Big Brother brief

Telly addicts who were glued last year to the Channel Four reality show 'Big Brother', thinking they could do better than trainee solicitor contestant PJ Ellis, may soon have their chance.

So enamoured were programme makers Endemol with PJ's on-screen charisma (from memory, he was not disinterested in sex, which is usually enough for TV), they are now on the hunt for a cast of lawyers to star in their latest venture.

Producer Izzie Pick was keeping a lid on what the programme might actually entail, but told the Gazette she was confident that lawyers would prove to be natural performers owing to their work in the courtroom.

'At the moment, we are just interested in finding out whether there are solicitors and barristers out there with secret desires to appear on television,' she explained.

Obiter is intrigued as to what this televisual extravaganza might be called.

'Court in the Act'? 'Nine to Five (in the morning)'? Or if it all goes wrong, 'I'm a legal aid lawyer, get me out of here'? For more information, contact Ms Pick, tel: 020 8222 4139.