70k for BB silence

A broadcaster has offered Big Brother contestants 70,000 if they can refrain from annoying the public - by refusing to speak a word.

15:19 25 May 2005

A broadcaster has offered Big Brother contestants 70,000 if they can refrain from annoying the public - by refusing to speak a word.

As BB six looms, many people will be gearing themselves up for a deluge of inane comments from the latest batch of not-so-talented housemates.

So UKTV has come up with what it classes a "public spirited" attempt to "diminish the amount of mindless drivel generated by the deluge of reality TV shows".

"Any contestant who manages to keep it zipped will be doing Britain's TV viewers a huge favour," a spokesman for the channel said.

Classic comments from within the BB house include Jade Goody's now infamous "Where's East Angular? I thought that was abroad".

Also appearing in the dimwit hall of fame is Helen Adams' "I love blinking, I do", while who could forget Peter Andre's glorious "insania" from I'm A Celebrity?

If more than one contestant can keep quiet for the whole 11-week show, which promises to be even more claustrophobic this year after the house was fitted with transparent walls, then the 70,000 prize will be shared between them.