Reality TV adds new twist to 'you're fired'

THE production company behind Big Brother and Deal or No Deal has created a reality TV show where staff at struggling companies get to choose which colleagues should be fired.

Someone's Gotta Go has been sold to Fox TV in the United States, where production has already begun. Dutch firm Endemol also hopes to broadcast the programme in other countries.

Last night, the show was criticised by unions who said it was wrong to treat redundancy as "entertainment". Each episode will focus on a small business where the management has decided to cut one employee.