Big Brother set to return

Big Brother is set to return to the UK

The makers of Big Brother are in talks to come up with a second UK version of the popular series.

Production company Endemol are giving first refusal to Channel 4, which has screened the show for the past nine weeks.

It is understood ITV and Channel 5 are also interested.

A second series is just about to get under way in the Netherlands, where the original Big Brother was first screened a year ago.

'Nasty' Nick leaves the house, but Big Brother's exit will not be permanent

Channel 4 executives, who have six months to make their decision, will monitor it to assess whether the public are still as hooked as they were first time around.

A spokeswoman for the station said: "We haven't made any decisions about a second series yet, but we have got first refusal.

Offers

"The production company are hoping for a second series and they have had offers."

Big Brother has seen Channel 4 get record ratings and one of the show's commissioning editors, Liz Warner, admitted recently that it would be "stupid" not to bring it back.

ITV director of programmes David Liddiment, speaking at last month's Edinburgh Festival, revealed he had turned the series down because he did not think it would make compelling viewing.

"We were wrong," he confessed.

Channel 5 launched the first Big Brother spin off on Tuesday.

Jailbreak monitors 10 'inmates' as they try to break out from a purpose-built prison compound. The first escapee receives £100,000 in cash.

Big Brother reached its conclusion on Friday evening after more than nine weeks.