Originally posted by Conor
CBB4 & 3 were some of the best series overall, but CBB1, 2 &5 along with BB Teen were rubbish (Didn't watch BB:CH , but it got bad reviews too)

I don't think so! I mean BBCH was amazing, it was a breath of fresh air and only got bad reviews because everyone thinks it got bad ratings! It didn't, I think it's got the best ratings for E4 in AGES!

[MrGaryy]

Originally posted by Conor
CBB4 & 3 were some of the best series overall, but CBB1, 2 &5 along with BB Teen were rubbish (Didn't watch BB:CH , but it got bad reviews too)

TBB was verry good for it's time and it was only an experiment that wasn't even live.

If you haven't watched BB:CH then perhaps it would be wise not to judge it.

[Arneldo]

Good. Although I loved Hijack, I'm glad CBB could be returning.

[Arneldo]

Originally posted by Conor
CBB4 & 3 were some of the best series overall, but CBB1, 2 &5 along with BB Teen were rubbish (Didn't watch BB:CH , but it got bad reviews too)

I think CBB1 & 2 were good for that time, and CBB1 gave us some classic television with Vanessa and Jack. CBB5 was great, and it such a shame it was overshadowed by the 'race row'. Teen BB, aswell, I think was great and it's a shame not as many people saw it. It had some great housemates.

If you didn't see Hijack, then you can't really comment on weather it's good or not.

[Conor]

Originally posted by Gazbo

TBB was verry good for it's time and it was only an experiment that wasn't even live.

If you haven't watched BB:CH then perhaps it would be wise not to judge it.

I never judged it. I just said it got bad reviews.

[Tom]

It is returning. Davina has practically confirmed it. Even the articles last year which said how CBB 2008 had been axed hinted that it would return in 2009.

I really like Celebrity Big Brother, I actually prefer it over the main series. BBCH I didn't watch because the selection of housemates was poor and I wasn't too keen on the format. When the hijackers kept going into the house and talking to them in casual conversations that undermined the point of Big Brother for me. It was an experimental series and I don't think it was ever intended to go beyond series 1.

Then throw into the mix that Channel 4 felt the force of the absence of Celebrity Big Brother through slumped profits. Everything leads to Celebrity Big Brother returning, and if not at the very least there will be a series of Big Brother on Channel 4 in January.

[Spike]

I am actually really looking forward to it
It will be back, when Davina was last on The Chris Moyles Show they said they would be spending the night in the CBB6 house.

[BapStar]

CBB makes January what it is

[rhombus92]

celebs are better cos they are just less desperate and more relaxed. not so much game playing but still alot of bitching

[Arkadina]

Ooooh, I hope it's true. I luv CBB. Watching the masks fall from all those celebs and seeing what they're really like is my idea of brilliant TV

[arista]

Great news
I hope they can get some good Celebs.

[DigitalSid]

Julian Belemy of channel 4 denied the above article, but it's probably correct.

[andrewwalker92]

cant wait!

[*mazedsalv**]

Woohooo, cant wait.