[Nicky.]

From Daily Star <<< I know its rubbish! lol

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/vie...HER-9-CHOPPED/

Big Brother 9 will be shunted from prime time to a late-night graveyard slot this summer.


Worried Channel 4 chiefs are planning to axe the new series from its usual 9pm peak slot and only screen it after 10pm because of falling ratings.



So the troubled reality show will face its own kitchen nightmare in the form of Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver, as programme chiefs cook up plans to replace BB with programmes featuring the popular telly chefs, combined with a mix of property shows and dramas.

C4’s director of programmes, Julian Bellamy, confirmed that the flagship reality show’s traditional peak-time slot is under threat. Top shows like At Home and Kitchen Nightmares, plus dramas such as City Of Angels and property show Grand Design, have been attracting well over 4m viewers – up to 1.5m more than tuned into BB8 last summer.

Bellamy said: “Exactly where we play Big Brother in the summer has yet to be decided.



“It will depend on the quality and mix of the new programmes coming through.”



But he insisted BB9 will definitely be screened on both C4 and its digital off-shoot E4.



A TV industry insider said even discussing moving BB’s traditional time slot is a clear sign of panic at C4.



He explained: “A couple of years ago Big Brother was such a ratings banker that it would be unthinkable to even discuss such a move. So this is a clear sign that the show’s glory days are behind it.



“The decision to screen Celebrity Hijack, instead of just resting Celeb Big Bro-ther, has proved a disaster.



“It has seriously damaged the brand and there must now be doubts whether Big Brother can recover.



“A switch to 10pm or later would clearly dent the ratings – as the show has so many young fans. It is a worrying time for Channel 4. They’ve paid a fortune for Big Brother and it is their biggest advertising money-spinner.



“They’ve relied on it for so long to bring in ratings – but it seems the magic has gone.”



The channel secured rights to the show in a three-year £80m deal. But C4 chiefs fear the BB bubble may have burst – for ever.



Bosses vowed that BB9 will be back “bigger and better” than ever this summer, but fewer fans have been turning up for auditions up and down the country.



Only 20 people in Newcastle made the effort, compared with thousands who queued last year.



Ratings for Celebrity Hijack have now slumped as low as 300,000-600,000.