[JohnnyBB]

Big Brother 10 executive producer Sharon Powers has revealed that Channel 4 are “happy” with this year’s series despite low ratings.

This year’s series has fallen to record low viewing figures and failed to receive much media coverage. However, Powers has defended the show, saying that makers Endemol have done as well as they could.

She told Broadcast magazine: “Channel 4 tells us it’s happy and all we can do is make the programme as good as it possibly can be. There’s a danger if you focus too much on who you think you’re making the programme for and you try to skew it.”

Powers, who is also creative director for the show, also explains how everything for this series was planned pre-launch: “When we go on air, we have a plan for virtually every week of the series, but we have to be flexible and will drop things and react to what’s going on.”

Powers also revealed that attention has already turned to BB11, which is set to air next summer. She said: “We’ve already started thinking about BB11 and whether we should audition people in a different way.”

Meanwhile, Head of Endemol UK Tim Hincks has also defended the show in an interview with the Guardian, saying that Big Brother still has a long term future: “Ever since series three, people have said the format’s about to die. Will Big Brother continue to be one of the prime youth-focused content brands? Yes, it will, both in the UK and around the world.

“The long-term health of Big Brother is strong. I really believe that. It’s a famous brand, the format works, that’s obvious.”

But he would not confirm whether Channel 4 would renew their contract beyond 2010: “‘Will we be making it for C4 in two years’ time?’ I’ve honestly no idea. We have a brilliant relationship with C4. We are doing it for C4 next year, it’s been 10 years and it’s still C4’s biggest show. One thing even its fiercest critics will accept is that we revolutionised TV with them. You may not think it’s a good thing but it changed the way we make TV.”

He added that he thinks this year’s series is “the best for four or five years in terms of editorial quality”.

[Mickey2009]

Endemol UK chief executive Tim Hincks said: “Ever since series three, people have said the format’s about to die. The long-term health of Big Brother is strong. I really believe that. It’s a famous brand, the format works, that’s obvious.

“Will Big Brother continue to be one of the prime youth-focused content brands? Yes, it will, both in the UK and around the world.”

Discussing the production company’s partnership with broadcaster Channel 4, he said: “We have a brilliant relationship with C4. We are doing it for C4 next year, it’s been 10 years and it’s still C4’s biggest show.

“One thing even its fiercest critics will accept is that we revolutionised TV with them. You may not think it’s a good thing but it changed the way we make TV.”

However, he didn’t say much about whether the show would continue on the channel after the current contract between the parties runs out next year.

“Will we be making it for C4 in two years’ time? I’ve honestly no idea. C4 are on speed dial, we talk to them all the time.”

Hincks added that he thinks Big Brother 10 is ‘the best for four or five years in terms of editorial quality’.

[Jezzy]

Sharon Powers should get the sack.

[pixee]

Is she the short woman who turned up on BBLB when i used to watch it?