Channel 5 have announced that the will be bringing Big Brother back.

The popular format has previously aired on Channel 4 for eleven years, before being cancelled in 2010. After an elaborate goodbye, which saw many of the show’s previous winners and stand out housemates return for a final series, many fans thought they had seen the last of the reality TV show, however, today it has been revealed that Big Brother will return in summer 2011.

A press release from Five states:

Channel 5 today announced that the worldwide smash hit series Big Brother, will return to British TV screens later this year.

The deal with Big Brother creators and production company, Endemol UK, will see Channel 5 hold the exclusive rights to the series in a two year deal.

The new reign of Big Brother will commence with an all star celebrity version later this summer followed by a brand new series featuring members of the public. The series will be filmed in its original home of Elstree Film Studios, produced by Endemol UK production arm Initial.

Big Brother is one of the world’s most successful television brands having had 19 series aired across 81 territories in 2010 and its global popularity shows no sign of abating.

Jeff Ford, Channel 5 Director of Programmes comments: “We’re hugely excited to have secured the return of Big Brother for Channel 5 which will form a key part of this year’s schedule. The series has previously captivated a decade of television viewers and we aim to bring, Channel 5’s energy, optimism and vibrancy to the series.”

Tim Hincks, Chief Executive Officer of Endemol UK, adds: “Big Brother has a passionate and loyal fan base in the UK and I’m delighted it has found a new home on Channel 5. Ten years on it’s as potent and cutting edge as ever and it’s still one of the only truly multiplatform entertainment brands.”

Channel 5’s Head of Factual Entertainment, Steve Gowans, will oversee the new series of Big Brother. At Initial the series will be overseen by Creative Director, Nick Samwell-Smith and Managing Director, Laurence Jones.

How excited are you?

View the original post Big Brother 2011: Channel Five confirms two year Endemol deal on Unreality TV

Channel Five have finally put us out of our misery and confirmed that they will be bringing Big brother back.

The show was previously cancelled by Channel 4 – after a successful eleven year run – and what fans thought was the final season ended in September 2010, with former winner Brian Dowling triumphing again in the Ultimate Big Brother competition.

However The Guardian have confirmed that Five will bring the format back and reports that the broadcaster has signed a five year deal with programme maker Endemol.

It is thought that bosses are planning to use the same Elstree based house and relaunch a celebrity version of the reality TV show in August, which will then be followed by a normal three month long series.

Davina McCall – who fronted all other UK Big Brother series – has confirmed that she will not be following it to Five, however Vanessa Feltz who already works for the channel has expressed an interest in the role, as has Brian Dowling. The bookies also think that Dancing On Ice star Jeff Brazier and Big Brother’s Little Brother star Emma Willis are likely choices for the job.

Our guest blogger Sophie Hall thinks the revamp and return is an awful idea and you can read her thoughts on the matter here. We’d love to hear what you think, let us know in the comments section below.

View the original post Channel Five confirms Big Brother 2011 comeback! on Unreality TV

Five are said to be planning to shake up Big Brother when it returns later this year.

Bosses are thought to be on the brink of announcing a five year deal with programme maker Endemol and insiders say the format will launch on the TV channel in August, with a celebrity version of the reality TV show.

Insiders have told The Daily Star that in a bid to spice things up, the stars will be allowed to call their partners on the outside for raunchy phone sessions and provided they complete their required tasks, Big Brother will provide his newest housemates with even more alcohol than before.

A source revealed: “Big Brother is giving fans exactly what they want.

“Its going to be a non-stop blur of sex and cigs and rock ’n’ roll.”

It was previously revealed that Five bosses are planning to use the same BB house as was used by Channel 4 and are hoping to persuade celebrities such as Mohamed Al-Fayed, Peaches Geldof, The Only Way Is Essex star Amy Childs, 21, and Prince Harry’s former girlfriend Chelsy Davy to join the lineup.

Will you be tuning in? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Five to air sexiest Big Brother series yet on Unreality TV

When we traipsed up to Elstree last summer to tour the Big Brother house and meet some of the stars of the reality TV show, we thought it was the last time we would be in the North London village for a long while.

However, we may be back sooner than we thought, because insiders have reported that when Five finally sign their deal with programme makers Endemol, they will be using the same house that Channel 4 built for the series.

Fans will be glad to know that there will still be a diary room and an iconic diary room chair and we can only hope that the tree of temptation makes another appearance this August.

Speaking about the revamped house, an insider told The Daily Star:

“It will still have things like the Diary Room. The show’s format will also stay the same so fans don’t have to worry.

“It will still be the same programme that they’ve all grown to love over the years but with a bigger, brighter and sexier future.

“It’s going to have a bit of a revamp with some new features but all the favourite items will be back including the 24-hour live feed.

“Everyone is really excited about the relaunch and we’re confident it will be unmissable viewing again this summer, like it has been every summer for more than a decade.

“There will be a lot of loyal Big Brother fans out there who will be equally excited by news of its return.”

View the original post Five will use the old Elstree based Big Brother house on Unreality TV

Emma Bunton has been announced as the presenter of Five’s new reality show ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’

The show, which has been described as Glee meets The X Factor, will be the former Spice Girl’s first major presenting role, though she did act as a judge on this year’s series of Dancing On Ice.

