Contestants air their BB opinions
A Shropshire contestant was there at the start - and two more were there when it was announced the end was nigh. A Shropshire contestant was there at the start - and two more were there when it was announced the end had finally come. Yesterday Channel 4 declared the next series of Big Brother would be the last after falling ratings. Shropshire has had strong links to the show with builder Craig Phillips, from Newport, winning the first series of the show - while Freddie Fisher, from Market Drayton, and Kris Donnelly, from Shrewsbury, took part in the current series. Both were given the boot. Freddie today said it was a "shame" the show had been axed. He said it was "anticipated but disappointing nevertheless". "We spoke about the possibility while we were on the show, whether or not they would carry out doing that," he said. "The viewing figures have declined year on year. While it might have once been this massive cash cow it is not quite as much now. "It was a really good experience. It's a feature of the summer that we won't have any more." Craig said he was pleased Channel 4 had decided to axe the series. Read more in the Shropshire Star
Yesterday Channel 4 declared the next series of Big Brother would be the last after falling ratings.
Shropshire has had strong links to the show with builder Craig Phillips, from Newport, winning the first series of the show - while Freddie Fisher, from Market Drayton, and Kris Donnelly, from Shrewsbury, took part in the current series. Both were given the boot.
Freddie today said it was a "shame" the show had been axed. He said it was "anticipated but disappointing nevertheless".
"We spoke about the possibility while we were on the show, whether or not they would carry out doing that," he said.
"The viewing figures have declined year on year. While it might have once been this massive cash cow it is not quite as much now.
"It was a really good experience. It's a feature of the summer that we won't have any more."
Craig said he was pleased Channel 4 had decided to axe the series.
He re-entered the house during the current run and challenged Freddie to an assault course challenge.
He said: "I was a little bit sad when I first heard the news, but after 20 minutes it began to sink in and I am now really happy they have done it.
"The first few series were really good and watchable, but with the format there is very little you can change.
"You can only change the characters going in there, which they have even more each year and now the public are sick of it.
"It has had its day and I think there is only one thing they can do for the last series next year to keep people watching - and that is bring the best people back."
Craig, who gave his £70,000 winnings to Shropshire's Jo Harris, who was born with Down's Syndrome and who died in April 2008, said he would only go back into the house if it was in aid of a charity set up in her memory.
"I would be happy to go back - not for a whole 12 or 15 weeks or whatever, but I would go in for a month if it was to raise money for a charity set up in Jo's memory."
He added: "It is the only way to do next year's final series now - get the best people - the winners and some of the really annoying ones in there and mix things up a bit."
