Davina confirms Big Brother axe

Posted by Stewart Turner

Big Brother presenter Davina McCall has finally confirmed the news that’s likely to send half the nation into spontaneous, rapturous applause and the other 50% onto the verge of an almighty hissy-fit. Yep, Channel 4 bosses have at last decided to bring the axe down on the ailing reality TV behemoth.

The channel’s three-year deal runs its course in 2010, and even hardcore fans of the show will admit that Big Brother has seen better days. Just 5.1 million viewers tuned in to see Rachel Rice win BB9 last year, and most of those would be hard pushed to remember what the 25-year-old from Wales even looks like.

“It’s definitely only got two years left,” Davina told reporters yesterday. “It’s become an institution – the summer is all about Big Brother, just like the winter is all about The X Factor.” The star is now looking for a more serious TV project to beef up her CV, and has been linked to that spot on the lukewarm leather chair next to Philip Schofield on This Morning.

So it looks like we’ll have to lap up every joyous, life-affirming minute of Big Brother 10, which is due to hit the airwaves on 4 June. Or will we? Is Channel 4 right to give Big Brother the chop, or do you think it should stay? Tell us what you think.

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Comments

[BLG9]

You know it makes me laugh as a psychologist,the amount of "Over the top" Glee at this shows axing across the web message boards tells me one thing, that they who are so happy at BB's death are in fact sorry to see it go!

There is a saying.. "He/they that protest to much" are hiding.

Like or loathe Big Brother, the sheer amount of TV Time this show has, fills the void of any networks Summer loll.

TV in the Summer always is on go slow, as the networks plan for those long Winter nights when there is nothing else to do for us viewers than to veg in front of the talking picture Box.

So what do they do? Well BBC wheel out a new series of Strictly, ITV go head on with X Factor.

What will Channel 4 do? Oh yes Re Run Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and of course yes you guessed it Rewind Friends.

Good luck to C4 with that but I am sorry as I flick through my EPG and see Friends polluting the channel I switch off and watch some other rubbish.

Bring back Brookside, Teachers, Cheers, Well even Countdown on pause is better than watching that dross called friends! How about a new episode.. "The one where... We all died of boredom? But back to the Subject.

Big Brother is the start of talks a show many profess to hate when they don't. They will miss it too.

Now I will switch to X Factor for a Bit of Cheryl (definate tonic to lighten any dark night, and Holly Too wow there's a Show to love. Shame about the no hopers trying to warble. I mean X Factor is Sexy due to Cole and Holly but the added deluded people who go on that show. Don't you realize we watch to tack the p***? X Factor the Reality show for people without a sense of Reality.

All Hail the Mighty Cowell the man is a genius!

[sophie]

i cant believe this news. i think people only dont watch it as its seen as being 'uncool' well i dont care about what other people think it cool, i love big brother, its an amazing show and has given us so many hours of entertainment itll be sad to see it go. whatever they put on in its place itll be the 'replacing skins with the inbetweeners' situation again ie; replacing gold with a rusty spoon. imo big brother has more entertainment factor than something like britains got talent or the x factor which are really repetative.

RIP BB, ill be watching every show next year.

[Sam]

I'm not surprised this utter rubbish is being axed! It's great to know that intelligent humans are turning away from this 'unreal' and very stage managed crud. Anyone that can identify with this is truly off the planet.
It would be far more interesting watching paint dry.

Sam

[sue]

Its no big shock really, at the end of the day, the show has been criticized loads and has been lacking in viewers for years now. Its full of people trying to grab their 15 minutes of fame and when its all over, they just disappear as quickly as they appeared. It was good when it first started because it was an original idea to get viewers watching but after it goes on and on for years, it stops being original and more predictable. I will not particularly miss it anyway. The last few have been pretty boring really.

[Paul]

BB is a perfect reflection of the 'dummed down' society Britain has become and one perversely brilliant depiction of it is 'Shameless'which says it all. What we viewers are fed on TV nowadays is what brings in the most money from advertisers whose funding revenue is based on mass viewing figures .

