After years of defending Big Brother - the "reality" series that brought UK television viewers men in bras, housemates in a near riot, George Galloway in a red leotard and alleged racist bullying - the man behind the show, Peter Bazalgette, is stepping down as chief creative officer and UK chairman of Endemol.

The 54-year-old, known as "Baz", will remain as an adviser to the production company, but his decision follows the sale of the company earlier this year by Spain's Telefónica to a consortium consisting of Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Endemol founder John de Mol .