Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace says Roxanne Pallett's Punchgate scandal was the 'nail in the coffin' for CBB as series is AXED after 18 years
Celebrity Big Brother fans were left in shock following this year's Punchgate scandal between Roxanne Pallett and Ryan Thomas.
And former contestant Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace insists the incident played a huge role in Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother's axe on Channel 5, after 18 years on air.
In an interview with The Sun, the 2006 contestant, 39, branded the drama as 'the nail in the coffin', but says the franchise will 'never die'.
![Candid: Former contestant Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace insists the incident played a huge role in Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother's axe on Channel 5, after 18 years on air](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/15/12/5032BB3F00000578-6171005-image-m-25_1537011777965.jpg)
Candid: Former contestant Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace insists the incident played a huge role in Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother's axe on Channel 5, after 18 years on air
Speaking on the shocking news, which was announced hours before the final civilian series, the TV personality said: 'It is a world-renowned TV show... I don't want to believe that it has been axed.'
The reality star continued: 'If it has for sure then the nail in the coffin was probably the Roxanne Pallett situation. It was just horrific.'
'Why else are you going to axe something that's one of your highest rated shows?', she elaborated.
![Shock: In an interview with The Sun , the 2006 contestant, 39, branded the drama as 'the nail in the coffin', but says the franchise will 'never die'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/15/12/4FD757AF00000578-6171005-image-m-26_1537011794065.jpg)
Shock: In an interview with The Sun , the 2006 contestant, 39, branded the drama as 'the nail in the coffin', but says the franchise will 'never die'
![Incident: Former soap star Roxanne, 35, accused Ryan, 34, of 'deliberately' and 'repeatedly' punching her during her stint in the house](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/15/12/4FFE52D100000578-6171005-image-a-27_1537011906247.jpg)
Incident: Former soap star Roxanne, 35, accused Ryan, 34, of 'deliberately' and 'repeatedly' punching her during her stint in the house
Former soap star Roxanne, 35, accused Ryan, 34, of 'deliberately' and 'repeatedly' punching her during her stint in the house.
The Emmerdale actress later appeared on The Jeremy Vine Show later to apologise to Ryan and his family and friends.
Aisleyne rose to fame during her stint on the seventh series of Big Brother, where she came in at third place.
Channel 5 took to Twitter on Friday with an official statement issued on the shows' axe: 'The forthcoming series of Big Brother will be the last - of either celebrity or civilian versions - on Channel 5.'
![Stardom: Aisleyne rose to fame during her stint on the seventh series of Big Brother, where she came in at third place](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/15/12/5032BB4B00000578-6171005-Stardom_Aisleyne_rose_to_fame_during_her_stint_on_the_seventh_se-m-29_1537012154449.jpg)
Stardom: Aisleyne rose to fame during her stint on the seventh series of Big Brother, where she came in at third place
The show, which was seen as a ground-breaking social experiment when it first aired in 2000, was initially a roaring success, with the final of the first series bringing in 9.45 million viewers.
But a nation once obsessed with 'Nasty' Nick Bateman of series one is now more enthralled with the show's competitors.
Big Brother averaged at 5.8million viewers an episode by its third season - but figures dropped to just 2.9million an episode in 2009 thanks to competitions inspired by the very shows it spawned, such as The Only Way Is Essex.
Its move from Channel 4 to Channel 5 saw the show hit an all-time low, with viewership dropping to 1.2million last season.
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