Big Brother baby probe

The Dutch authorities are investigating plans for a contestant to give birth in the Netherlands version of the reality TV show Big Brother.

16:32 28 August 2005

The Dutch authorities are investigating plans for a contestant to give birth in the Netherlands version of the reality TV show Big Brother.

Talpa, a new TV station launched this month by Big Brothers billionaire creator John de Mol, is due to begin screening the show on Sunday.

The Dutch cable channel plans to show a pregnant housemate giving birth six weeks into the series, it is reported.

A spokeswoman for the countrys social affairs and labour ministry confirmed that officials were examining a request by Big Brother producers for the newborn infant to appear on the programme.

The Dutch have strict laws about the appearance of children on TV, in films, or on stage.

The prospect of a live television birth has attracted criticism from the countrys ruling Christian Democratic party, but Big Brother producers have insisted that the pregnant contestant will get "maximum care and attention" in the reality TV house.

Director of Big Brother's production company, Paul Roemer said: "I am doing something that will bring about emotions and which is innocent and can do no harm."

"I think it will also be good TV," he said.

The expectant mother in question has also defended her right to give birth on live television.

"I think that my child will be proud of it later," said the 27-year-old, identified by the De Telegraaf newspaper only as "Tanja."

Big Brother was first screened in the Netherlands in 1999 and the reality TV format has since been reproduced in countries across the world.