Channel 4 gets Big Brother rap

A brawl between members of the Big Brother house was too violent and not stopped soon enough, according to industry regulator Ofcom.

17:01 18 October 2004

A brawl between members of the Big Brother house was too violent and not stopped soon enough, according to industry regulator Ofcom.

The watchdog has ruled that the fight, which was broadcast live on Channel 4's digital arm E4, "exceeded viewers' expectations".

Ofcom upheld 55 complaints from viewers, ranging from concern over the violence to the effect on housemates.

Although cameras cut to the garden during some of the scenes, viewers were still able to hear what was going on in the house, including threats to kill each other.

The drunken bust-up occurred following the re-introduction to the house of contestants Michelle and Emma after they had spent several days in an adjacent bedsit.

Security guards eventually broke up the fight, but Ofcom criticised Channel 4 for allowing the violence to continue for 20 minutes before intervening.

Some viewers were so distressed by what they saw that they telephoned the police.

Channel 4 defended its decision not to intervene earlier, by saying in a statement that such confrontation and competition is "part of the appeal of a game show like Big Brother".