MEDIA FORUM: Could other shows claw in cash like Big Brother? - A success for Channel 4, in terms of boosting ratings and revenue, what can other channels learn from this Big Brother, Jeremy Lee asks?

Well, what to do now that this year's Big Brother has finished?

If you find yourself grieving, desperate and sobbing inconsolably into your Big Brother-branded T-shirt, perhaps you can find some comfort in the Inside Big Brother book or through watching your favourite moments again on the Big Brother Uncut DVD.

There may also be some solace in watching the housemates masterfully try to stay in the headlines by getting drunk at TV award ceremonies (E4 is following the winner Kate around all week) and attempting to queue jump into London nightclubs.

Once again, and to many people's surprise, the strangely compelling 'personality' contest has been another success for Channel 4. Big Brother gave the station its best ever audience share in its 20-year history, peaking at 9.9 million viewers.

It also helped to prop up E4 and the Rise breakfast show, as well as being very financially rewarding for those involved. At 25 pence a go, some 8.6 million votes were cast in the final vote, which, in addition to the 14.1 million cast throughout the rest of the series, goes some way to making-up Channel 4's pounds 20 million shortfall for this year Internet users were charged pounds 10 per month to watch live action via their computer screen and more than 25,000 subscribed.

The Big Brother sponsor O2 also takes a cut of the cash, a bonus on top of raising awareness of its rebranding. No doubt the rival commercial networks view Channel 4 with some jealousy. But what has contributed to the success of Big Brother 3 and what can the other channels learn?

'First and foremost the programme has been moved on and developed further across new platforms. The technical innovations have upped the ante in terms of audience participation,' Polly Cochrane, the managing director of marketing at Channel 4 and head of 4creative, says.