Whether you love it or hate it, the Big Brother phenomenon is returning to Borehamwood at the end of this month for its fourth series.

For nine weeks the eyes of the nation will be trained on twelve new contestants shut away from the outside world in the new-look Big Brother house at Elstree Studios.

Channel 4 has signed a deal with Endemol UK, which owns the show, for three more years with the option of using the studios in Shenley Road for the duration.

Gigi Eligoloff, Big Brother's Executive Producer, said: "Elstree has been fantastic for the team, we love the studio and the house. I think we are planning on staying as we would like the continuity."

Showing reporters around the new house at Thursday's Channel 4 press launch for the summer series, Phil Edgar-Jones, Endemol's head of entertainment, described the house as a "softer, warmer environment".

Two-way mirrors along the walls of every room in the house hide the camera runs that enable fans to watch the drama unfold 24 hours a day on E4 and the internet or on nightly highlights shows on Channel 4.

Big Brother 4 sees the return of the weekly task, absent last time out, on which the housemates must gamble at least half of their food budget.

The garden, which retains the familiar swimming pool, chicken coop and garden patch, has a new sheltered area for all weather use.

Also crowds will not be allowed immediately outside the house this year, so that when the contestants leave after eviction the first people they see will be their friends and family.

From the 10,000 people who sent in video applications, a final shortlist of 50 hopefuls remains.

Gigi Eligoloff explained: "Each year we look for people that are going to be different and this year we are looking for people with more of a story of tell. In my heart, I already know what 12 people I want in the house".

The show will begin on a Friday before the end of May, but Channel 4 is yet to set a date.

f=GillSans condensedmkent@london.newsquest.co.uk Its open-plan living space gives a more communal feel- and also makes it easier for the houses' 50-plus cameras to capture the contestants every move.

Even while contestants sleep at night, infra-red cameras and the microphones that dangle over every bed will pick up their every move and sound.

Julian Bellamy, Channel 4's head of factual entertainment said: "Our aim is to make this year's Big Brother as entertaining, unpredictable and addictive as ever. There will be surprises and twists, of that you can be assured."

May 7, 2003 16:00