[Loukas]

MATT Lucas’S hilarious stint as Big Brother has left Channel 4 bosses facing a Celebrity Hijack dilemma – after HALF their audience deserted when the launch show switched to E4.

Bosses screened just an hour of the 95-minute first show on Channel 4 as the Little Britain star messed with the housemates.

And TV chiefs are now under pressure to review the decision to screen the rest of the series on digital channel E4.

A huge 3.5million viewers tuned in to the launch, simultaneously screened on Channel 4 – but that figure tumbled to 1.9million when the show moved to E4.

Execs hoping for a “quieter” run after the ugly race row that wrecked last year’s Celebrity BB moved the series to digital-only and ditched celebrity housemates.

More than 45,000 complained about Jade Goody’s bullying of Bollywood babe Shilpa Shetty.

For this years’ BB spin-off, 12 youngsters with “special talents” have been invited into the house to compete for the £50,000 prize.

With the Channel 4 viewing figures close to the 3.8million average of last summer ’s BB – hailed a success by bosses – the heat is on to appease fans who don’t have digital telly.

An insider said: “We were chuffed with the amount of viewers. We commissioned this as an E4 show because we wanted to rest the celeb format after last year’s problems.

“There will be people who think we should keep it on Channel 4 but the plan is for the series to air on E4.”



The booking of Matt, 33, as the first “hijacker” has been a runaway success. Viewers creased up as he controlled the actions of roly-poly politician John Loughton through a hidden earpiece on the opening night.

The Scot, 20, completed Matt’s outrageous demands – which included massaging boxer Anthony Ogogo – and was given a pass to the final. John is now 2/1 favourite to win.

Meanwhile, Matt returned to the studio yesterday morning dressed as Ruth Madoc’s character Gladys from Hi De Hi.

He soon scolded the contestants for talking about films he has yet to watch.

Matt boomed into the house: “Can housemates please stop talking about films that Big Matt hasn’t seen? It is spoiling the plots for him. Thank you.”

The Sun