Big Brother returns [split topic]

[oggyraiding]

New series starts on Sunday, runs for six weeks.

All housemates will be given the training to prepare them for life within the house – as well as undergoing psychological and medical assessments, background checks and a social media review, ITV has confirmed.

Seems more responsible than previous incarnations.

[Bad Ambassador]

I think the multiple suicides relating to previous ITV shows and concerns over liability probably have something to do with it.

[Senior Baiano]

[Utter Shit]

Does it potentially say something about humanity that the advent of proper psychological assessment prior to picking contestants for these shows is in direct inverse proportion to viewing figures? The early years of Big Brother when they picked mostly normal people were popular, but it really got into its stride when they started actively picking nutters, and skyrocketed when the producers started banging on the walls of their cage every day until people snapped. That's when the guidelines came in and interest slowly dwindled.

It's worth having a look back at old Big Brother threads on here btw - you (I) might have to squint in embarrassment at the way some people (me) spoke back then, but it's a great insight into how the shows were going over and how wrapped in them people were. The thread for Big Brother 5 is especially good, you can read play-by-play coverage of 'Fight Night' kicking off from this page onwards.

[oggyraiding]

BB5 was my first BB, I envied Stu for having won the heart of Michelle. Reading that thread it did remind me that Nadia, a transwoman, won and was generally highly regarded in the media. I'm fully expecting that if there's a trans contestant this time around, ITV2 will be criticised for going woke.

[Queen Peach]

loved those old bb threads

[Elderly Sumo Prophecy]

BB5 was my first BB, I envied Stu for having won the heart of Michelle. Reading that thread it did remind me that Nadia, a transwoman, won and was generally highly regarded in the media. I'm fully expecting that if there's a trans contestant this time around, ITV2 will be criticised for going woke.

I once saw a clip of Michelle presenting one of the Freeview porn channels where she said something like "We've got some quality shaggin' for youse the neet"

[Senior Baiano]

What was the one with Science, "Tweedledum, Tweedledee and Tweedletwat". The only one I've watched any of as I had a flatmate who was into it. They brought in a new woman late on to fuck herself with a bottle as well iirc

[Senior Baiano]

Basically used to like it when they'd rile up racists and ethnic minority housemates and retreat a safe distance to watch the fireworks

[kitsofan34]

What was the one with Science, "Tweedledum, Tweedledee and Tweedletwat". The only one I've watched any of as I had a flatmate who was into it. They brought in a new woman late on to fuck herself with a bottle as well iirc

Her name was Kinga. Have some respect.

[cromby]

Just watching YouTube videos of Fight Night and this comment has absolutely buckled me.

[druss]

"Marco kept on coming over to Jay and doing the Seal dance. Over and over again. About 4 or more times.

Then Jay said don't do that to me. Emma started arguing with him and telling him who does he think he is. Basically disrespecting him. Marco sat in the corner laughing.

It was getting heated between the Harem and Jason so Victor tried to stop it. Emma then pushed Victor away. Victor said why did you push me I am trying to stop it. Then they started to goad Victor. Marco was still laughing.

Then Emma said to Victor stop acting like a Black Guy."

Those were the days.

[Noodle Lizard]

They've always done the psychological evaluation and social media reviews, and then act surprised when it turned out Tila Tequila was a bit of a mad Nazi.

Looking forward to this. Even at its crappest, it was high value telly. Unfortunately I expect they'll go largely for "influencer" types now because of the built-in audience, but it would be nice to get some normals in (if there are any left).

[dontpaintyourteeth]

It's all going to be Love Island / Married at First Sight cunts isn't it

[cromby]

They've always done the psychological evaluation and social media reviews, and then act surprised when it turned out Tila Tequila was a bit of a mad Nazi.

Looking forward to this. Even at its crappest, it was high value telly. Unfortunately I expect they'll go largely for "influencer" types now because of the built-in audience, but it would be nice to get some normals in (if there are any left).

It's all going to be Love Island / Married at First Sight cunts isn't it

ITV have been very vocal in all their press releases about how this is exactly the route they don't want to go down, surprisingly, so I'm secretly thinking it might be quite good.

[Noodle Lizard]

I think Channel 5 said that too. To be fair, they did have one or two series which were at least half full of quite unremarkable people, but they would slink off into the background to let the performers go nuts.

