Channel 4 are planning to launch a new social media-inspired version of ‘Big Brother’.
Bosses at the broadcaster are keen to switch things up this year by creating a show that will appeal to millennials as a group of civilians will be chucked into a house and told they can only communicate with one another via the internet.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Channel 4 pioneered the ultimate TV social experiment in the UK with ‘Big Brother’.
"Now they’re hoping to recreate the magic with a millennial spin on it. The show will explore how people paint a picture of themselves online that may not be truthful.
"Some may be tempted to turn up the charm and filter their looks and personalities in extreme ways to avoid the axe. It will be fascinating to test how genuine online can be."
Participants won’t be allowed to meet one another and must build a perspective on each other based on their online presence, before voting someone out.
The new format comes just months after Channel 5 – who nabbed ‘Big Brother’ and its celebrity version from Channel 4 in 2011 – hinted they were thinking of axing the show.
Channel Five boss Ben Frow said: "I would be much happier with a channel that didn’t have Big Brother on it. I love the ratings but I want to create our own programmes."
‘Big Brother’ has kick-started the careers of unknown stars such as the late Jade Goody, Alison Hammond and Brian Dowling – turning them into household names since it started on Channel Four before switching to Channel Five in 2011.
But Ben believes there must be something wrong with the format as young people would be rushing to sign up – like they have done with ITV’s ‘Love Island’.
He said: "I’ve got ‘Big Brother’ which has declined, declined, declined."
Channel 4 to launch social media-inspired show
