TV

CBB reportedly in crisis as stars show “no interest” in signing up for the new series

Could this be the final nail in the coffin?

When you’re making a programme called Celebrity Big Brother, it’s kind of important that you get some actual celebrities to appear on it.

But we’re hearing that bosses of the Channel 5 reality show are having serious trouble persuading stars to sign up for the next series, due to start in January.

Producers are determined to broadcast a special, all-female edition of the programme, to celebrate 100 years since women were given the vote.

But according to a report in The Sun, they may have to scrap their plans as nobody wants to sign on the dotted line.

A source told the newspaper: “Bosses are really starting to panic. At this stage of the year, they would’ve made a few major signings for the next series, but everyone is turning them down.

“They came up with this all-women idea to mark 100 years since the female vote, and it wasn’t loved by everyone.

“Now, it’s looking like an even worse call as the kind of serious, politically minded women they’ve been targeting have got absolutely no interest in coming on.”

The producers’ wish list is rumoured to include Loose Women star Janet Street-Porter and author Germaine Greer.

Read more: CBB bosses offer £350,000 to bag their dream housemate

This year’s series – won by Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding – was one of the most controversial to date, with people storming out of the house, impromptu snogging and enough fighting to last a lifetime.

And yet, the show suffered its worst ever viewing figures – with an average audience of just 1.3 million.

And The Sun’s source reckons that the indifference towards the forthcoming series might just be the final nail in the coffin.

They said: “The show is already under threat, with talk that Channel 5 might ditch it, so the last thing they need is a weak line-up come January.”

Read more: Furious Stephanie Davis launches new attack at ex Jeremy McConnell 

Meanwhile, Amelia Lily hasn’t ruled out dating her former CBB housemate Sam Thompson.

The one-time X Factor contestant appeared to be knocked back by Made In Chelsea star Sam in the house, but she told The Sun that it had been “bad timing – we’d both just come out of relationships”.

She revealed that the pair have since met up “a couple of times”, and when asked if they would be hooking up again, she said: “I’ve no idea! He’s a really great guy but we’ve been so busy that it’s just totally mad.”


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor