Big Brother returns

Hit reality show will be back this summer...

09:03 06 April 2011

It has been confirmed that Big Brother is to return to our screens this summer on Channel 5.

The channel announced that it has signed a deal with programme makers, Endemol to air the reality show later in the year.

The deal will last two years and a celebrity edition is expected to begin this August, with a non-celebrity version to follow in September.

Channel 5's director of programmes Jeff Ford said:

"We're hugely excited to have secured the return of Big Brother for Channel 5 which will form a key part of this year's schedule.

"The series has previously captivated a decade of television viewers and we aim to bring Channel 5's energy, optimism and vibrancy to the series."

The Daily Star on Sunday suggested that top of Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond's wanted-list were troubled US star Charlie Sheen, Mohammed al-Fayed and The Only Way is Essex's Amy Childs.

The hit show, which launched the careers of Jade Goody, Brian Dowling and Kate Lawler, was dropped by Channel 4 last year after 10 years on the air.

Former Big Brother presenter Davina McCall previously ruled herself out of ever hosting the show again, however Dowling, Vanessa Feltz, Jeff Brazier and Emma Willis are the bookies early favourites to land the job.