In an amazing turn of events, Channel 4 have decided to "rest" Celebrity Big Brother next year! Read more here. The show was rocked by a racism row between Shilpa Shetty and Jade Goody last time, but the channel claim they're giving the format a break because the TV landscape is becoming too "samey" -- so they have to strive for originality.
I couldn't agree more.
So is this is the first indication even the channel's main summer show could take a break one day? Could it become a bi-annual event soon? It would certainly give Channel 4 plenty of vacants slots to fill with more interesting, scripted drama in the meantime.
Maybe we could have some comedy at 9 pm weeknights? E4 may even get a chance to breathe without the Big Brother millstone around its neck every summer/winter! Maybe they'll start building their own brands, as BBC3 did with Little Britain, Torchwood and Gavin And Stacey?
Or... will it all just mean more repeats and imported US reality TV instead? Whatever happens, I can't help thinking it's a significant move when a big network snubs one of its biggest brands. So well done, Channel 4... but you'd better give us a decent alternative to Celeb Big Brother next year...
