After Big Brother, a controversial new baby's being hatched
July 23, 2004 - 11:18AM

Quelle: The Sydney Morning Herald
A televised sperm race? ... Apparently it's one eggcentric idea being kicked around by UK TV execs.

A controversial UK television show could see a thousand men compete for the chance to father a child.

The format for the program is still under discussion, but one idea certain to spark anger is for a televised sperm race.

Make Me a Mum is the brainchild of independent TV company Brighter Pictures - whose parent company Endemol makes Big Brother.

Men who want to father a child will be whittled down during the series, until two candidates are selected to compete against each other.

The childless woman will choose the man she believes makes the best father - judged by sex appeal, personality, wealth and fitness.

A second man will also be selected on the basis of genetic compatibility and the quality of his sperm, according to the TV and radio magazine Broadcast.

The finale of the six-part series could feature a sperm race, thanks to new technology, with viewers watching which of the two finalists' sperm reaches the female's egg first.

A spokesman for the anti-abortion campaigners Life criticised the show, saying it "sounds like prostitution".

The TV company's creative director Remy Blumenfeld told Broadcast magazine: "There's a tremendous amount of science to this show.

"It's completely fascinating. It's much more about the rule of science than the rules of attraction."