BIG Brother chiefs deliberately made the latest series boring to avoid calls for the show to be scrapped.

But the clamp-down on controversy led to the lowest ratings since the show's launch in 2000.

Critics said this season, featuring twins Sam and Amanda Marchant, lacked drama and had too many dull housemates.

BB chief Tim Hincks admitted playing it safe after the race row around Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty erupted in Celebrity Big Brother in January. Channel Four has axed the celebrity version but the original show will return for a ninth run next year, despite ratings plummeting.

Mr Hincks said: "There was a time in the spring when some would have questioned whether the wheels had come off.

"After the white-knuckle ride of January, we wanted a show without any mishaps.

"This summer was all about making sure all of our systems worked and that we could produce it without people calling for our heads."

The latest series, with Manchester Metropolitan University students Sam and Amanda coming second, raked in an average 3.8 million viewers, down by a million from last year.

The 13-week run was seen as too long and viewers soon switched off as potentially interesting contestants were kicked out. Critics said housemates seemed too media-savvy and tried to stay out of trouble so they could reach the finale and make money out of media deals.

Controversial housemates were axed to keep the peace.

The boring content not only upset fans and critics. Advertising chiefs lost out because fewer viewers saw their ads.

Chris Locke, of media group Starcom, said: "BB used to be a pioneering creator of passionate communities.

"This season was too long to expect viewers to care. The show hasn't had its day but it needs to be shorter and sharper, six weeks at the most."

Mr Hincks defended the show for `bringing in young viewers' and being `talked about' but he admitted a link between the race row and the slump in ratings.

He said: "It's been on the front pages since January and there's no doubt that's had an effect as no show benefits from over-exposure."

What did you think of this year's Big Brother? Have your say.

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