Channel 4's flagship reality show Big Brother has improved ratings dramatically on last year's show, as tension starts to rise over the split of the house into rich and poor halves.

Eight shows last week between Monday to Sunday averaged 4.3 million viewers, an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year, which attracted 3.8 million viewers.

The 2200 BST show on Friday showing Alison's eviction had five million viewers.

It's not so much that I want to go, it's just that I am completely mind-numbingly bored

Sandy

And 4.2 million viewers watched on Saturday as the house was split into rich and poor halves after a basketball contest.

Bars were put up to divide the house into those living in luxury - Sandy, Kate, Lee, Sophie and Jonny - and a poor group - Jade, PJ, Spencer, Adele and Alex.

The "paupers" have only a few basic provisions and must get by on subsistence rations for at least a week.

Early departure?

Jade, 21, a dental nurse from London, has already broken down in tears because of tension with model Alex.

And Sandy, the oldest of the contestants at 43, remarked soon after the house was split that he was considering leaving.

He said: "It's not so much that I want to go, it's just that I am completely mind-numbingly bored.

"And the way I look at life is if you have had enough of something, don't do it."

Solitude seeker

But he had indicated he is more likely to wait to be voted off than to follow trainee barrister Sunita's example and walk out prematurely.

The bars have caused tension in the house

His fellow contestants have not warmed to Sandy's tendency to seek solitude.

Bodybuilder Lee said: "There's been times in here where his conversation, I don't find interesting."

Meanwhile, Kate has already been warned - and the rich group fined - for passing objects through the bars.

She was seen apparently dribbling a mouthful of beer into Spencer's mouth through the divide.