[Beastie]

The future for Big Brother in the UK looks grim today as reports have emerged that talks between its production company Endemol and Channel 5 have broken down.

One of the catalysts for the reality television explosion across the world, Big Brother ended an eleven year relationship with Channel 4 last month. Many speculated that the much hyped Ultimate Big Brother finale was more au revoir than goodbye for the series as insider sources had suggested that Richard Desmond was keen on taking the series over to his newly acquired Channel 5.

However, Media Guardian this morning report that although Channel 5 and Endemol came close to an agreement, talks have now broken down and Richard Desmond is interested in an alternative reality show from the co-creator of Big Brother.

One Guardian source said: “”The deal was quite far down the track, it was virtually agreed and then the negotiations went cold,”

Another insider said: “Channel 4 comprehensively ended Big Brother, the timing of the deal should have been done on the day it was finally done on Channel 4 for publicity purposes,”

Adding: “But as far as I understand it negotiations failed.”

It is understood that Richard Desmond is instead looking at a new format from Dutch media tycoon John de Mol (the second part of Endemol, see) the man who co-created Big Brother.

Through his new company, Talpa Media, de Mol created The Golden Cage, a new reality format which they describe as “the first reality soap… the world’s first open-ended unscripted reality series”.

The basic rub is that 10 people get put in a luxury villa and filmed for an indefinite amount of time. There are no phone votes or nominations … either the contestant walks out because they’ve got bored or driven away, or they can be thrown out if the producers decide that their behaviour has become ‘unnaceptable’. The last person standing wins a cash prize … and perhaps some therapy …

The Golden Cage, which apparently was the working title for Big Brother, has already run on Dutch TV in 2006/07 and it took 18 months before they got down to the winner, a man called Jaap.

Along the way, dwindling viewers got to see one contestant regularly use prostitutes (their faces were masked), loveless sexual relationships between the contestants develop, violence and bullying … great, it sounds like a night out in my hometown.

The show received significant criticism from a number of psychologists and commentators who claimed that the open ended format encouraged abusive mental behaviour and bullying to drive fellow competitors from the house.

So, you thought Big Brother was bad, look out.

If these reports are correct, soon we could be looking at a show that doesn’t just plague your screen all summer, but all year round …

… well, at least it’ll only be on Channel 5.

source: http://www.beehivecity.com/televisio...-cage12498876/

Sounds good!

[Niamh.]

hhhhhmmmmm, that is bad new but the new idea sounds pretty cool

[Lucy.]

As if Channel five could afford a show which could possibly last years! Everyone would get bored. It'd be like the Truman show!

[MTVN]

Ah thats a shame

Big Brother would be a much better investment than this other show imo, a program that goes on for an idefinite amount of time wtf? The three months that Big Brother is on is enough, never mind an 18 month show

[Jordan.]

Originally Posted by Niamhxo

hhhhhmmmmm, that is bad new but the new idea sounds pretty cool

^ this

[Lee.]

I'm keeping the faith! BB will return!

[arista]

"talks have now broken down "


sure this happens.


We still need to hear Direct
from Endemol and Ch5.

[Patrick]

Emerged today?

These 'reports' emerged before UBB even ended on TiBB slow bellends.

Not shocked anyway by this 'Breaking news' I was one of the few who didn't carry on like BB would be back unlike you lot who jumped to it and were already getting ready to book launch night tickets for Big Brother 12.

Fails.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Emerged today?

These 'reports' emerged before UBB even ended on TiBB slow bellends.

Not shocked anyway by this 'Breaking news' I was one of the few who didn't carry on like BB would be back unlike you lot who jumped to it and were already getting ready to book launch night tickets for Big Brother 12.

Fails.

Paddy!!! No need for the attitude young man

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Emerged today?

These 'reports' emerged before UBB even ended on TiBB slow bellends.

Not shocked anyway by this 'Breaking news' I was one of the few who didn't carry on like BB would be back unlike you lot who jumped to it and were already getting ready to book launch night tickets for Big Brother 12.

Fails.

I see the scrooge is back to his old ways!

bb12 WILL be back. I am not saying it will be back next year.. but maybe in a few years time!

Not too sure about this 18 month series.. but anyway we will just have to sit back and wait.. and see what channel 5 unveils.