Speaking of her new role, Bunton said: “Like millions of others I’m currently obsessed with musical performance groups so I am beyond excited. It’ll be an unmissable, all-singing, all-dancing spectacle.”

Groups and solo singers can continue to apply for the show until May 28 here.

View the original post Emma Bunton to present Don’t Stop Believing for Five on Unreality TV

The surprise success of this year’s Celebrity Big Brother series, has led to other broadcasters expressing an interest in picking up the show.

Last summer, Channel 4 announced that the 2010 series’ of Big Brother would be the last and while they aren’t backtracking on their decision, The Guardian reports that Channel Five is now interested in working with Endemol on the format.

Richard Woolfe, controller of Channel Five, said: “Of course we’d be interested.”

However, Five may only take on the celebrity version of the show. Woolfe added: “The main show probably needs to go away and be rejuvenated.”

Tim Hincks, chief executive officer of the show’s production company Endemol, said: “We’re focused on making a brilliant show for Channel 4 this summer. I’ve no idea what we’ll be doing in a couple of years’ time.”

“Sometimes its more fashionable, and sometimes its less fashionable,” Hincks said. “It doesn’t feel any less relevant now.”

View the original post Celebrity Big Brother may return on Five on Unreality TV

This evening on Live From Studio Five, music mogul and ex-Pop Idol judge, Pete Waterman, held nothing back when commenting on Simon Cowell’s ruthlessness following the shock decision to go to deadlock on Sunday’s X Factor, resulting in Welsh favourite, Lucie Jones being booted off the show.

Waterman said: “I think everybody’s got the show wrong, there is only one star in the show and that’s Simon Cowell. It’s the Simon Cowell show and that’s what people watch, all the rest is irrelevant.”

“I believe that you know, when the producer or director talks to Simon ten minutes before he goes off air, the director says come up with something that we can keep running until Saturday night and he just drops it in.”

On Jedward: “When Simon gets that 18 million audience and he says thank you very much lads, it will be see you later, you’ve served your purpose. Then they’ll go round the clubs, for you know three grand, they’ll make a good living. They’ve got no talent, they can’t sing, they can’t dance.”

Discussing the fellow music mogul, he said: “I spotted in Simon a ruthlessness which I’ve never seen anywhere. Simon is, he has one fixation and that’s being successful and he’ll cut through anything, you know.”

“Well in Pop Idol of course everybody forgets that in the first series of Pop Idol I was the bad guy and got all the fan mail and then suddenly Simon did a quick change when he saw how much fan mail I was getting.”

Live From Studio Five, week nights at 6:30pm on FIVE

View the original post Pete Waterman Blasts Simon Cowell’s X Factor decision on Unreality TV

The Apprentice’ star Kate Walsh might have got further in the boardroom, but her boyfriend (and fellow ‘Apprentice’ star) Phil Taylor insists he’s going to be the boss of the ballroom!

‘Strictly’ pro-dancer Karen Hardy is giving dance fans Phil, 29, and Kate, 27, a treat with some expert dance classes. The pair are tango’ing every day this week on Kate’s show, ‘Live From Studio Five’, but after witnessing his first attempt, Little Miss Showbiz wasn’t impressed!

‘It’s not as bad as it looks, honest! I hate to admit it, but Miss Twinkletoes Walsh is better than me at the moment, I can’t believe it because I’m a mint dancer in nightclubs!’ laughed Phil. ‘I promise by the end of the week it will be a different story!’

And even the skin-tight, sparkly lycra outfits aren’t enough to put him off going on next year’s show. ‘I’m a massive fan of ‘Strictly,’ he told me. ‘I’d love to be a contestant on the show, it’s a total institution!’

Wonder what Sir Alan would make of the sight of Phil in sequins and a spray tan?

Throughout the week the Live From Studio Five audience can follow Kate and her partner Philip Taylor’s progress as they are taught a series of challenging dance routines by Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hardy. On Friday they will be facing their very own panel of judges, performing in front of Ian, Melinda and a special guest judge who will mark their skills.

Watch Phil and Kate in action on ‘Live At Studio Five’ every day this week at 6.25pm on C5.

View the original post Karen Hardy coaches Kate Walsh and Phil Taylor on Unreality TV

Former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp is to front reality TV show ‘Farmer Wants A Wife.’

Redknapp will help farmers find love in the Five TV show and the channel’s controller Richard Woolfe told Broadcast that Louise could follow in the footsteps of Robson Green, in his show ‘Robson Green Extreme Fishing.’

He said: “We’ve said we want to put entertainment back at the heart of the channel, and I also want to get lots of star names.

“Robson Green has been fantastic – men and women love him.”

View the original post Louise Redknapp To Front ‘The Farmer Wants A Wife’ on Unreality TV

David Van Day always was a bad’un but to dump his girlfriend live on the Wright show is low even for him.

In the clip above, the I’m A Celebrity star tells Matthew Wright that his woman has been neglecting him by putting her work before his needs. In fairness I doubt the sanity of any woman who would date him in the first place but surely even the mentally challenged deserve more respect than this.

Props to Carrie Grant who told him off for his actions and showed him to be the fame hungry wannabe that he is!

View the original post David Van Day Dumps His Girlfriend On The Wright Show on Unreality TV