The company behind the Big Brother web site has taken on extra staff to cope with the workload.

Brighton-based digital media firm Victoria Real has hired three new workers to deal with the added pressure of running the web site 24 hours a day.

The company is expecting thousands of hits on the site, which was activated at the weekend to coincide with the start of the third Big Brother series on Channel 4.

Victoria Real ran the web sites for the first and second series of the show, which took the country by storm in 2000 and 2001.

A spokeswoman said:

"This is the third time we've done Big Brother so it's getting a bit easier now, especially as we have taken on the extra staff.

"This time around we have also designed the digital TV side of the show, which will make Big Brother interactive for people who watch it on cable.

"It is something we always look forward to doing and everyone wants to get involved with.

"We are all getting together for a few glasses of wine to watch the show.

It's become part of Victoria Real culture in a way."

The company is also planning a Big Brother window display at its offices in Queen's Road.