Britain's Next Top Model

Britain's Next Top Model (often shortened to BNTM or Top Model) is a British reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of Britain's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modelling industry.

As part of Top Model franchise, it is based on the hit American TV show America's Next Top Model, and it shares the same format. On 1 February 2010 it was announced that Elle MacPherson on taking duties as host and head judge.

The series features a group of young female contestants who live together in a house for several weeks while taking part in challenges, photo shoots and meetings with members of the modelling industry. Normally, one poor-performing contestant is eliminated each week until the last contestant remaining is declared "Britain's Next Top Model" and receives a modelling contract and other prizes.

In a recent BBC interview MacPherson contrasted the show with the US version, describing BNTM as "Uniquely British, the sense of humour and the styling is very British... more hybrid backgrounds... and I think that is really examplatory [sic] of what's going on in the UK today".

Each series of Britain's Next Top Model has from ten to twelve episodes and starts with twelve to fourteen contestants (twenty in Cycle 5 and 25 in Cycle 6). Each episode, one contestant is eliminated, though in rare cases a double elimination or no elimination was given by consensus of the judging panel. Season 6 sees a live final where the public will choose their Top Model.

As of Cycle 6, the judges are new host Elle Macpherson, British Fashion/Haute Couture designer Julien MacDonald OBE, Vogue's Fashion stylist of the year Grace Woodward and model Charley Speed who is also signed to Models 1. Previous judges included Lisa Butcher, Marie Helvin, Paula Hamilton, Huggy Ragnarsson, industry expert Jonathan Phang and fashion expert Gerry DeVeaux. Usually, an additional guest judge will sit in on the panel every week.

BNTM has had 3 Model hosts to date. For Cycle 1 British model Lisa Butcher hosted the show, with Lisa Snowdon taking over from cycle 2 to cycle 5. Following Snowdon's announcement that she would be leaving the show in order to concentrate on her radio career, speculation started as to who would replace her. Naomi Campbell initially accepted the offer to host the show but quit a few days before filming began because she didn't know how much time she would have to commit.

After Campbell quit producers only had a few days to find a replacement; on 2 February 2010 iconic Supermodel Elle Macpherson was announced as the new host of Britain's Next Top Model, taking over from Lisa Snowdon. She will also serve as executive producer on the show. Elle along with Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum is one of the most high profile hosts of any other Top Model franchise.

In series 6, the Top Model will receive a modelling contract with Europe's biggest modelling agency Models 1, a 6-page fashion editorial spread as well as the front cover in fashion magazine company, and a £100,000 cosmetics contract with Revlon cosmetics which will see the winner do a make-up shoot for Revlon's new Colorburst Lipstick as well as becoming the face of Revlon's new Autumn/Winter 2010 trend collection that launches in the UK in November.

Former prizes included a £100,000 contract with cosmetics company Ruby and Millie (Cycles 1 & 3) and Max Factor (cycle 5), an advertising campaign for the Ford Fiesta (Cycle 2), a fashion spread in B Magazine (Cycle 1) and representation with Beatrice Models in Milan (Cycle 1).