Has Big Brother been evicted? Reality show faces C5 axe

BIG Brother faces eviction from Channel 5 after the broadcaster’s new owner revealed the show’s future isn’t secure.

HOMELESS? Big Brother faces the axe from Channel 5 [Channel 5]

The channel was bought by Viacom in a deal worth £450m last month, and chief executive Philippe Dauman has hinted that the reality TV giant could be dropped from the schedules in a shake up.
Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild event, he said: "Maybe we continue with Big Brother, maybe if for some reason that didn't work out we have the ability to put out other great programming.
“You can go too far with one genre even when it's successful.”
He added: "No show is hugely popular forever so you have to keep your fingers in different pots. Big Brother has been a big performer. We will leave it to the programming team to see where we go."
Big Brother moved to Channel 5 in 2011, after Channel 4 axed the series in 2010, and has proved a huge hit for the network, regularly helping it to beat Channel 4 in the ratings.

BB CHAMP: Gary Busey won the most recent Celebrity series [Channel 5]

However, the show has aired its last edition under its current deal with the conclusion of the most recent celebrity series, which saw Hollywood star Gary Busey crowned champion.

While host Emma Willis told viewers that the show would return in January 2015, Big Brother has not yet been officially renewed by Channel 5.
The show usually airs two celebrity editions a year as well as a regular civilian run.
ITV was rumoured to be interested in buying the rights to air Big Brother on its new reality-based channel ITVBe, which has become the new home of TOWIE.
However, the cost of the rights – thought to be about £20m a year – were said to be too high for the broadcaster to use on one of it’s digital channels.