One last hurrah as the Big Brother circus comes to town again!

For the last time 14 fame-hungry unknowns walked into the Big Brother house last night and in true BB style they were a mix of the oddest people you are ever likely to meet.

In a twist (not the last twist of the series we can assume) all 81 hopefuls were left standing outside the house, staring at their route into 15 minutes of fame.

The live open air auditions were an attempt for something different but the audience were merely left with watching the surprise on the wannabes faces (and the jealousy on those around them) rather than a completely new process of picking housemates.

One by one Big Brother called out the names of the lucky (some would say unlucky) 13 who were to enter the circus for the summer. These included bubbly country girl Josie who I was happy to see enter the house just so the ear piercing screams would stop and trainee doctor Sunshine (who is the first and only person I know to enter the house, and by know I mean sat in the same university class as me - my small and sad claim to fame this summer).

They were joined by Beyonce lookalike Rachael and the British version of a celebrity lookalike Corin, who looks like Jordan.

The men include New Age monk David, Australian John James and former Soldier Steve who lost his legs and an eye in a bomb blast. They were joined by Ben, the token posh guy who got such a bad reaction from the crowd outside the house that I am surprised he didn't run away screaming.

With 13 inside the house (a house where if the people inside it don't give you a headache, the decor sure will) an over-excited Davina announced that one of the 68 who was deemed not crazy, weird or attractive enough to be chosen to enter automatically would get the luck of being picked by a lottery draw.

That honour fell to Mario, who got to celebrate by putting on a unflattering mole outfit and being told to sabotage the housemates' tasks without being found out. How long will that last? Not long I suspect.

In an effort to prolong the inevitable it was announced that this series of Big Brother will be followed by Ultimate Big Brother, a 2-week show where the best housemates from former series re-enter the house to compete against this series' winner.

Big Brother's final twist could serve as a trip down memory lane for the hardcore fans but it is more likely a precautionary measure from the producers to make sure that the Big Brother brand ends on a high, whatever happens over the next 13 weeks.

Picture from The Guardian

Underdog Alex Reid wins CBB

The British public always love the underdog, the hero or heroine that wins against the odds and last night Alex Reid, the underdog in the Celebrity Big Brother (CBB) house stormed to victory.

In front of the cameras and millions watching at home, waiting for any moment of weakness or wrong-doing, the CBB house seems like an unlikely venue for the underdog, for redemption. But Alex Reid, famous only for dating the infamous Katie Price (aka Jordan) left the house last night the winner, only weeks after being roundly booed upon his arrival.

But Alex's surprising victory is not the only example of how the BB house can apparently turn-around public opinion in a matter of weeks. In 2009 Ulrika Jonsson, famed for her affair with Sven- Eriksson and the different fathers of her four children, claimed victory on CBB after another surprising change of heart from the British public.

Alex Reid beat Stephanie Beacham, Jonas Altberg, Vinnie Jones and Jordan's ex Dane Bowers to the last ever CBB crown last night.

Picture from BBC

Big Brother bows out

After glamour model model Sophie was crowned winner of Big Brother 10 viewers and TV critics will have a chance to reflect on the penultimate BB series.

It came as little surprise when Channel 4 announced back in August that Big Brother was to be axed after next year's, the eleventh series. After falling ratings throughout this series and a notable decrease in media interest the fan base seems to have dwindled beyond repair. The tired format now seems repetitive, with the producers turning to stranger characters to try and interest viewers. For example this year has included a mix of characters; including Russian former boxer Angel and Siavash, who last night left the house in an odd Borat-esque outfit.

This year's series had the familiar cat fights and romances, tasks and challenges but the show has moved far away from the original structure, where the social experiment saw ordinary members of the public were placed in the house and forced to simply live together. The show simply has nowhere else to go after it has had to continually change and become more extravagant in an effort to keep viewers interested.

It remains to be seen what producers will do next year as the show bows out but no one can doubt the success of the television phenomen over the last 10 years. It may not be popular with everyone but Big Brother has revolutionised the reality television genre and the show will be remembered long after many of its contestants and winners fall back into obscurity.

Picture from Telegraph.