[cromby]

I think Channel 5 said that too. To be fair, they did have one or two series which were at least half full of quite unremarkable people, but they would slink off into the background to let the performers go nuts.

I don't remember if Channel 5 said that, but ITV are really pushing it in all their marketing, all the branding is about "the original social experiment" and I think they described Nadia as the working model for new contestants. Guess we'll see this weekend.

[DrGreggles]

Watched s1 and loved it.

Tried to watch s2, but most of them annoyed me in their introductions - especially when they said one of them was called Bubbles.
Don't think I reached the 2nd week.

[Ja'moke]

The new house - https://x.com/bbuk/status/1710727943734071598?s=20

[Noodle Lizard]

The new house - https://x.com/bbuk/status/1710727943734071598?s=20

They've done away with the smoking area (or at least made it a tiny closed-off area with no cameras). Stupidly, that feels like a significant loss to me.

[confettiinmyhair]

No chickens. I'm sure there were chickens once?

[Phoenix Lazarus]

"Marco kept on coming over to Jay and doing the Seal dance. Over and over again. About 4 or more times.

Then Jay said don't do that to me. Emma started arguing with him and telling him who does he think he is. Basically disrespecting him. Marco sat in the corner laughing.

It was getting heated between the Harem and Jason so Victor tried to stop it. Emma then pushed Victor away. Victor said why did you push me I am trying to stop it. Then they started to goad Victor. Marco was still laughing.

Then Emma said to Victor stop acting like a Black Guy."

Those were the days.

Fight Night was one of the most awesome things I've ever watched.

[Ambient Sheep]

That's a helluva new house!

Any idea where it's located?

[Uncle TechTip]

That's a helluva new house!

Any idea where it's located?

It's in London somewhere, but the key difference is it's a house fitted out inside a large TV studio rather than a house as we know it with the corridors running around the perimeter. It's in line with how they do it in other countries.

Also I think the evictions will be exiting into the studio, no outdoor crowds, again what they do in other places.

Two big things I'm keen to see are will it have the same music and will Marcus Bentley be on it.

[thr0b]

Two big things I'm keen to see are will it have the same music and will Marcus Bentley be on it.

Yes and yes.

(Though the theme tune seems to have had a very light remix. Nothing major, just seems to have made some bits more prominent than they were.)

[cromby]

I went to the (prerecording of the) launch of it last night, so I have a bit of insight. The casting is a step above your usual Love Island/TOWIE wannabes, but there is definitely a few "As Seen on TV" faces - someone on Twitter has already found clips of one housemate on the Blankety Blank revival and Come Dine With Me.

I think crucially, for me, it just lacked a bit of bite - the house, styling and presentation are very, well, ITV 2 does Big Brother. I liked it better when the theming was a bit more abstract/prison like in the C4 days. AJ Odudu and the new bloke have great chemistry, but are a lot more stilted than Davina McCall who, like her or loathe her, is a seasoned pro and very reactive/naturalistic. But crucially, due mental health/wokeness/PC gone mad they're dissuading the booing, so it just becomes a bit of a love-in. That might change, of course, but everyone just seemed so... nice. No real obvious villains.

The makings of a good idea are there, and I hope ITV change things up a bit for the next series. Mind you, I'll definitely be tuning into the launch tonight mainly to spot my own mug on camera.

[JesusAndYourBush]

I hope they find some new/different things to do so it's not exactly the same as previous BB's. I already noticed the house has an upstairs, don't think they've done that before have they?

[Ja'moke]

I miss the awkwardness of the live launches. This pre-recorded version is all moving a bit fast.

[Mr Banlon]

The usual people are upset:


"@CharCresswell says can we try watch big brother get into something, not one normal/english person on it! fuck that straight off only fools back on! proper tv, shite! you won't get on any these programmes now if tha normal! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 thank fuck for Gold TV"

Obese homosexual male ✅
Muslim woman✅
Stop Oil Protester✅
6ft tall trans woman✅
Black left wing feminist immigrant✅

Big Brother is ticking all the DEI boxes

Fucking bonkers this, it used to be 12 relatively normal people now its every ethnicity, race and sexuality about. Big Brother yno what a shambles

Big brother biggest TICK TICK TICK SHOW EVER

Someone read the Equality & Diversity email at #ITV #BigBrother

Literally just said to my mum, waiting on the disabled tick box 😂😂 #bigbrother

[jobotic]

They'd be some good fights if it was just 12 angry gammons.