[Wilf]

At last a good decision by Channel 4. To call this a reality show is a trade description error, the only thing real about this show is the people in it and even that is debatable in some cases. To put a dozen or so people in a house lock them in and give them stupid tasks to do in order to earn privelidges or food is not real in any place. Channel 4 since the first couple of series has sought to be PC by including every minority group going and even trying to invent new ones, has looked for conflict by putting incompatible people together to produce good viewing figures, and to raise its own profits by holding stupid phone polls to oust contestants. If nobody voted in the polls this show would have been off the air years ago, and yes I have watched some of the shows so I do know what I am talking about. The screenings on E4 through the night that generally just show people sleeping are hardly cutting edge entertainment or journalism or rivetting viewing so I fail to see how they can generate any income for the company and taking operating cost into account they probably make a loss. It is also quite clear that the shows are not screened totally live as if a "contestant" utters undesirable language or comments then all we hear is the sound of rushing air so quite clearly there is a time delay between recording and transmission. WHATS REAL ABOUT THAT, good riddance I say.

[DAVID HARDEN]

its about time they got rid of the rubbish, big broth was alright as a one off but its a bit of a hanger on, and its a bit like jeremy kyle where do they drag up the people to go on them, all with problems looming in there past , just so the tv companies can make money .im glad its going

[L MAKIN]

what a relieve and what a load of crap waste of air time i think. first one or 2 was ok but then it gets like rocky films too bloody many bunch of wannabe freaks. the only thing channel 4 do come up trumps with is my personal favourite programme SHAMELESS more of it i say now thats what i call funny and real life. ha ha ha

[Seabass]

Never watched it but heard enough hipe and so called celebebs!? We need good TV. Not rubbish nothing on previews if watching a programme on C4 would make me watch such tripe.

[Kev Hearn]

About time!, what started out as an interesting social experiment and compulsive viewing in the first couple of series was ruined by the producers feeling the need to "engineer" drama and controversy by deliberately selecting characters destined to create the maximum publicity for the series which has ultimately caused it's downfall, allied with the channel 4 'PC' brigade ensuring that every 'minority' group is represented from gay and lesbian to black, asian, mad and downright weird, has caused this situation.
The only positive outcome of the Big Brother saga would be the sacking of the producers and 'talent' booking staff for GROSS INCOMPETENCE.

[mwj]

great news, perhaps we'll see less of the old dog davina too

[KIM]

Telly is rubbish these days, if they can revamp Mr. & Mrs they could still do the same with Big Bro.

[l c]

It's about time it went. It was full of scummers who just wanted to shock.

[Euan]

finally the news is reporting something happy :) yay can it not end sooner ? :)

[Zainab]

It's had it's day!! Even Countdown has finished.

Move on and upward.

[Keith]

Strange how many of the posters say what 'crap' it is yet say they never watch it. When it started it was perhaps a good experiment but it has turned into just what it is,'cheap television'Yes it has long since had it's day but in these times of tight purse strings what other cheap rubbish are they going to replace it with?

[Jeff]

BB and other so called reality shows are devised/created by morons, acted out by morons and watched by morons.

Why don't the TV companies employ people with enough intelligence to realise that this is not entertainment - I believe that such programmes have contributed to a serious demise in the social behaviour of people in this country. It's about time TV companies accepted that they do have an impact on their audience and so should act responsibly by screening programmes that portray good standards of behaviour and dialogue that doesn't include foul and abusive language.
Some hope, me thinks!!!

[John Henry]

Although I did not like BB my wife and daughter set their clocks by the times it was on,programes like BB fill a need for simple unpredictable entertainment that could blow up to exciting highs and desperate lows that took the audience with it. I think it just went on for to long and will now only be remembered for the trashy parts and not the good bits. When John Cleese ended Fawlty towers after two series he knew that to go on would be to deminish
the whole thing, so farewell BB I thought you were at least better than dancing on ice, britains got talent and anything else that has a panel of so called judges

[Bored Of Big Brother]

The first ever big brother with nasty Nick was refreshing and never seen before, But it went down hill from there, How many other contestants or winners can you remember, Besides Jade, I can count them on one hand.
Stupid tasks, spoiling the contestants with booze, no hardship at all, it was like watching paint dry.
Just how much has Channel 4 screwed out of the British public from voting scams. From the start of each big brother, im sure the winners have already been decided and the t.v. feeds adjusted accordingly.
As for the tired looking Davina Mccall its time to get a proper job luv.

