It has caused a constitutional crisis in Malawi, been closed in Bahrain and generally outraged sensibilities around the globe, but after more than a decade of provocation, Big Brother was evicted from its most lucrative franchise on Wednesday.

Channel 4 announced that it would not renew its contract, which expires after the summer 2010 series, to broadcast the reality programme that allowed the many to scrutinise the egos and morals of the chosen few.