BB9: Big Brother Final Viewing Figures

The Big Brother Final was watched by a peak audience of 5.1m on Friday night, with 23% audience share just after 10:15pm as Rachel was announced the winner of BB9. The return of popular chat show host Jonathan Ross on BBC1 at 10:35pm, may have contributed to the decline of BB9. Between 10pm and 11.05pm, Big Brother averaged 4.7 million viewers, yet was down 600,000 on last years peak final (5.7m).

The first eviction show between 8 and 9pm had 3.9m viewing figures as Darnell, Rex and Sara all found out they had lost out on the Big Brother £100,000 prize. Channel 4 had a 17% audience share as the programme had to compete with Eastenders on BBC1.

A further 376,000 and 166,000 viewers, respectively, watched Friday's two Big Brother instalments an hour later on the digital service Channel 4 +1.

The Guardian reports, "Big Brother's ratings have been in steady decline since series seven in 2006, when the two final-night shows attracted 6.3 million and a 29% share, and 7.7 million and 39%, respectively.

The show's ratings high-point was series three in 2002, when Kate Lawler's victory attracted an average of 9.4 million viewers to the 10pm final night show – a 50% share."

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: VIDEO - Big Brother 9 Best Bits

Big Brother 9 has finished and life will have to return to normal, but just in case you are having withdrawal symptoms - check out the video below. The Channel 4 video brings us the highlights of the 'Best Bits' from the 93 day series.

Relive the fake wedding, Alexandra's aggression, the Electric Shock Task, Mario dunking custard creams into his hot coffee, Rebecca and Luke's relationship developing, Rex marking Jen's painting, Spitgate, Happy House, Belinda's snoring, Chilli Task, VT's exposed, Rex's girlfriend, Lisa's escape, Letters From Home, Mario proposes to Lisa and all the evictions.............

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: Big Beard's Final Thoughts

"It's all over for another year and I already have Big Brother withdrawal symptoms. I find myself looking at the TV guide hoping to find another BB9 programme to watch, but alas I have to settle for the fact Big Brother has finished for 2008.

Not bad considering I was not going to watch any of it, instead I accidentally got hooked as I flicked channels and saw the housemates after they had entered the BB house. Finding out Rebecca was from my home city Coventry meant I was instantly hooked.

Soon my days were filled with hours of Big Brother viewing and blogging and 93 days of distraction as the British summer became another washout. Thankfully the 21 housemates provided me with enough entertainment to keep me loyal for the duration. Even though we voted out the more controversial characters and the "happy house" crew lasted until the final week, it was worth watching.

Viewers also remained pretty much loyal, in an ever changing electronic world viewers were able to watch on Channel 4, or an hour later on C4+1. Then E4 and E4+1 allowed us to see even more of the housemates as well as the official website www.channel4.com/bigbrother, treating us to exclusive videos and stories.

I was like an addict on crack, getting my daily dose of Big Brother - spending hours reading, watching and uploading to Big Brother Blog Squad. Readers would come back and vote on the various polls and would pick who would be evicted next quite successfully. I had to battle with Google, who twice removed BBBS from it's listings as they tried to drive me out of existence - but the site continued even if people couldn't find it through Google.

Big Brother 9 also survived the stories of demise and falling viewing figures as the producers came up with excellent twists and turns, alongside tasks that would test the housemates to the limits. Relationships were strained and broken, mended and created - it was a roller coaster ride where housemates experienced the highs and lows of living in a gold fish bowl for our entertainment.

I'm going to miss the housemates - all of them, because each of the 21 housemates brought something unique to the Big Brother house. They were all special and remind us we all have flaws and all have abilities. Some excelled and some disappointed but all of them gave us hours of voyeuristic entertainment. Big Brother may be over, but thankfully it will be back again next year - hopefully not quite as long............"

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: VIDEO - Rachel's Best Bits

Rachel survived 93 days inside the Big Brother house to be crowned the winner of BB9. Rachel may have been the quiet housemate but she still provided us with many classic moments from inside the BB house, so here are her 'Best Bits' in this Channel 4 video:

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: PICTURES - Rachel's Best Pictures

Rachel became the winner of Big Brother 9 and surprised the nation. Yet she was consistent throughout her time in the BB9 house as she quietly got involved with all the tasks. Rachel may have "sat on the fence" with her opinions but she was never on the fence when it came to life in the house.

