Reality TV turns to rehab

Student Ben Williams won the first Australian Big Brother

TV producers in Australia have approached a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic to make a Big Brother-style reality show about its patients.

Odyssey House Victoria in Melbourne said on Tuesday it had received three separate offers to make such a programme.

But clinic boss David Crosbie said all had been rejected because of the need to protect the privacy of residents.

The hit Big Brother format involves 24-hour surveillance of a specially selected group of strangers.

It seems people have really lost the plot with reality TV

David Crosbie, Odyssey House director

Each week, one person is voted out by the viewing public. The last one in wins a big cash prize.

Crosbie described his reaction to the idea of making such a show in a drug clinic.

"At first I thought it was a joke, but when the second and third request came, I was just amazed,'' he said.

He added: "It seems people have really lost the plot with reality TV."

Crosbie did not disclose details of the proposed programmes.

But he did say the approaches had been made over the last two months by independent companies.

Hit

Big Brother originated in Holland but has since been sold to countries across Europe and to the US.

It has had varying degrees of success, depending on the territory.

Helen could be parted from Paul on Friday

In the US, viewers seem to prefer the slick reality show Survivor, set on a desert island.

But in the UK and Australia, Big Brother has scored a major hit.

The UK is now heading towards the climax of its second series on Channel 4.

In Australia, its first Big Brother series had its grand finale on Monday.

Millions of people tuned in to watch part-time student Ben Williams, 21, win $127,000 (£46,000).

Events in the UK Big Brother household, in Bow, east London, are heating up with the last public eviction vote on Friday.

Contestants Helen and Paul are up for nomination, which will put an end to their flirtatious antics which have created added interest in the show.

By the end of the week, however, they will have been separated.

Whoever survives the vote will remain in the house with Dean, Brian and Elizabeth until the final winner of the series is chosen next week.