Nadia Almada received 3.9 million, or 74%, of the public vote

But the programme's producers, Endemol, have said discussions are on hold until the sixth series ends this summer.

A spokeswoman for Endemol dismissed reports that another multi-series deal was being signed as "speculation".

The current agreement between Channel 4 and Endemol for the hit show is due to expire this summer with the conclusion of Big Brother 6.

Celebrity spin-off

Channel 4 took the rights to the show in 2002 when it signed the most recent deal with Endemol, and the show has become an important revenue raiser for the station.

The conclusion of last year's series, which saw Portuguese transsexual Nadia Alamada triumph, attracted nine million viewers - and was a vast improvement on the previous series.

But the format, which also has a successful celebrity spin-off, has been criticised by some commentators as low-grade television and even cruel.

Academic Germaine Greer, who walked out of Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, accused the show of adopting "superior" bullying tactics and treating the contestants "irresponsibly".

Broadcaster John Humphrys denounced reality TV as "seedy, cynical and harmful" to society at last year's Edinburgh Television Festival.

A more "evil" Big Brother in the most recent series even saw a fight break out between some of the housemates, which led to complaints from the public and a rebuke from broadcasting watchdog Ofcom.