[Amy]

This is from Media Guardian

Channel 4 has pulled out all the stops in the battle for Big Brother viewers after ratings plunged nearly a million viewers below last year's figures.
The latest ploy of swapping a UK contestant with one from the African Big Brother house is the most dramatic yet, and indicates the level of concern about viewing figures for Big Brother 4.

Over the past two weeks the average audience figures for Big Brother 4 have been nearly 1 million viewers below those for the same period in last year's series.

Big Brother has averaged 4.3 million viewers and a 21% audience share on Channel 4 between Monday June 9 and Sunday June 22.

This is 800,000 down on last year when, during weeks three and four of the show, the contestants were split between poor and rich sides of the house and audiences were hooked on the drunken antics of Jade Goody, PJ and the Big Brother class of 2002.

The two weeks in the middle of Big Brother 3 provided Jade and PJ's did-they-didn't-they frolic under the bedclothes; Sandy's break for freedom over the roof of the house; and the arrival of replacement Tim Marlow, who was dubbed "nice but dim" by the tabloids.

Big Brother 3 averaged 5.1 million viewers and a 25% audience share during that period and hit nearly 6 million some nights.

This year's Big Brother has failed to produce the same level of drunken incidents, largely because the housemates failed their first three weekly tasks and have not had the same amount of alcohol to fuel more outrageous behaviour.

But questions must also be asked about how the show has been cast this year, with a relatively quiet and well-behaved group of contestants.

The stand-out character has been Jon Tickle who, before his eviction on Friday, kept viewers entertained with his nerdy behaviour and long discourses on Star Wars.

It remains to be seen how the surprise twist of flying contestant Cameron Stout to South Africa and replacing him with Ugandan Gaetano Juuko Kagwa shakes things up.

But the mere fact of introducing someone from another continent is likely to produce some culture clash incidents.

Gaetano, a 30-year-old law student, was seen by South African viewers cavorting under the bed sheets with a female Big Brother contestant following a boozy Saturday night shortly before he left for the UK.

A spokesman for Big Brother producer Endemol said the South African swap had been planned since October and promised there were more twists in store for the remaining seven UK contestants.

"We're going to be springing more surprises on viewers, but we do that in every series," he added.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said the broadcaster was pleased with the way the show was going so far.

"We'll wait and see what the show has got in store. It's still only halfway through," she added.

Ratings for Big Brother 4 have been roughly on a par over the past fortnight with the second series in 2001 and audiences are still at least double what Channel 4 would normally get in the 10pm slot.

[BusyBee]

Ratings for Big Brother 4 have been roughly on a par over the past fortnight with the second series in 2001 and audiences are still at least double what Channel 4 would normally get in the 10pm slot.

Nothing wrong with BB2 was there so BB4 cant be doing too bad. However I think they do need to bring something new to the show cos otherwise we are going to get 6 or less people sitting round the pool all day talking about food, Tania's blusher, films etc.

WE SHALL SEE - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED AS BB ALWAYS SAYS.

[bananarama]

Yeh. There is also a good chance that the last week will be 4 blokes sharing wasted hormones on themselves. Ahhh Bring back BB2. This one never was a BB at all. Just a bad dream or if there are 4 male bores at the end it will have been the worst nightmare scenario one can possibly imagine.

[rachb]

Well they are showing BB2 again but sadly not here,its being shown in Finland at the moment
Anyone fancy a trip to Finland?

[liliacqueen]

i heard about this to i hope its not something mean and it brings a lot more life into the house

[AndyJK]

Originally posted by rachb
Well they are showing BB2 again but sadly not here,its being shown in Finland at the moment
Anyone fancy a trip to Finland?

All this nostagia regarding BB2 has made me order BB 1 & BB 2 Uncut (1 package) for only 5.99 from amazon.co.uk.

[Mark]

I watched the BB1 uncut video the other day, to make up for my lack of BB4 watching.

I started off this series watching too much BB4, and now I'm only really tuning in for the nightly shows.

Hope you enjoy BB1

- Mark

[AndyJK]

Originally posted by Mark
I watched the BB1 uncut video the other day, to make up for my lack of BB4 watching.

I started off this series watching too much BB4, and now I'm only really tuning in for the nightly shows.

Hope you enjoy BB1

- Mark

Cheers Mark, I am actually old school BB (I didn't watch much of last series). I did have about 7 tapes of BB 2 once, what a sad git I was lol I eventually taped over about 5 of them though. I didn't tape any of BB 1 so yes it will be nice to see Nasty Nick in action again.

[geronimo]

Does anyone think they might bring Anouska back in - she never really got a chance.

[LEE]

Hi Geronimo and welcome to TiBB

A couple of weeks ago I thought they may bring her back in, but I don't think they will now. I think it is a bit late on for them to introduce anyone new at this stage.

[AndyJK]

Originally posted by geronimo
Does anyone think they might bring Anouska back in - she never really got a chance.

Hi Geronimo

She's had far to much exposure and access to the outside world since, and it would be unfair to the other house mates if they brought her back. I like Anouska and was gutted when she was up for eviction the first week.

[radiohead]

I know a good surprise nicking tanias blusher and shuvving a shark in the pool when ray is drunk and decides to go for a swim NOW that would be a surprise and rays last warning ever!

[liliacqueen]

i think nickin tanias blusher would be really funny he he he

[AndyJK]

I don't think there is anyone brave enough to nick Tania's blusher.

[radiohead]

They should give davina the task to nick the blusher then tania would cry like a baby all day then get it back when she gets voted out her life will b made up then again!