Celebrity Big Brother 2008 axed in the UK

[Darling SilverDodger]

Celebrity Big Brother 2008 axed
The 2008 series of Celebrity Big Brother is being axed in the wake of the race row which engulfed the show's last run, Channel 4 has confirmed.
A decision about a return for the reality show in 2009 is expected to be made next year.

The move is also part of a shake-up of the broadcaster's evening schedule which will cull some factual shows.

The celebrity version of the show has run for five series and lasts for three weeks at the beginning of the year.

'Breathing space'

Channel 4 head of programmes Julian Bellamy said: "After the race row, it was constantly in the press and part of the national conversation at a time when traditionally it was off our screens - it feels like it has never been away this year."

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV festival, Mr Bellamy added that resting the show "will benefit the format in the longer term as it will have a bit of breathing space".


He denied that last year's race row, which centered on Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty, had deterred celebrities from taking part in the next series.

But he admitted there was a "general issue of supply and demand" which was making it harder to book celebrities.

The absence of Celebrity Big Brother will leave Channel 4 with 29 hours of programming to fill in January alone.

'Creative renewal'

The broadcaster's decision to shake up its programming has left Grand Designs as the only regular series in the 2100 slot that will be re-commissioned next year.

Programmes including You Are What You Eat and Brat Camp will draw to a close in what it called a "creative renewal".

Mr Bellamy said: "If we wanted to take the easy path we'd re-commission all of these shows and we'd probably do two series of Celebrity Big Brother if ratings were all we were after. These are the decisions of a public service broadcaster in search of the new and the exciting."

New commissions for 2008 include The Family, an observational documentary series looking at 21st Century family life, and Channel 4's Big Art project, which will develop and fund new public art projects around the UK.

Spending on US shows will be reduced by around £10m to create funding for new programmes.