Channel 4 in storm over its 'Beauty and the Beast' reality show

Freak show: Channel 4's Big Brother has been critisised for resembling a Victorian freak show

Freak show: Channel 4's Big Brother has been critisised for resembling a Victorian freak show

Channel 4 is creating a reality show that will see two people, one attractive and the other physically disfigured, share a house.

Beauty and the Beast intends to expose the different ways in which they are treated because of their appearance. But yesterday critics condemned it as a ‘freak show’. In each episode a different pair will be followed by the cameras.

The show will follow them at home and when they are out and about.

It is understood people with a range of physical disfigurements will feature and that the house they share will have wall-to-wall mirrors to highlight the contrast in their appearances.

Details of Beauty and the Beast emerged just as Big Brother ends its ten-year run on Channel 4. Yesterday, critics warned that the new show risks making light of the serious problems faced by those with disfigurements.

Vivienne Pattison, the director of the lobby group MediaWatch, said: ‘It sounds like an extraordinary freak show and Channel 4 pledged an end to this kind of voyeuristic programming when they announced the end of Big Brother.’ She said putting a disfigured person in a mirrored house ‘in the name of entertainment’ was not ‘healthy’.

But the six-part series is being made with the co-operation of disfigurement charity Changing Faces.

The programme makers are understood to be in talks with a number of high-profile people who have suffered some form of disfigurement to take part and discuss the issues faced.

Enlarge   The Young Ones will be broadcast on the BBC next month

The Young Ones will be broadcast on the BBC next month

Channel 4 has faced repeated criticism over Big Brother, which draws to a close this week after 11 series. Ratings have slumped in recent years.

Many felt the choice of contestants – the show has featured a blind person, someone suffering from Tourette’s syndrome, dwarves and plastic surgery obsessives – exploited vulnerable people for television, in much the same way as Victorian freak shows.

Channel 4 has always claimed it is simply showing the full spectrum of society.

Beauty and the Beast is expected to air later this year or early next year.

A Channel 4 spokesman said: ‘It is part of our remit to tackle difficult and often marginalised issues and open these up to a mainstream audience and debate.

‘The series aims to challenge people’s narrow definition of beauty in a frank and engaging format and will be key to our public service offering next year.’

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