The one nation to have embraced the reality TV series Big Brother more than any other has pulled a pin on the relationship, with the UK finally axing the controversial show.

After debuting in 2000, the UK version has been the longest running series in the franchise and has produced some of Britain’s most famous celebrities.

But while the show has declined in ratings over the years, Kevin Lygo, Director of Television and Content at Channel 4, said that the axing of the show had nothing to do with viewing popularity.

“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. That’s what a purely commercial broadcaster would have done, but Channel 4 has a public remit to champion new forms of creativity,” Lygo said.

“That 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.”

With Channel Ten dumping the Australian version of the show in 2008, question marks are now circling about the future of the franchise.

At its peak, Big Brother screened in almost 70 countries around the world, however, now that figure is less than half with viewers getting bored with the format and its fame seeking contestants.

Regardless Britain is farewelling one of the most remembered television series in its history, and Julian Bellamy, Head of Channel 4, paid tribute to this fact.

“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,” he said.

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