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Celebrity Big Brother ‘axed’ by Channel 5 due to bad ratings

What does the future hold for the controversial reality show?

Celebrity Big Brother will air for the very last time on Channel 5 this summer, according to reports.

emma willis
Emma Willis hosts Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5

Channel 5 has allegedly made the decision to axe the reality show due to a drop in ratings.

After a seven year run, following a move from Channel 5, bosses have reportedly said they won’t renew the contract with production company Endemol.

Read more: Georgia May Foote addresses Celebrity Big Brother rumours

An insider told the Daily Star Sunday: “After months of discussions it has been decided to axe Celebrity Big Brother. Ratings have dropped for the past few series so it isn’t worth the hefty price tag.”

The reality show airs twice a year, in January and in August – but the latest winter series saw just 1.6million viewers tune in to see drag queen Courtney Act win the crown.

courtney act
Drag queen Courtney Act won the winter series of CBB in January

When contacted by Entertainment Daily, a Channel 5 spokesperson said: “The situation remains unchanged; Big Brother is currently contracted until the end of the year, there’s no update on future series beyond 2018.”

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Meanwhile, Channel 5 boss Ben Frow has made no secret of the fact that he would like to see Celebrity Big Brother go.

“I want to create our own programmes. I don’t want other people’s programmes,” he said of the reality show, which spent nine years with Channel 4.

sarah harding
Sarah Harding won the summer series of CBB last year

Channel 5’s contract with Endemol also includes one more series of Big Brother, which will air this autumn, but it’s thought that the regular series will also be axed.

The reality show, which is presented by Emma Willis, has certainly had it’s fair share of controversial moments in the past and has been the subject of many Ofcom complaints.

Past celebrity winners include Jim Davidson, Loose Women panellist Coleen Nolan and Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding.

Famous faces rumoured to be heading into the Borehamwood bungalow this year include former TOWIE star Dan Osborne, soap star Ryan Thomas and Meghan Markle’s half sister Samantha Markle.

Will you miss Celebrity Big Brother if it gets axed? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor