Five, Sky, ITV2 rule out Big Brother bid

Five, Sky1 and ITV2 have ruled out bidding for Big Brother when it becomes available in 2011, reports The Guardian.

The long-running reality series, which was axed by Channel 4 earlier today, is apparently yet to receive interest from any major UK TV channel.

Five's controller Richard Woolfe said that the format does not fit the "new direction" in which he is steering the broadcaster.

"Big Brother has been an amazing phenomenon but, in terms of the new direction Five is taking, we are looking for big original ideas. Big Brother now needs to be off our screens for a few years before anyone can consider reinventing it and bringing it back," he said.

Sky1 has also dismissed a potential pickup, with channel controller Stuart Murphy saying: "We talk to Endemol all the time but aren't discussing Big Brother with them."

ITV has reportedly previously expressed interest in the reality format.