BB FANS

'Big Brother' faces up to the reality of TV ratings - its viewers have switched off By Ciar Byrne, Media Correspondent
Published: 12 August 2005

When one of the female contestants on the latest Big Brother series appeared to perform a sex act with a wine bottle, her actions were seen as a low point in a show that was starting to lose its lustre.

Viewing figures for the reality television show, which finishes tonight, have dropped and commentators have warned that the channel is in danger of relying too heavily on a tired format.

The sixth series has plumbed new depths, the 20-year-old Kinga Karolczak's actions following other scenes such as sexual fumblings in the hot tub between two contestants and plenty of groping between others. All have been seen as increasingly desperate measures to gain the viewers' attention.

Yesterday the show's makers, Endemol, were on the defensive again after claims that another female contestant, the self-confident Zimbabwean nurse Makosi Musambasi, was a jobbing actress. They denied the story.

Channel 4 has committed itself to at least two more series of Big Brother after its current contract with Endemol runs out at the end of 2005, with the option for a further two years after that.

The current series has averaged an audience of 4.4 million, a 22 per cent share of viewers.

Full Article :HERE

Well, last nights show was C4's highest figures of the year, so it cant be all bad.

Yup, 7.8 million I believe, which they're rather pleased with.

overall, throughout the series, i think you're find, that viewing figures are down.

Big Brother final ends on a high
mediaweek
8.30am:

The dramatic finale to Channel 4’s latest series of Big Brother was watched by an average of 6.7 million viewers on Friday, but the rating was only 100,000 more than an eviction night earlier in the series.

The grand final of the show, which saw 1970s dancer Anthony Hutton scoop the reduced £50,000 prize after beating ex-BBC engineer Eugene Sully, peaked with 7.8 million viewers and a massive 43.4% share of the total television audience.

The earlier eviction show from 8.30pm of the now infamous housemate, Kinga Karolczak, attracted an average of 6.4 million viewers and a 29.7%.

Makosi Musambasi clinched third place in the now traditional text vote by viewers.

The sixth series of the reality TV show has been mired in controversy once again following the antics of housemates during its latest run.

“We are thrilled that Big Brother has once again been such a fantastic success,” said Angela Jain, Channel 4 commissioning editor.

“It is a show that consistently reinvents itself. We look forward to seeing it back on our screens next summer.”

The latest series has been the worst performer out of the six so far, just behind the fourth outing of the in 2003, which clinched an average of 6.9 million viewers to the grand finale.

Big Brother 1, aired in the summer of 2000, managed to bring in a massive average of 9.5 million viewers and almost half the total audience as Liverpudlian Craig paved the way for the now omnipresent reality TV format.

By Kevin May