Updated: Channel 5 boss Richard Desmond's own newspaper The Express has reported that Charlie Sheen, Mohammed Al-Fayed, Amy Childs (star of The Only Way Is Essex) and Prince Harry's on again/off again girlfriend Chelsy Davy top his wishlist for the celebrity version of the show. After being axed in the U.K. after a turbulent ten years by Channel 4, the increasingly irrelevant Channel 5 have announced that they will revive reality show Big Brother this summer, beginning with a new 'celebrity' version. Though the so-called famous faces who were actually nobodies, little more than F-grade celebrities clinging on to their minute crumb of fame in a last gasp desperate plea for recognition and publicity on national tv, will probably be a grade or two less on Channel 5. Rumours suggest the three week celebrity version will run in August, with a longer series featuring members of the public to see us through the autumn and winter. The deal with Endemol for Big Brother UK is for two year exclusive rights and ends a $200 million, year long negotiation for Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond, who made the Big Brother franchise his number one priority to revive a fledgling station. Channel 5 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."
Note: 'Key part of the year's schedule' should translate as 'it will take over your screens, everyday". Those hoping that Big Brother UK icon Davina McCall would return to host are grasping at straws, as she's openly said her time is over. She said at the National Television Awards in January;
"I think Big Brother has got legs and any channel that picks it up would be a very lucky channel but I don't think I'll go back to it. I think I've said goodbye."
If I were to made a prediction, I imagine that Brian Dowling, winner of the "Ultimate Big Brother' and former presenter of SMTV Live will be asked to host and I can't imagine he would turn it down.