[thankful]

Thank goodness its been axed -
long overdue in my opinion. I enjoyed the first couple of Big Brothers when ordinary people were the stars of the show and not the pathetic idiots that were in all the later shows. Just hope the leary, loudmouth Davina McCall does not end up hosting morning TV with Philip Scofield!

[Ric]

I didn't even realise it was still going, i never liked it in the first place so i never watched it after i'd seen a couple of the first shows, it's pointless as are most other shows like this. I just hope they put something on in its place which makes me want to use my brain to watch it other than trying to find the tv remote & turn it over or better still off all together!.

[Me Me Me]

Oh thank goodness for that! They should've ditched it a long time ago. I loved the early Big Bro's but it just all got too much about wanting to be famous, trying too hard and being hugely irritating. It has definitely run it's course.

[Mike]

Its demise is welcome but sadly it will not make much difference to the viewing experience. The imbeciles who make up 90% of the viewing public will soon be lapping up the next slice of crap which the cynical rulers of television deign to feed them.

[janet baines]

Hoorah, its chewing gum for the mind. Utter rubbish!

[MB]

Good riddance! It's about time this trash was axed. Perhaps we can now have some decent television. For too long TV companies have been making lowest-common-denominator, cheap junk. Perhaps we can now have something that requires a bit of thought and skill such as dramas, documentaries, good comedies, more films, instead of this so-called 'reality'/gameshow TV. Anyone remember "The Tube"? That was an amazing music programme with proper live bands, it would be great to see something of that quality again.

Oh yeah, and I have seen a lot more than a few minutes of BB so I do know what I'm talking about.

[lucylastic 067]

For goodness sake no one is holding a gun to your head ,forcing you to watch it,if you dont like it turn it over or off,everyone likes different things.I dont like sport so I just dont watch it ,but I would not want it taken off tv because I know a lot of people enjoy it.there are enough channels now for everyone to watch what they like.

[Minimum Brain Activity]

I have never believed in the ratings system.

But if five million did enjoy Big Brother, that leaves fifty-five million who were not interested at all.

[Masher]

The first series of Big Brother could probably be justified as a social experiment. Subsequent series have gone further down the road of sensationalsit TV. In each new series, Channel 4 seem to include an increasing number of people with either a physical disability or some form of dysfunctional behaviour. As though they are harking back to the days of allowing us to laugh at the more unfortunate parts of society without upsetting the P.C. brigade. And on a less serios note, if it means less of Davina, it's another good reason to drop this trash.

[Colin]

Mant novelty viewing.. ha

[Johnty, Newcastle]

This programme is the biggest load of trash ever to hit our screens. Thank goodness it is going - but could its demise not be brought forward please ? How anyone could have watched such rubbish over the years simply beggars belief.

[Colin]

The first one was ok for nevelty viewing, but after that it was repetitive rubbish of nobody's. Sleep well Andy Warhol..

[Pete Howarth]

Great News. Tacky Television happy to see the back of it, and Mrs Shout.

[Rick]

THANK GOODNESS. This programme is a total waste of time. Maybe it started out as interesting and I did watch it. It's now full of losers that should be locked up permanently rather than given a stage to parade their bizarre behaviour on.

[Peter]

Yessssssssssssssss!! the best news I have heard in ages. No more Davina McAll. Go and get a proper job dear.(He He he)

[ivy]

Good. It was total and utter crap from the outset.

[Dorothy Bailey]

At last, some good news ! I don't know which was worse - the program or Davina McCall. If I wanted to watch a bunch of freaks behaving like headless chickens I would just spend time in my local high street on a Friday night.

[Nicky]

BB is long past its sell by date. Mind you, so are a lot of TV programmes, like Have I got News For You and Top Gear, for instance.

[sb]

there really is a god good its had its day i have never seen anything so crap in all my life

[joan]

HALLELUJAH!!!AT LAST NO MORE OF THAT CRAP, NOT THAT I EVER WATCHED A SINGLE ONE, THE PUBLICITY WAS ENOUGH TO TURN ANYBODY OFF. NOW CAN WE HAVE SOME DECENT PROGRAMS AND NOT FOR GODS SAKE MORE REALITY SHOWS, WE ARE ALL SICK TO THE TEETH WITH THEM.

