[Kaz]

From today's 'Media Guardian'

Big Brother with a serious twist

Jessica Hodgson
Tuesday December 11, 2001

The man behind Big Brother is developing a show for the BBC that combines the voyeuristic delights of the Channel 4 show with politics and culture.

In a format reminiscent of Channel 4's late-night chat show, After Dark, Cafe Society hopes to allow viewers to eavesdrop on people "debating ideas in an informal setting", said a spokeswoman for BBC Choice.

The show is being spearheaded by Conrad Green, the BBC's head of factual entertainment, who was hired after his success with reality shows such as Big Brother and Popstars.

A pilot, filmed last weekend, featured two journalists and a press officer from the Israeli embassy discussing the situation in the Middle East. The pilot has not been screened but, if commissioned, the show will form a key part of BBC Choice's new "brained up" schedule.

This is the first project Mr Green is known to be working on since he arrived at BBC Choice a month ago. It signals a change in subject for a man who has dealt almost exclusively with reality and entertainment formats.

Although the spokeswoman said the programme would be a BBC Choice, rather than a BBC3 commission, it indicates plans to give the channel a more serious edge in a bid to win clearance from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for its relaunch as BBC3.

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Gosh, what a treat for us digital viewers.

Not being particularly politically minded, I think I'd rather watch Dean and Elizabeth sitting in their deckchairs having a 'deep and meaningful' discussion.