[Red Moon]

C4 chief admits: I'm not proud of Big Brother

Lord Puttnam, the deputy chairman of Channel 4, said yesterday that he was "not proud" of the company's flagship Big Brother programme.

He went on to suggest that the "reality show" would eventually be replaced - but only when it stopped bringing in vast sums of revenue.

Lord Puttnam, who directed the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, spoke out against the programme when asked about the Big Brother row involving Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty.

Speaking at the Hay-on-Wye Festival, he said: "I am not proud of the Big Brother row - I am not even proud of Big Brother.

"But Big Brother accounts for 15 per cent of the total revenue that keeps Channel 4 afloat.

"You have got to go some to replace that, but we will do it at some point, of course we will. We are in a long period of transition, but we will do it." Lord Puttnam acknowledged that time had eroded what he termed Channel 4's "sense of purpose".

But he went on: "We shall renew that sense of commitment and sense of purpose and get that 'DNA' back in another context.

"We need a remit and a sense of purpose that is right for 2010 and beyond and we shall do it".

Big Brother was widely condemned over its handling of the race row in Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year.

It was forced by the television regulator Ofcom to begin its latest run by broadcasting an apology for its "serious errors of judgment".

In Australia, the Big Brother producers, Endemol Southern Star, were criticised last week for deciding not to tell a contestant her father had died.

Such strictures are unlikely, however, to have dented the programme's audience figures.

Earlier this week Big Brother's capacity to offend was exceeded by one of its sister shows in Holland.

The Big Donor Show plans to show a terminally ill woman selecting which of three "contestants" will receive her kidneys.

Sir Paul McCartney also criticised Big Brother yesterday. The ex-Beatle called the Channel 4 show a "celebration of mediocrity".

Sir Paul, 64, said there was "something wrong" with watching the reality series, which started its eighth seriesthis week.

Asked whether he watched the programme he told the Xfm radio breakfast show: "No, I studiously avoid Big Brother.

"I'm against the celebration of mediocrity. I'm sorry about that world because I know everyone loves it and loves to watch mediocre people.

"I just don't like all that stuff I'm afraid. It's really boring."

Sir Paul told DJ Alex Zane: "It was on last night actually when I got home and I thought I'm not going to watch it.

"I probably do watch it, just in closet. That's the fascination, isn't it, seeing people being really crap.

"I just don't like it. I feel there is something wrong there."

The launch of the latest series was seen by eight million viewers on Wednesday, matching last year's opening.

But its average audience of 6.2 million was 800,000 down from last year's seven million.

Source:Telegraph

[Scarlett.]

It was down on ratings because of the soap awards

[MR.K!]

big brother has kinda lost is way.. its kinda just a catwalk now also there isnt enough steam behind the show like there used to be

[Scarlett.]

Originally posted by Caw
big brother has kinda lost is way.. its kinda just a catwalk now also there isnt enough steam behind the show like there used to be

especially this seires, it seems to be going nowhere

[Stu]

Originally posted by Antparker

especially this seires, it seems to be going nowhere

I could not agree more.

I would not take much notice of this article though. The man simply does not like Big Brother.

[andybigbro]

i hope its doesnt stop for a long while

[Amy]

It's amazing that a show like Big Brother, after all these years, is still bringing in as many viewers... good job they have a good team of people with different ideas each yr I say.. However, I expect they round up to 10 and call it a day ???

[Matt]

Tis a dark day for BB.

[Stu]

Originally posted by Matt™
Tis a dark day for BB.

The ratings will have to have dropped substantially for the good Lord Puttnam to have something to back his claims up upon.

Mind you Big Bro is well on its way to doing that...

[Slartibartfast]

His comments are nothing major to worry about, it's all about the politics!

It looks like he was at some festival and was asked about the BB race row. He was hardly going to say he thought it was wonderful, especially since Ofcom hd just found against them. And saying he isn't proud of it is hardly a scalding rebuke, if he wanted to he could have been a lot stronger in the words he used.

All he has confirmed is that someday BB will go and be replaced. Hardly world-shattering news, we all know it won't be around forever! As long as it keeps generating revenue for Channel 4 then I'd say BB is pretty safe for the forseeable future.

[Matt]

Long may Big Brother live!

[KS2007]

Big Brother is getting dull. But its about time they hire fresh new people with fresh new designs and ideas instead of keeping the same people every year after year.

[Simple_Plan]

I Dont Know What I Would Do Without Big Brother

I Personaly Love It

I Dont Think That Statement Is Anything To Go By Its Just A Grumpy Old Man Twisting (Typical)

[Matt]

They do need to keep the show fresh.

One suggestion I have is they make sure the cameras aren't visible, so they housemates don't play up for them.