Home News TV Listings Movies Music Video Photos Radio Extra Book Club RTÉ Guide

Media News

Phone watchdog to probe Big Brother

The premium rate phone watchdog in the UK, ICSTIS, has launched an official investigation into 'Big Brother' voting, after receiving 2,700 complaints from members of the public.
1 of 1 Nikki - One of the evicted housemates who made a comeback
Nikki - One of the evicted housemates who made a comeback

Recent complaints mostly stemmed from the decision to allow four ex-housemates, who had been evicted by the public, to make a comeback on the show.

ICSTIS said: "The majority of the complainants believe that they have been misled as they were under the impression that they had voted to evict the contestants permanently."

Nikki, Grace, Mikey and Lea were sent into the house next door earlier this week but one of them will also be chosen to enter the main house tonight, meaning that the ex-housemate who is selected will be eligible to win the £100,000 prize.

ICSTIS said it would be examining evidence from complainants and service providers Minick, which runs the mobile text facility, and ITouch, which offers the telephone voting.

According to reports, the investigation is expected to take less than 12 weeks.

add your own comment
User contributions and/or comments do not, unless specifically stated, represent the views of RTÉ.ie or RTÉ.
Click here for Terms of use

Must Watch TV

  • - The Late Late Show

    9.35pm RTE One

    You can be guaranteed that Ryan Tubridy will host a stellar line-up of high-profile guests, current social issues will get an airing and he'll introduce the very best in all-round entertainment, plus a fabulous prize for someone at home! What more could you ask for from your Friday night viewing?

  • - Who Knows Ireland Best?

    8.30pm RTE One

    Derek Mooney hosts as two teams compete to see who is most in touch and who has their finger on the pulse. Points are awarded for being in agreement with the majority of a survey of 1,000 people across the country. This week, three agricultural consultants (Tom Dawson, Tipperary; Julie Roche, Cork; and Mike Brady, Cork) go head-to-head with three auctioneers (Nora Meaney, Sharon O'Leary and Maura Fenlon, all from Carlow) to see who is more in tune with the nation.

  • - The Big C

    9.15pm RTE Two

    As the rest of the neighbourhood gets ready for Hallowe'en, Cathy prepares to start a clinical trial she hopes will cure her cancer. Yet just when Cathy needs him, Paul has to deal with a series of problems at work. And as they are arriving at the hospital, Cathy's search for a parking spot ends with her harmlessly hitting another patient with her car. Meanwhile, as Adam grows increasingly agitated by his mom's illness, Sean's Hallowe'en plans lead him to suspect that Marlene's ghost is haunting his house.

  • - Hustle

    9.00pm BBC One

    Albert decides to pay a nostalgic visit to an old haunt, only to find it's been pulled down by ruthless property tycoon and former '80s game show host, Dale Ridley (played by Mark Williams) in this week's episode. Posing as international businessmen, the team lure Dale into a scam, convincing him to purchase the television studios that fired him in his showbiz heyday on their behalf. Will the temptation to get revenge on his old employers be enough to trick the greedy entrepreneur?

  • - Safari Vet School

    8.00pm UTV

    Thirty-two vet students are at one of the toughest vet schools in the world in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Under the guiding hand of Chief Vet, Dr Will Fowlds, the students tackle everything from lions to rhinos to giraffes and elephants. In tonight's episode, TV vet Steve Leonard who presents the show is pushed to his limits when he's left in charge of 16 vet students and a hall of 100 barking dogs while Cambridge student Nadia gets a second chance at being a team leader.