[Lesley]

Thank goodness for that. Biggest load of old rubbish I've ever seen (well actually I could never watch it).

[Relieved]

Thank you God for that! But do you know what they'll only replace it with another similar. I really think that these reality shows are boring, over exaggerated and only for those out to get rich quick.

[Geoff]

Thank goodness - what a load of crap.. don't put it on EVER AGAIN!!!!!!

[stuart]

I was gonna write something on this, but do you know what , I can't be bothered.

[at home]

THANK GOD FOR THAT. Now if we could only get rid of all the other dribble reality shows off the air it will be fantastic.

[Louise]

That show had finally been axed and not before time. I never was into the reality TV programmes and you never can get further from reality than Big Brother. Watched it once when first came out and thought "what a load of rubbish". I did not like to kinds of people coming on the show - with massive egos, no talent and very boring! Anyway, it will free up space for hopefully much more worth while programmes. Bring back the plays, the drama - we used to have loads of that! Classical drama and modern drama very welcome, with a talented cast. More concerts, more operas, more interesting documentaries say I, and less of the crappy reality tv, it never worked in my opinion.

[graham]

Hoorah, about time. Now get rid of the other so called reality talent(less) shows and put some proper TV on.

[Al]

C4 will now save, megga dosh
McCall is all self, like she was on the Big Breakfast show, has a mouth as big as her pay packet, maybe C4 will spend their money better

[Graham]

You'll find most of the people who said BB was "lowest common denominator" TV have never watched more than a few minutes of it. It's just a soap opera, with evolving story lines and plot twists. The British version was usually produced quite cleverly, but it has had to try hard not to be repetitive over the last couple of years.

[Ellan]

Thank googness it is over, I did used to watch it and enjoy it but the last few years it has just gone down hill, I'm glad its being axed before it can get any worse, no more fame grabbing, talentless nobodies.

[bobbie]

What a shame i have enjoyed watching big brother and even though people won't admit to watching it because of other peoples reactions they actually enjoy it - apart from the last series. Channel 4 need to get normal everyday people in there not people that already have money or that have been in the public eye remember the first few series what everybody watched none of them were known by the public they were just ordinary joe bloggs. The team that pick the housemates have lost the plot. Summers will never be the same and channel 4 should be thinking of the faithful 5million viewers that do watch and like it those that dont can watch the other channels and find something else to moan about. Surprisingly the people that moan about the programme are the sour faced people that moan about every other programme and they have never even watched it.

[steve]

About time they got something right.

[Ruts]

Keep the show,get rid of McCall(The Gob)and all will be happy.

[john]

about time. nuff said

[Ian]

I am really glad it's ending. There are no good writers now, today's television has no humour. It seems to be all kitchen and so called factual.

[Me]

And theres me thinking that we would have a series dedicated about Jade Goody, i mean everything else this year has been dedicated to her.... Good to see the back of it..

[Dubya]

Never watched it so will not miss it! Guess I'm worried about what C4 will replace it with but again, if it's tripe, I'll turn to another channel.

[H]

do people think its cool to mock BB?

[B. Barnapess]

This program was a boon to Channel Four because it was cheap to make and pulled in high viewing figures.
In order to do this it appealed to the “lowest common denominators” in human nature; selfishness, exhibitionism, greed and arrogance (to name but a few). I am at a loss to begin to understand the mentality of anyone who would find such a program “entertaining”. As such is represents a searing indictment of our society and its values. Shame on Channel Four for promoting this garbage for so long. It should have been axed years ago.

[Darren Linnell]

There is a god - I can't believe this servile trash has been going for as long as it has. Who wants to watch a bunch of hyped up fame seeking idiots doing stupid pointless tasks??, The programme used to be mildly interesting, now it is money grabbing nonsense for the truly gullible. Hallelujah to Channel 4 finally.

[Rob Bellwood]

Thank goodness channel 4 have seen sense and axed this show. It served no purpose whatsoever, and as many people have already observed on this page, only attracted people with no talent who wanted to be famous, and usually made fools of themselves.

