Big Brother to end

Channel four began the series in 2000 and have confirmed the deal was to broadcast 11 series in total which will end next summer.

Big Brother has suffered from falling ratings in recent years, with the current run the least watched.

The latest series has picked up about two million viewers per show, compared with an audience high of eight million in 2002.

So will Big Brother move to another channel?

Some rivals will be doing their sums and opening talks with the show's producer Endemol.

But it's expensive to produce - some estimates put it at £20m a year.

That rules out most digital channels but it could still make financial sense for Sky or Five.

The show also spawned Celebrity Big Brother, with one more series of the spin-off to be screened at the beginning of 2011.

Big Brother may not disappear from British TV screens, with the prospect of producers Endemol securing a deal with another broadcaster. 

Meanwhile, the winner of this year's Big Brother will not receive the original prize money of £100,000, the programme's makers have announced.

The winner of the 10th - and penultimate - series of the show is due to be announced next week.

source: Various