BYE BYE; BIG BROTHER: 2000 -2010.

Byline: MARK JEFFERIES 

IT was the trailblazing show which became the blueprint for the reality TV phenomenon.

But after a decade of controversy Big Brother was finally axed following a dramatic fall in viewing figures.

The series which made Jade Goody a household name will air for the last time in 2010 with a celebrity version in January and a final series of BB11 in the summer.

Channel 4 chiefs decided not to renew the contract with makers Endemol after viewing figures, solid for almost a decade, frequently dropped below a million for the current series.

That compares to a peak audience of 10 million who watched Kate Lawler win Big Brother 3 in 2002.

Julian Bellamy, head of Channel 4, described the decision as "the most fundamental creative overhaul" in the channel's 27-year history.

He said: "Big Brother has been our most influential and popular programme over the last decade.

"It's been hugely innovative in its own right, provoked a really astonishing level of public debate and has been an under-appreciated showcase for social diversity and youth culture."

Channel 4 bosses were keen to pay tribute to the show but admitted dropping it was a "big risk" with the show put up for sale by makers Endemol.

Davina McCall, who has presented the show every year since it began in July 2000, said: "I absolutely adore Big Brother. It's been with me for the best 10 years of my life. It's funny, smart, innovative, thought-provoking entertainment at its best. I am proud to have been part of it and lets make next year's the best EVER!"

But Craig Phillips, who won the first series, said it was right the show was ending as the public had become exhausted. Phillips, whose showdown with "Nasty" Nick Bateman on BB1 gripped the nation, said he initially felt saddened. But he said: "I'm pleased in a little way. People are a little exhausted with it. I think it's sort of had its day. They can't change the format and the types of personality have got freakier."

Phillips, 37, also said that if Channel 4 decided to feature past winners and a group of most annoying housemates raising money for charity in its final series, he would like to appear. "That way it can go out with a bang." he said.

The show has been dogged by controversy ever since it was launched with little fanfare, culminating in the racism and bullying row of Celebrity Big Brother in 2007 involving Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty.

PR guru Max Clifford, who represented Jade before she lost her battle against cancer earlier this year, said he did not watch the show and added: "I have always been very anti. Hopefully Big Brother has run its course.

" He said worrying things had emerged from the show and described it as "exhibitionist showing off". He added: "It appealed to the craving for fame but what people didn't realise was that all they are doing is creating opportunities for people to ridicule them."

Last year's winner Rachel Rice said she was "gutted" to hear it was being axed. Rice, who is now a secondary school teacher in Wales, said: "I hope - and I'm sure - they will bring it back."

Makers Endemol are confident a new home can be found for Big Brother with suggestions that Sky One or another digital channel could enter discussions to buy the format to boost ratings. Although it now only attracts around two million viewers, that would represent a big boost for many channels. Channel 4 director of content Kevin Lygo admitted: "BB is still profitable despite its reduced popularity." In a statement Endemol said: "We are enormously proud of our partnership with Channel 4 over the last 10 years. We have every intention of celebrating the historic run on Channel 4 with a great final series of Celebrity Big Brother and the summer series in 2010. As for 2011, stay tuned. Big Brother will get back to you.."

And a source at Endemol said: "Do we think BB has a future? Yes we do."

Channel 4's Mr Bellamy said it will free up pounds 60million-a-year to make more comedy and drama. He said: "Big Brother will leave a huge hole and we've 18 months to transform the schedule." And Mr Lygo said he wanted more "event" drama such as recent mini-series Red Riding and The Devil's Whore, plus Shameless and Skins.

He announced they have already commissioned a four-part serial from director Shane Meadows called We Were Faces. It will also screen a four-part drama from Peter Kosminsky, called Homeland, as well as an adaptation of William Boyd's best-selling novel Any Human Heart.

Voice of the Mirror: Page 8

BB Highs & lows

BB1

NASTY Nick Bateman was chucked out after being exposed by eventual winner Craig Phillips for passing secret notes to housemates.

BB2

THE romance between Paul Clarke and dizzy Helen Adams was BB's first love story, even though she had a boyfriend on the outside.

BB3

THE birth of tragic Jade Goody as a celebrity. The dental nurse from Bermondsey, south London, appeared in the first live launch. She was unpopular at first with fellow housemates who accused her of backstabbing, but her gaffes and comical quotes enchanted viewers. Once stripped naked during a late-night drinking game and yelled: "My kebab's showing!" She turned 21 in the house and won sympathy when PJ rejected her after a fumble under the duvet.

MATES who won stardom outside the house most notably include the late Jade Goody, who appeared on the show twice. Others who went on to capitalise on the career boosting power of BB have been Kate Lawler, who became a TV and radio presenter, and Craig Phillips - the first winner - who is still a DIY telly handyman.

BB4

SCOT Cameron Stout went to South Africa as part of a BB swap. The self-confessed virgin went on to win the series, which was dubbed Bore Brother.

BB5

THE show hit a new low when security had to be brought in during the infamous "Fight Night". Emma Greenwood and Victor Ebuwa had to be dragged apart. Jason Cowan threatened to rip Marco Sabba's head off and Vanessa Nimmo had a furious bust-up with Nadia. Emma was sent to an adjacent bedsit and later removed from the show.

BB7

SUSIE Verrico won a place in the house with a golden ticket. But she was overshadowed by Nikki Grahame's romance with tourette's sufferer Pete Bennett.

THE show peaked as 10million viewers saw Kate Lawler win the third series in 2002 - and it regularly attracted 8million as a total of 165 housemates entered.

But though Channel 4 says 38million - 69 per cent of the popula-tion - have watched BB at least once, some current shows have struggled to draw even 1million.

CELEB BB2

AFTER his thenwife Amanda Holden's affair, Les Dennis went into the house and appeared to have a breakdown, talking to the chickens and struggling to sleep. He and Amanda then split for good.

CELEB BB5

THE infamous race row when thousands complained about the foul racist bullying of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty by Jade Goody, singer Jo O'Meara and model Danielle Lloyd.

BB6

GEORDIE Antony Hutton, the eventual winner, and Makosi Musambasi got intimate in the swimming pool.

Afterwards they both had differing opinions over what happened, with Ant saying they hadn't had sex and Makosi saying in the diary room that she thought she might be pregnant.

BB8

EMILY Parr was kicked out for using the derogatory racial term 'n*****' to Charley Uchea. Channel 4 accepted Emily meant no offence when she said "Are you pushing it out you n*****?" but she was removed for rule breaking.

BIG Brother has been one of UK TV's biggest talking points since launching in July 2000 with very little fanfare. From the expulsion of "Nasty"Nick Bateman in the first series to the racism and bullying rows involving Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty which engulfed Celebrity BB in 2007 , it has generated countless headlines ...

From the left: Craig Phillips 2000, Brian Dowling 2001, Kate Lawler 2002, Cameron Stout 2003, Nadia Almada 2004, Anthony Hutton 2005, Pete Bennett 2006, Brian Belo 2007, and Rachel Rice 2009

Can you name BB winners?

L- R answers at bottom of page*

CAPTION(S):

KATE BB3 10M VIEWERS MARCUS BB10 2M VIEWERS