With crushing predictability, new Channel Five owner, Richard Desmond, is in talks to buy Big Brother next year. Some of you, no doubt, will be hoping it goes there to die like Neighbours and Home and Away did.

BB is going to take its final bow on Channel 4 is to end next month with the initially disappointing Ultimate Big Brother which doesn’t star Science, Victor or Pete Burns (although, rumour has it that one of these could well be making an appearance rather soon).

Now talks are in progress between Five and BB producer Endemol UK after Desmond publicly declared his interest in buying the series, despite the fact that this year has proven that the format is a very tired one indeed.

He’ll no doubt watch with interest the reception to last night’s low audience turnout for BB11 winner Josie, and the resultant entry of Nadia Almada, Ulrika Jonsson, Brian Dowling, Nasty Nick and The Probably Already Pregnant Makosi for the show’s exit from Channel 4.

That said, thanks to waning popularity, Desmond might get Big Brother at a clearance price, with some sources suggesting that he’ll get it for as little as £30m. With a fresh pair of eyes working on the show, it could well see a revival of fortune.