Bez to star in C4 Osbournes-style fly-on-the-wall series

by Sam Matthews,, Brand Republic 26-Jan-05, 11:00

LONDON - Channel 4 is planning a fly-on-the-wall documentary series for 'Celebrity Big Brother' winner Bez and hopes it will be as popular as 'The Osbournes', which is in its final series.

Former Happy Mondays' dancer Bez made entertaining viewing during his 18-day stint in the 'Big Brother' house and bosses at Channel 4 believe the 41-year-old could have the same appeal as heavy metal star Osbourne.

Happy Mondays' singer Shaun Ryder and 'X Factor' runner-up Rowetta, who are still good friends with Bez, could also play a starring role in the documentary.

Bez won 'Celebrity Big Brother' on Sunday night with 56% of the viewing public behind him. On winning, the broke Mancunian took with him a £50,000 cash prize.

However, there have been suggestions that Channel 4 helped Bez to win the show by editing him in a better light than his housemates. The tabloid reports claim Channel 4 were already in negotiations for Bez to star in the documentary and wanted to endear him to the British public to make the fly-on-the-wall series more popular.

On winning 'Celebrity Big Brother', Bez went on a celebratory bender and missed his scheduled appearance on Channel 4's 'Richard & Judy'.

Channel 4 has rigorously denied the claims and insists the show is not edited to influence voters.

It is not the first time C4 has been hit by favourable editing claims. Previous series of 'Big Brother' have been hit by similar claims, which came to nothing.

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