Head of Channel 4, Julian Bellamy has defended the decision to axe Big Brother.
Next year's series will be the last.
Mr Bellamy told the BBC's arts correspondent David Sillito that the programme was still a "commercially effective" programme but said it was time for Channel 4 to focus on creating new shows and concepts.
He admitted the decline in the show's ratings was a factor but said the channel wanted to increase its budgets for drama and provide more comedy and entertainment.
Describing it as "television Marmite" with fans and detractors alike, he said the show had been the "voice of a generation".
One-Minute World News
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