Channel 4 has confirmed that it will axe Big Brother. Hardly surprisingly really, seeing as the show had become the TV equivalent of waiting for midnight bus with your batteries running out on your walkman.
The show has been shuffling around and bumping into things for a decade and next years show, a Celebrity BB, will be the last. It feels like someone putting down a sick old dog doesn't it? There's been some good times, some bad... but now, it's mainly an exercise in cleaning up the turds off the stairs.
Channel 4 has announced that it is not renewing Big Brother producer Endemol's deal for the reality show at its autumn programming launch this morning. For those who loathe the show, don't breathe easy yet as I wouldn't be surprised if another station goes after it (I'm looking at you ITV and Five).
Whether it's true or not, it certainly feels like audiences have trudged away from Big Brother after the Shilpa Shetty race row that engulfed Celebrity Big Brother and Channel 4 in 2007. For a show that once pissed money, this year's 10th series has been averaging around 2 million viewers. That's spectacularly poor for a prime time show.
One of the things that has really blighted the show is the unrelenting length of it. Initially, it was over in weeks, now, it feels like it's been on for years. The opening of BB10 is like a distant memory to me. Cairon? Remember him? He's been out of the house longer than anyone can be bothered to remember.
If someone does pick up the show, they'll do well to remember that sometimes, less is best.
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