[Matt]

Celeb Show Meltdown
Bosses fear Big Bro flop

NEW Big Brother show Celebrity Hijack is in crisis just three days before it starts.

Producers are worried that their chosen showbiz stars are too over-the-top while the “gifted young” housemates too boring.

Staff are now involved in a race against time to inject more fun into the show and save it from a disaster.

To add to their troubles, many fans are convinced the problems are a result of attempts by bosses to “fix” Celeb BB to avoid a repeat of the last series’ race row.

But their attempts to “dull down” the reality TV special is said to have gone too far and is heading for a disaster.

Celebrity Hijack sees a dozen hand-picked youngsters, who each have one exceptional talent, competing for £50,000.

The celebs control the show as Big Brother, but bosses hope the housemates will emerge as the real stars.

Sources say producers are fretting that celebrities like Joan Rivers, 74, Malcolm McLaren, 61, Ian Wright, 44, and Matt Lucas, 33, will steal the show.

Insiders claim week-long trials with “guinea pig” contestants proved a disaster – as the stars were more entertaining.

They considered “gagging” the celebrity “Big Brothers” and pleading with them to tone down their acts – but realised that it would not be possible.

Producers have even considered a sensational U-turn and putting stars into the house.

But, insiders claim, the trial shows – featuring celebrities including John McCririck, 67, and Neil and Christine Hamilton, both 58 – raised alarm bells.

A source said: “Basically the problem was the celebrities totally out-shone and overshadowed the contestants.

“They were much more entertaining than the housemates. Now there are some very worried people around.

“Would you rather see and listen to the likes of Jimmy Carr and Matt Lucas or a young unknown who’s good at chess or plays the violin?

“Staff will work around the clock tweaking the show to make sure it works well.”

C4 chiefs demanded the Celebrity Big Brother replacement be a “low-key” affair.

A Channel 4 spokesman said last night: “There’s no panic – the show will be brilliant.”

BB: Celebrity Hijack kicks off on Channel 4 at 9pm on Thursday and moves to E4 for the rest of its month-long run.

Source:- The Daily Star
No link at time of writing

[Rory]

*sigh* Too toned down. If this is true: personally, I think that having the celebrities outshine the contestants in BB:CH is good. A replacement for CBB should at least give us our money's worth of entertainment from celebrities, and, although it'd be nice to see a group of talented young adults, I think that (if they are considering changing the format) they should follow through with the plans.

They've already spent loads of money on adverts, wouldn't it be false advertising?

[telefan]

What a load of BALONEY!
Ch4/E4/Endemol are sitting on an absoloute GOLDMINE with this idea, I can see it being one of the most entertaining series so far. I mean most of the hijackers are comedians and not so much "celebrities".

[Spike]

It come from the Daily Star so i'm guessing it's not true.

[Redderst]

But how do the star know about hm been dull. Any way the reason the “guinea pig” housemates where boring becuse thats the reason there guinea pigs and didnt make it into the house becuse they ARE boring. The main housemates are more fun.
I like the idea of this series being toned down so bb9 can be toned up if you know what i mean. If this series is more fun than bb9 then it will be the end of bb becuse over the year the cbb has been better that the normal bb.
like cbb4 that was the best cbb so we thiught bb7 would be be great. good series not as good as cbb though

[Redderst]

5tr

[Barbie]

the daily star keeps saying about BB toning the show down well to hell with that let BB run wild and give a really good show
why does it matter if the celebs are stealing the show they are basically half of this BB experience so as long as its entertaining do we really care?

[Xander]

I no this is rubbish, but if they did have CBB on this year i think if those celebrities were housemates it would be quite entertaining.

[Tom]

I think there is a bit of truth in it and that is that the celebrities are overshadowing the housemates, but to be honest I think they figured that would happen anyway. I doubt it will be in crisis.

[XxShortyxX]

Oh god I hope the HM's are not going to be boring, I don't know why they just didn't leave BB until BB9 (In the Summer) then Celeb BB and BB8 will have all been forgotton about by then.

[Tom]

Originally posted by XxShortyxX
Oh god I hope the HM's are not going to be boring, I don't know why they just didn't leave BB until BB9 (In the Summer) then Celeb BB and BB8 will have all been forgotton about by then.

They have to do two series a year according to their contract with Endemol

The series won't cost E4 a penny

[Redmond]

Originally posted by Redderst
But how do the star know about hm been dull. Any way the reason the “guinea pig” housemates where boring becuse thats the reason there guinea pigs and didnt make it into the house becuse they ARE boring. The main housemates are more fun.

Not true, some of the guinea pig housemates in the past have gone on to become real housemates, Maxwell and Science are two I think. Not sure of the others, Imogen may be one.

[Xander]

Originally posted by Redmond

Not true, some of the guinea pig housemates in the past have gone on to become real housemates, Maxwell and Science are two I think. Not sure of the others, Imogen may be one.

Also Susie from BB7 was a guinea pig housemated for BB6 or BB5 i can't remember.

[Tom]

Susie was a stand in for BB5, not a guinea pig but Aisleyne has been in a test run