Channel 4 have confirmed that they have axed Big Brother, with the eleventh series set to be the last on the channel.
The broadcaster announced that it will not renew its rights deal with producers Endemol, which runs out at the end of next year, at its Autumn programming launch earlier today.
In addition to a final summer series, one more Celebrity series - the seventh - will air on the channel in January.
Channel 4’s Director of Television Kevin Lygo said that the decision not to recommission the show was dictated “more by creative considerations than commercial ones”.
He said: “Big Brother is still profitable for Channel 4 despite its reduced popularity and there could have been the option to renew it on more favourable terms.
“[Channel 4's] remit to push the boundaries has been an essential part of the weird chemistry behind Big Brother’s success, but it’s now what is telling us that the programme has reached a natural end point on Channel 4 and it’s time to move on.”
Julian Bellamy, head of Channel 4, said: “Big Brother has been our most influential and popular programmes over the last decade. It’s been hugely innovative in its own right, has provoked a really astonishing level of public debate and has been an underappreciated showcase for social diversity and youth culture.
“Its success has also helped support an extraordinary range of creativity across Channel 4; inevitably we’re both excited and ever-so-slightly terrified by the prospect of getting by without it.
“We’re very grateful to everyone at Endemol who has worked so hard to keep the show fresh and engaging for so long and to the viewers who have remained loyal to the programme and who will be disappointed by our decision.
“The final series will be an opportunity to give Big Brother an appropriate send-off and celebrate one of the most extraordinary programmes not just in the history of Channel 4 but of TV in general.”
Phil Edgar-Jones, Big Brother’s creative director, added: “On behalf of the whole Big Brother team who work so hard I would like to say a big thank you to all the show’s fans and housemates for helping us ensure it remains the biggest show on Channel 4 even after all these years.
“Big thanks also to Channel 4 for all their support in what continues to be a great partnership.
“We’ll be back next year and it’s going to be a blast… and after that, well, Big Brother will get back to you, you can count on it.”
BB has been on air since 2000, with a total of eighteen series airing to date, including the Celebrity, Celebrity Hijack, Teen and Panto spin-offs.
However, viewing figures for the show have been steadily declining since 2007. The current run, which draws to a close next Friday, has attracted an average of 2.2million viewers so far, a 30% year-on-year drop.
Endemol is expected to offer the show to other broadcasters, with Five and Sky1 thought to be potential homes.
This evening Davina has shared her thoughts on the news, posting on her twitter page that she is “feeling a bit blue.:(”, adding that “next year is going to be mad! Nothing to lose! Ha Ha!!!”
Stick with bbspy for the latest updates on this story.
