Big Brother pulled off air for two hours after bomb threat

Frantic bosses at Channel 4 immediately evacuated the housemates as local police officers, supported by the bomb squad, carried out an extensive search of the compound.

The overnight live streaming went into blackout for two hours and viewers were kept in the dark about what was happening.

Calming influence: Mario, here with girlfriend Lisa, helped calm the housemates' nerves after learning of the bomb threat

It is believed a man contacted the studio in Hertfordshire and claimed he had planted a bomb. Police later conceded it was a hoax.

A police spokesman said: 'Officers attended the scene and a thorough search was carried out by security teams.

'They chose to evacuate the premises while this took place. However the call was a hoax.

Threatened: Big Brother's headquarters was the subject of a bomb scare yesterday

'The housemates were later returned to the house and began speculating what the evacuation was in aid of.

And Mario told them: 'It was serious. They need to be careful which is why we were evacuated. This is big stuff.'

The last time there was a major bomb scare was during series four in 2003 when workers found a suspect package in a TV studio near Elstree Studios.