LONDON - "Big Brother" is back on Britain's TV screens for a ninth year and producers hope an eccentric group of housemates and a tough reward-and-punishment regime will help reverse the reality show's declining ratings.
The 16 participants include a 33-year-old Scottish comedian, who is the show's first blind contestant, a 26-year-old albino songwriter, who says he was deported from the U.S. to his British homeland after getting involved with gangs, and a couple who must keep their relationship a secret from the others.
"Big Brother" made its British debut in 2000 and was an immediate hit. The show forces a group of strangers to live in a house for several weeks under the constant gaze of television cameras. The contestants are set a series of character-testing tasks, and are voted off the show one by one by viewers. The winner receives 100,000 pounds (about $200,000).
Versions of the program are produced around the world but ratings in Britain have been declining and the show has been hit by accusations of poor taste and controversy over racist comments by contestants.
Producers say they will not tolerate bullying or abusive language.
They have adopted "zero tolerance" as a theme for this year's show. Innovations include a house jail for contestants who break the rules and a garden where they will grow their own vegetables.
A media monitoring group said Friday that Thursday night's premier drew 5.4 million viewers, down from 6.1 million last year and seven million in 2006.
The show's commissioning editor, Angela Jain, said producers were pleased the show had drawn a quarter of viewers in its time slot. Now they will be hoping viewers stay with the show over its 13-week run.
"We remain as committed as ever to making this year's series the most entertaining yet," she said.
In The Times newspaper, reviewer Tim Teeman thought there was life left in the now-familiar format.
"The circus is back in town," he wrote. "It knows it probably isn't welcome by many, but it will set up its gaudy rides and stalls regardless, knowing that sooner or later we'll be guzzling candyfloss and screaming our heads off on the waltzers."
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