Here are some of Rachel's Best Pictures from her 93 days in the Big Brother house:

Rachel enjoys the sun

Winning the Alphabet Backwards Task

Head girl during Puppet Task

Playing dead during Thriller Task

Rachel the Rapper

Egg and spoon race during BB Games
A controversial cake!
Forging money during Cops and Robbers Task
Time on her hands
Impersonating Mohamed

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: Day 93 - Rachel's Interview With Davina McCall

Rachel became the eventual winner of Big Brother 9 in a close final, winning on 51.3% of the vote to scope the £100,000 prize money ahead of her friend Michael. She looked genuinely shocked when Davina McCall announced the result and went on to be interviewed by the Big Brother host.

"Oh my gosh!" she told Davina. "These things just don't happen! How?!"

"This was one of the closest Big Brother finals ever," revealed Davina.

Over the past three months, Rachel has faced a lot of criticism in the House. "People accused you of sitting on the fence, and of being fake," Davina told her.

"I feel like when you give your opinion it can cause problems and upset people," replied Rachel. "I know who I am. It's fine!"

"Lisa thought you fancied Mario," Davina commented, with Rachel looking horrified.

"He's a lovely guy, if I was 40..." said Rachel tactfully. "He's not my type."

"Were you being the real you?"

Rachel laughed. "How can you not be who you are when you're in there for 13 weeks?!"

"What have you learnt about yourself?" asked Davina.

"I've learnt about chickpeas and rice, and I've also learnt to be true to who you are," said Rachel happily.

She finished the interview by shouting into the crowd, "Thank you so much! Thank you thank you thank you!"

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: VIDEO - Rachel Wins Big Brother 9

It is the moment of truth as Rachel and Michael sat on the sofa waiting for Davina McCall to announce the winner of Big Brother 9. Watch this Channel 4 video as it captures the expressions and emotions of the final moments in the BB9 house.

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: PICTURES - Michael's Best Pictures

Michael never failed to entertain the viewers of Big Brother 9. Who can forget his love of cake, chilli or sprouts? Mikey got involved in all the tasks and here are a selection of his Best Pictures:

"Taste my cake!"

With Sara's knickers

Exercising with Rachel

Mikey as Kiki Dee

Overseeing the BB Games

Shaves off hair for Task
With 'Mario' at engagement party
Impersonates Darnell
Mikey goes goth!
Tries eating Brussels Sprouts

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: VIDEO - Michael's Best Bits

Michael became the runner-up in this years Big Brother Final, only just losing out on the £100,00 prize. He was always a straight talker and never afraid to get involved during every task. To many viewers Mikey will always be the real winner of BB9.

Here is the Channel 4 video of Michael's Best Bits during his 93 day stint inside the Big Brother house:

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: PICTURES - Sara's Best Pictures

Sara may have entered the Big Brother house on Day 30, but she proved a winner by surviving until the end and finishing in third place. We've seen her flirt and kiss a few housemates as well as winning £25,000, now re-live Sara's Best Pictures:

Rapping a Sara tune

Licking sauce off Lisa

Winning £25,000 in Prisoner's Dilemma

Alphabet Task fun

Sara as Eros in Statue Task

Sara during BB Games
Sara and Stu during Cake Task
Sara and Darnell get close
Time stands still
Kat and Sara impersonate Rex

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: PICTURES - Rex's Best PIctures

No-one stirred up more reactions in the Big Brother house than Rex. He was always entertaining and never afraid to inject a bit of fun, even if it was for his own pleasure. He had a roller coaster of a time during his 93 Days so here are Rex's Best Pictures:

Rex the Rapper

Rex and Nicole

Hands up Rex!

Bored during French Task

Freeze - it's Rex!

Small tropical island - big ball Rex
Rex in shorts
Chef during Cake Task
Playing Cops and Robbers
Serious during Clock Task

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: VIDEO - Rex's Best Bits

Rex finished in 4th place during this years Big Brother Final , you either loved him or hated him but we couldn't help watch him. Here is the C4 video of Rex's 'Best Bits':

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother

BB9: PICTURES - Darnell's Best Pictures

Darnell finished in 5th place during the Big Brother 9 Final after providing the nation with a character worth watching for the past 93 Days. Here are a selection of Darnell's Best Pictures during his time in the house:

Darnell's naked shower

Tight pants

Darnell examines Darnell during Puppet Task

Darnell the Rapper

Thriller Task

Darnell in BB Games
Darnell in Cops and Robbers Task
Darnell as Elton John
Pasta Face!
Special Friends

*BB official website: www.channel4.com/bigbrother