Big Brother twist sparks flurry of complaints

The Big Brother twist which gives evicted contestants a chance to win the Channel 4 show has sparked more than 1,500 complaints.

Media watchdog Ofcom received 1,196 angry phone calls and emails from viewers, angry about being asked to vote and pay again to keep out contestants they have already evicted.

Channel 4 also had around 500 complaints from Big Brother fans over the decision to give a housemate who has been booted off the show the chance to win the top prize.

Ten previously evicted housemates are facing another public vote to decide which of them has a chance of getting back on the show.

When the phone lines close tomorrow, four of the 10 will move to a house next door to the Big Brother house.

After Friday’s main eviction, the current housemates will choose which of the four returns to live with them and be eligible for the final prize.

A Big Brother spokeswoman defended the latest stunt, saying all profits from the phone vote are being donated to charity.

She said: “Big Brother always receives a large number of calls from viewers wishing to comment on the programme and this year is no exception.

“For the first time in the history of Big Brother the public have been given the power to grant a reprieve for up to four evicted housemates to enter the house next door.

“As soon as the phone lines opened following Friday night’s show, viewers flooded the voting lines to bring an ex-housemate back in what is proving to be one of the most popular votes this series.

“Almost £150,000 (€222,806) has already been raised for charity from this vote alone.”

The latest twist is bound to anger the remaining occupants of the house, who have been criticised as too boring.

It sees the likes of Nikki Grahame, 24, Mikey Dalton, 22, and two-faced Grace Adams-Short, 20, competing for votes to return to the house.

The others are Sam, Lisa, Lea, Jayne, Michael, Spiral and Susie.

During Big Brother 4, Jon Tickle was drafted back in but he was not eligible to win the show.

Last year, Ofcom received 259 complaints over an incident in which Big Brother’s Kinga simulated sex with a wine bottle.