Big Brother “hits the skids” as ratings slump

The new series of Big Brother is failing to find its sparkle on Channel 5


The decision to launch the 12th series of Big Brother straight after the finale of the Celebrity version appears not to be paying off for Channel 5. Last night’s edition attracted just 1.43 million viewers, a similar number to those who watched Sunday’s highlights show. This is down around 1 million who watched the Celebrity version the previous week.

Channel 5 opted this year to break with the tradition of airing the normal Big Brother in the summer, instead taking a gamble to air it in the autumn. Hollywood star Pamela Anderson’s current stint in the house has not had the effect that producers wanted. The decision not to have live feed has alienated some fans who previously would watch for hours to get to know the new housemates.