Saturday, 5 January 2008

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Dermot O’Leary slams Big Brother

TV presenter reckons change to format is mistake

Dermot O'Leary has slammed Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack – despite presenting the new spin-off show.

The TV presenter, 34, reckons the decision to put the Celebrity Big Brother on hold in 2008 was a mistake.

Channel 4 bosses decided not to air CBB after the race row involving Shilpa Shetty and Jade Goody, 26, caused a storm last year.

But Dermot insists BB didn’t need to say sorry.

‘I still think it's a good show and I don't think anyone should apologise for what happened last year,’ he tells BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat.

‘It conjured up debate and asked serious questions.’

Celebrity Hijack is set to be Dermot’s last Big Brother show. He quit this summer to concentrate on presenting The X Factor.

This series sees celebrities – including Little Britain's Matt Lucas, Jimmy Carr, Joan Rivers, Brian Sewell and Ian Wright - setting tasks as 12 ‘talented’ contestants compete for a £50,000 prize.

See our exclusive photo gallery of the Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack housemates>>

Big Brother Hijack contestants revealed>>