Hmphhh !!!!

I wouldn't get out of bed for that. Come to think of it, some of the contestants don't get out of bed so early.

Seriously though, if you consider that only one out of twelve wins the prize, £70,000 isn't a lot for 10 weeks being scrutinised by the nation.

They could give each contestant money based on the vote they received when they were voted out. After all, C4 are getting hundreds of thousands out of the voting ritual.

Yeah, I've always been of the view that £70K is much too low a prize considering what an ordeal, for want of a better word, to stay in the Big Brother house for more than two months, especially as this year's contest is a week or two longer.

The 'pounds per votes' prize system that you speak of was used on an ITV talent show called This Is My Moment, and the prizes were all close on £100,000 if I remember rightly.

So, for example (I may have these figures completely wrong):
- Each vote costs 10p
- A comfortable prize margin would be about 4p per vote
- Brian got 4.2m votes last year
- Under the above, he would have won about £168,000

Seems like a fair deal to me, when you consider the income C4 makes from the phone votes, other voting on the interactive system, licencing and the sponsorship deal with O2.

I'm sure that Brian has made far more than £ 70K after winning last year and becoming Britain's most unlikely kiddies Tv presenter.

Evictees prseumably also make a few grand from newspaper deals on eviction.

look at survivor, they get £1m AND 10(?) weeks on an island paradise

seriously though, i think they keep the prize money lower cause they want people in it for the "experience" rather than the money

Survivor is only 5 weeks.

end of!

They get 70,000 for winning. But they get paid a very good rate for being in the house too. They get paid a set amount a week for being in there, otherwise they would be skint when they come out not working and all. I expect survivor do this too.

I thought the amount that they got paid per week in the house wasn't very much at all - more like what they would be getting if they were on SSP.

Yer, I thought the prize money should have gone up, even if it just took inflation into account.

Meanwhile, I disagree. The whole point of big brother is that people go in with the idea that they are going to become super rich and mega famous. It's less of a competition and more of a yearly experiment the way it is - makes it less for the money.

And then who the hell pays the satff to work 12 hour shifts watching the video screens and the camera men and for that loveley new house and hi tech equipment and web and interactive service hosting.
I dont think people do that out of the kindness of there hearts!

Indeed, but I would imagine that the overall revenue generated by Big Brother would be enough to cover all costs.

You would have to be a pretty crap producer not to make any money out of Big Brother!
I do think the £70k should have been 'upped' for round 3, but maybe that would have peed off the last two winners.
Rock on Friday!

Is it definetly confirmed it will be 70k this year?

Maybe as a surprise it'll be more... you'd think they would at least do a round figure like 100k.

They should all be paying to go in the house. After all they are getting their food and lodging free for a few weeks. They get the opportunity for fame and the chance to make a career for themselves in the media when they get out. All that must be worth at least £1000 each.