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According to the Mail on Sunday...

Wanted: A Christian soldier to stirup Big Brother 7

THE makers of Big Brother are hunting a born- again Christian for the next series in a bid to provoke fresh controversy on the reality television show.

Their attempts to lure a committed Christian have been criticised by religious leaders who fear such a contestant could be victimised by housemates.

The show’s producers have targeted ‘ a few born- again Christian groups’, as well as placing advertisements in Christian newspapers and magazines in their search for contestants.

It is the first time in the show’s seven- year history that Christians have been deliberately targeted.

Last night a spokesman for Endemol UK, the independent production company which makes the Channel 4 programme, said: ‘ There is nothing dark about this. We have placed the ads in the religious Press to cast the net as widely as possible. We want to ensure that we are being representative of the British public. We are trying to be more inclusive.’

She could not name a Muslim or Asian magazine where advertisements had also been placed, however.

Religious leaders fear a committed Christian contestant could be an easy target for ruthlessly ambitious housemates who could victimise them because of their strongly held beliefs.

Rev David Phillips, General Secretary of the Church Society, warned: ‘ In this sort of setting, you’re going to find you’re on the back foot. There is too much scope for it backfiring and the Christian being ridiculed.’ And Rev David Banting, chairman of Reform, an evangelical group, said: ‘ One thing is certain – it is hardly likely to promote the cause of Christian understanding.’

The first auditions for the new series of Big Brother attracted more than 1,000 hopefuls in Glasgow yesterday. They continue in Inverness today.

Mail on Sunday