FEATURES
Channel 5′s Director of Programmes Jeff Ford talks about the broadcaster’s second Celebrity series of its new biggest show, Big Brother.
You’re welcoming Celebrity Big Brother back to the channel for a second series. Why do you think it is still so relevant?
The figures and anticipation around the show speak for themselves. For us, Big Brother is the original reality show that defined the genre and its popularity proves that it is still so relevant. I think that the show has found its spiritual home on Channel 5.
What is your favourite thing about Big Brother?
It’s got to be the lineup. The show is all about the personalities and how they interact. It’s just amazing to see celebrities from different areas of entertainment, news or sport, trying to live together side by side with each other …it can be so much fun and at times quite bizarre! For Big Brother, I love to see the 12 housemates getting to know each other for the first time and then becoming a close group ..or not!
Is there anything about the Celebrity series that you particularly enjoy?
I enjoy the excitement that surrounds the show with the Celebrity series. Viewers are always so eager to see how their favourite celebs live and it’s always fun to see famous faces put through their paces in the tasks. Brian Dowling has really established himself as the new, fresh face of Big Brother, so I’m also looking forward to seeing him return to our screens.
Can you tell us anything exciting about the new Celebrity series?
Well, the house and set have been completely refurbished and redesigned ahead of our new celebrity housemates’ entrance. Let’s just say there will be a ski-chalet feel, so hopefully the housemates enjoy après ski! The new decor is another way that we are continually keeping the show fresh and exciting. It’s looking great this year, I’d love to live in there (albeit for a week or so…).
What is the channel looking to do around the new Celebrity Big Brother series?
Big Brother has brought in new viewers to the channel and it’s given us scope to introduce new and exciting shows around it. We have new formats and documentaries reflecting real lives plus a new entertainment show, Celebrity Wedding Planner, which will keep our audience tuned in all Friday evening.
What are your predictions for the channel for 2012?
I want Channel 5 to keep connecting with UK audiences, reflecting who we are and what we like as a nation…but always with fun and passion through our new shows and established favourites.
What’s your new year’s resolution for the channel?
To build on the great work of 2011 and continue to offer an interesting and exciting schedule.
Celebrity Big Brother is on Channel 5 daily until the live final on 27th January. ‘Live From The House’, an hour of live streaming airs immediately after each eviction on 5*
just give us fans the 24/7 live feed back
I’m with Jason give us 24/7 Live Feed back
this is the arragant man who claimed viewers have moved on u can clearly see we the viewers have not moved on little clips from the house is not enough
@jason
@matt
I agree!
Jeff hasnt got a clue what hes talking about and he should listen to the BB fans!
Big Brother + Live Feed = Happy Big Brother Fans
and there ratings for Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother will go up more 
This is clearly a C5 PR generated interview. Unfortunately Ford doesn’t give two hoots about the integrity of the BB format and is only interested in bringing in and holding onto new viewers with BB related spin-offs resulting from a watered-down version of the show.
Yes, the BB format has to evolve but to claim, as he did last year, that viewers have moved on from the Live Feed is clearly a false statement. There is a balance between Ford and Desmond getting what they want out of BB and pleasing the loyal viewers of the C4 era and it’s as easy a pressing the “online” button for the BB Live Stream.
All facilities to broadcast live from the BB House are in place at Elstree and have been since 2002. The days of an interactive red button Live Feed may be gone but the producers should have ensured that fans were at least given the option to pay to view the House 24/7 online if we want to. The measly offerings of a couple of hours of Live Feed a week, a difficult to navigate Facebook App and website and a poorly updated Twitter stream are taking a cutting edge show back to the dark ages.
Channel 5 will never be the spiritual home of BB, the spiritual home of any show is a channel which strives to develop it’s concept and put’s the engagement of it’s viewers first. Sadly the people behind BB now seem more interested in what will come after the show rather than the period within which the HMs will be living inside the BB compound.
*End of rant*
Oh look it’s that tosser who thinks he knows what Big Brother viewers want, well he doesn’t – GIVE US OUR LIVE FEED.
And the ‘spiritual’ home of Big Brother, was Channel 4 back in the golden days of 2004-2006 not this tacky shit.