[Annee]

There is a GOD praised be!! Hooray for common sense

[TONY]

Thank goodness BB is gone. It was the most overrated boring programme going. Participants were only interested in getting themselves known for being idiots. Watching people sleep. Get a life

[Kenny]

Good news except for the sad sacks who will have to content themselves with Loose Women or such. I suppose I should not slate either show as I have yet to see either one from end to end. Couldn't stand watching. Give us more of those Diy shows so we can watch paint dry, far more interesting.

[marie]

good i am pleased its axed ,boring ,boring

[Jim]

Finally... The lowest common denominator of television that I have ever seen (albeit very briefly) is to go. What worries me is how long it has taken C4 to realise what utter garbage it is. Let's hope that this is only the beginning of the wholesale removal of the utter mindless crap that is polluting our screens.

[Relieved]

They shouldn't stop just at BB, they should axe Channel 4 as well. When Channel 4 first started it was a decent channel to watch, but now it is utter rubbish.

[B. Barnapus]

I’m delighted to hear that this moronic, brain-dead garbage has finally been consigned to history. The only thing that amazes me is that it lasted as long as it did. It was little more than a freak show where so many obnoxious, uninteresting and “damaged” people got their long sought after 15 minutes of fame. It was little more than the 21st century equivalent of “gawping at lunatics in the asylum”. A sad reflection on our society and its base values.

[Michae lBooth]

BB
Praise be!
Please Channel 4, bury it good and deep.May it never have offsprings!

[Martin]

Big Brother was a national disgrace. It could have been an interesting experiment, but instead became nothing more than a freak show pandering to the worst tastes of the public. Good riddance!

[H]

well "miss sad individual" who was obviously intrested enought to click on this link because she secretly loves the show and pretends to her book reading friends she does not like it

[Laurence M. Sayers Gillan]

Read 5.1 million viewers as 5.1 million very sad individuals. Was utter rubbish from start to finish but reflects the sad world in which we live. Maybe try a programme that encourages people to read books and examine the world, other cultures etc etc.

[jo]

no 1 was forced 2 watch it ..if u liked it u did if u dident like it u turned over .....

[Jamie]

Seriously, people who don't like the show, no one's asking you to watch it. For those of us that enjoy it, it's a shame,I will miss it. And we shall see how you feel when your miss marple is down the plughole.

I say keep it going.

[H]

5.1 million viewers !!!!!!! can't be that bad, more views then most other programs so don't see why this one is the one to be axed.

[Pen]

BB started off great - the best series ever was when kate lawler won it - genuine funny events. Since then i think the whole show has become a bit of a circus. People going in there for gain not just the experience.

I think for many years the show has been edited to the point or disbelief - i think had the live feed been LIVE then things (for me) would have been different.

I cant remember anyone at all from the last 2 seasons and have watched them very little (more so the last one).

I did enjoy the summers that were 'big brother' but, as sad as it is to say - i think it should go - the whole show has been spoiled now so its just par for the course.

I would consider viewing this year if they returned to some good old tactics - bring back the rich / poor divide lets see how people react in extreme living conditions, take away their luxurious lifestyles that the 'so called joe public' seem to have recently - lets see what they are made of and not just get reactions becasue they are full of booze and have £50K carrots dangled in front of them to do something obsene.

[OX13 5BH]

The whole package is awful, an insult to us all. People all sitting around saying obnoxious things, all showoffs and wierd.

[Richard]

BB axed ! - thank God ! it was absolute garbage

[Taurean Rager]

Well about time too, the novelty was great to start off with but it's just got boring now with every person entering the house looking for quick fix celebrity.

I will not be sad to see the back of it!

[Minimum Brain Activiy]

I have never been a fan of reality television and I am pleased to see it go.

But in the current economic climate I don't know how Channel 4 will survive without it. It cost pennies to produce but made a profit with the phone-in votes.

With the recession kicking in and many channels cutting budgets, I guess asking Channel 4 to divert the profits it made back in to producing challenging dramas which it 'used to be' famous for as a replacement will not happen.

[Dave Dick]

Hi, Its about time it was axed for me it is a load of hopeles people trying to make a easy life and be someone their clearly not. i say to them go forth and attend the university of life and earn a proper living, or just stay a (hasbeen)

[Soo Price]

About time! This pile of claptrap is well past it's sell by date. I've never understood the appeal of watching a dozen or so wannabe's doing absolutely nothing 24/7