Producers at Channel Five network knew they were stepping in to a very big pair of controversial TV shoes when they took on the mammoth task of rebirthing their rivals Channel Four reality hit show Big Brother.

But the viewing figures are a testimony to Channel Five as they successfully pulled in a whopping 5.1 million viewers with their celebrity Big Brother 2011 launch show last night totally dominating the nations popualr 9pm TV slot.

As each of the eleven Celebrity BB Housemates 2011 stepped in to the media spotlight Channel Five managed to get the full attention of approximately 21.9 per cent of the  total UK’s Television audience between 9pm-10.30pm giving the network one of its top five rated shows of all time.

And despite a dig taken from the massive Hollywood hit vampire film Twilight and wickedly used by Channel 4 against their rivals BB show launch:

“Resurrecting the deceased might be what some channels like to do on summer evenings.

“But here on Channel 4 we prefer the undead”,  but putting last nights viewing statistics against the average BB viewers of 3.7 million last year, it certainly appears that Channel 5 have successfully put the boot in to the shows former home network and produced their own reality show winning formula.

However, its not too difficult to understand why bosses at Channel 4 are licking their wounds:

“When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it’s not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end”, said Twilight’s Bella Swan.

Tune in to Channel 5 tonight for the latest news and gossip from the Celebrity Housemates on Big Brother 2011 at 9pm, and get ready for the first twist of the series to be unleashed by BB.