Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother axed as Channel 5 confirm final series
Channel 5 announces shows end but rumours suggest celebrity version could return on a different channel
The makers of reality TV show Big Brother have announced that the show is being axed at the end of the current series.
The show’s Twitter account shared the news that the 19th series, launching on Friday night, would be the last.
Channel 5, where the show currently resides, has also announced Celebrity Big Brother is ending.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Big Brother “first appeared on screens in 2000 and was extremely popular, but viewing figures have dwindled in recent years”, says the BBC.
It had “previously been rumoured that the series would be axed as the contract for the series was expiring this year”, says Metro.
Despite the shock announcement, “it looks like the house could remain open for at least another three years but the show will never return to Channel 5”, says the Daily Mirror.
Viewers feared this could mean the show's end but “a planning application has been submitted to keep the house at Elstree Studios open until 2021”, adds the paper.
It isn't clear if Endemol will open up bids for the show to be placed on another channel.
So far, there have been 18 winners of the civilian series - Craig Phillips, Brian Dowling, Kate Lawler, Cameron Stout, Nadia Almada, Anthony Hutton, Pete Bennett, Brian Belo, Rachel Rice, Sophie Reade, Josie Gibson, Aaron Allard-Morgan, Luke Anderson, Sam Evans, Helen Wood, Chloe Wilburn, Jason Burrill and Isabelle Warburton.
Celebrity Big Brother began in 2001, in an eight-day series won by Jack Dee.
Since then, Mark Owen, Bex, Chantelle Houghton, Shilpa Shetty, Ulrika Jonsson, Alex Reid, Paddy Doherty, Denise Welch, Julian Clary, Rylan Clark, Charlotte Crosby, Jim Davidson, Gary Busey, Katie Price, James Hill, Scotty T, Stephen Bear, Coleen Nolan, Sarah Harding, Courtney Act and Ryan Thomas have all been crowned winners.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
‘Theatre of cruelty’: has the reality TV bubble burst?
Under the Radar A million fewer viewers watched the latest Love Island launch compared to last year
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
Could TV viewers still stomach the original Big Brother?
Talking Point Reality show is set to return after a five-year break
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Neighbours: the strangest storylines to hit Ramsay Street
Why Everyone’s Talking About Final episode of hit Australian soap will be broadcast on Channel 5 tonight
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Why everyone is talking about Roxanne Pallett
Speed Read Emmerdale star quit Celebrity Big Brother and now Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls
By Hollie Clemence Last updated
-
Fireman Sam episode pulled over 'Koran mistake'
Speed Read Production firm apologises after animated children's character is seen stepping on page from religious text
By The Week Staff Published
-
Comic Relief bishop tops Lady Gaga on Ofcom complaint list
Speed Read Rowan Atkinson sketch in which One Direction are compared to Jesus's disciples draws 487 complaints
By The Week Staff Published