of the food provided for them, an emergency ration was available to them. The housemates are forbidden from discussing nominations, and doing so could result in punishment. The format of the series is mainly seen as a social experiment, and requires housemates to interact with others who may have differing ideals, beliefs, and prejudices. Housemates are also required to make visits to the Diary Room during their stay in the House, where they are able to share their thoughts and feelings on their fellow housemates and the game. Series details and viewership Notes Sponsorships Channel 4 (2001–2010) Channel 5 (2011–2018) The Carphone Warehouse is the parent company of TalkTalk, the previous sponsor. It also had a deal of £2.5m-a-year to sponsor the Big Brother franchise Due to the race row, the sponsorship was cut off halfway through the series The cost of this sponsorship was £800,000 This sponsorship was only shown after 9.00pm Celebrity Big Brother 17 had no sponsorship, making it the first ever series of both Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother not to have a sponsor. Controversy and criticism Since its inception, Celebrity Big Brother has come under fire for reports of bullying, racism, and the physical and mental strain of appearing on the series. See also Big Brother franchise List of Celebrity Big Brother housemates Celebrity Big Brother (U.S.) The Surreal Life, a programme similar to Celebrity Big Brother in the United States, on which Traci Bingham, Caprice Bourret, Janice Dickinson, Brigitte Nielsen and Verne Troyer have also appeared. References External links Celebrity Big Brother at Channel5.com 2001 British television series debuts 2018 British television series endings 2000s British reality television series 2010s British reality television series British television spin-offs British television series revived after cancellation English-language television shows Big Brother (British TV series) Celebrity Big Brother BBC reality television shows Channel 4 reality television shows Channel 5 (British TV channel) reality television shows Reality television spin-offs Television series by Endemol Television shows shot at Elstree Film Studios