Rylan Clark-Neal will "fight" to make sure ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ stays on air.
The 29-year-old former ‘CBB’ winner presents spin-off show ‘Big Brother’s Bit on the Side’ and amidst rumours the reality series could be axed by Channel 5, Rylan insists he’ll do whatever it takes to get the ratings up and keep it going.
When asked if he finds it frustrating that ITV2 dating show ‘Love Island’ gets more than double CBB’s ratings, Rylan said: "Good luck to them. What is to stop ‘CBB’ from getting that? I will fight tooth and nail – and I’ve got a lot of tooth – to get that. And it can do it."
Before starring in the 2013 series, Rylan was always a huge fan of the reality show – which began life on Channel 4 – and although he hopes it will go on and on he admits he is "worried" for its future.
Speaking to The Sun’s TV Mag, Rylan added: "I think it would be crazy if Channel 5 got rid of ‘Big Brother’. Rather than lose the original reality show, why not make the original the best again? There is no secret that this is the end of Channel 5’s three-year deal [with makers Endemol], but hopefully they’ll still want it. It has been a worry for me, not only because it’s my job, but because I love the show. It’s a massive part of my life and I know it can be even better with the right TLC. I’d do everything in my power to make sure ‘CBB’ and the civilian ‘BB’ are still on the air. I will fight to the death to make sure it never goes away. If I had the money and owned the channel, I would buy the programme and film it in my garden."
Among the stars believed to be entering the house next week are former Liverpool and Arsenal footballer Jermaine Pennant, psychic Sally Morgan, last year’s ‘Love Island’ contestant Gabby Allen,
Charlotte Dawson – the daughter of late comedian Les Dawson – and former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ pro dancer Brendan Cole.