Big Brother has returned to British television after a five-year break.
The influential social experiment, in which housemates live together in a custom-made house without access to the outside world for weeks in order to win a cash prize, has reopened.
New presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best opened the launch show on ITV after the reality show was canceled by Channel 5 in 2018, introducing a new group of 16 contestants to a studio audience.
But when a barman, a butcher and a Muslim make-up artist entered the house, fans accused the show of being “woke”.
Will said: “The OG (Original) is back and if you’ve never seen it before, get ready for the biggest reality show in the world and like all famous faces it’s got a shine for a brand new series in 2023 receive.” ‘
Back with a bang? Big Brother has returned to British television after a five-year break. But when a barman, a butcher and a Muslim make-up artist appeared, fans accused the show of being “woke” (pictured, housemate Jenkin).
Here she comes! Make-up artist Farida, 50, from Wolverhampton, was the next to enter the house
AJ, who wore a blue catsuit, added: “Tonight the most famous house in Britain returns. We have a brand new house. Should we put some new roommates in there?”
“At the end one participant will stand and win £100,000.”
Jenkin, 25, from Bridgend in Wales, was the first housemate to enter.
He said: “I’m not the only gay in the village, I’m the best… I’m the barman, the cleaner, I’m the bingo caller and 69 is my favorite number.”
He added: “I can’t help being a bit of an instigator. ‘I’ll bring the drama.’
On why he applied for the show, he said: “I was bored and thought I’d do something different and try it out.”
And on what he’s most looking forward to about attending, he said, “I think meeting new people.” I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also scared about it because I’m like, “Oh, what’s going to happen next?” …” but everything will be fine.”
On why he is most likely to be nominated, he said: “If I’m just talking about people, I’m not going to lie. ‘I can’t keep secrets, I find it really hard.’
Make-up artist Farida, 50, from Wolverhampton, was the next to enter the house.
As for why she applied to be a housemate, she said: “I’m very proud of who I am and I feel like Asian women and Asian culture are underrepresented on television.”
“A lot of people think that wearing a headscarf stops you from having opportunities, whereas for me it’s the exact opposite.” I embrace it with confidence and it has actually opened up a lot of opportunities for me.
“I want to let people know that we Muslims are really not oppressed. ‘I’m anything but oppressed – I used to be a holiday representative!’
As for what she expects from the experience, she continued: “I’m honestly looking forward to anything, I’m just going to embrace it.” I believe in living for the moment and I want to remember that I’m one of thousands of applicants am who made it into the house.”
And on why she might be thrown out of the house by her housemates, she said: “People will nominate me because they feel intimidated by the fact that I have the potential to win this. As simple as that.”
Tom, a 21-year-old butcher from Somerset, followed Farida into the house and said he was “funny and outgoing”.
Tom said he could be nominated for eviction because he could “potentially offend some people”, adding: “My mouth moves faster than my brain.”
When asked what he would do with the prize money if he won, he said: “There are some good cars I want to buy.” I would probably put a good chunk of it into savings for a house and then probably take a trip to Ibiza or somewhere else.”
The youngest contestant to enter the Big Brother house this year was next, 18-year-old youth worker Hallie, who has never lived away from home before.
As to why she applied, she said: “Just the whole experience.” I believe Big Brother is the greatest social experiment and I want to be a part of it. It’s about showing my face and just having fun and enjoying life. I’m only 18 so I didn’t grow up watching it, but as I got older I watched clips on YouTube and stuff so I became a fan. And yes, really just for fun?’
She said her friends describe her like this: “I’m kind of a diva and I speak my mind, but I’m also a very lovely person. “I’m definitely a girl’s girl. “I’m honest, funny and, yes, just brilliant.”
The influential social experiment show has opened on ITV for the first time in five years, after being axed by Channel 5 in 2018 due to a ratings slump.
In the opening episode, a new cast of “carefully selected housemates from all walks of life” arrived at the brand new house in front of a studio audience.
In total, 30,000 people applied to take part in the show and only 16 were selected to enter the house.
The winner will receive a whopping £100,000 at the end of the series.
Big Brother presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best reminded fans to be kind to the new contestants online before the series returns to British TV screens this week.
Ahead of the opening show on Sunday night, Odudu, 35, said in a video posted on Instagram: “Please remember that all our housemates are real people with real lives.”
“If you wouldn’t say anything to them in person, please be careful about what you say to them online.”
TV presenter Will, 38, said: “We all just want to be fair and kind to everyone and so we can all enjoy this series together and support our fellow campmates on the show and beyond.”
AJ added: “Let’s make the series the most positive one yet and show all the housemates the respect you would want if you were also a housemate. ‘Is that a deal?’
The new housemates have received respect and inclusion training to set out the “expectation of appropriate behavior and language” before taking part in the show, ITV said.
As part of the channel’s duty of care protocols, all housemates receive training to prepare them for life in the house – as well as undergo psychological and medical assessments, background checks and social media verification.
Similar to the recent ITV series Love Island, housemates and their family and friends have also been asked not to post content about the show on their individual social media accounts while in the house.
This comes at a time when broadcasters’ due diligence policies have come under scrutiny following a series of controversies involving on-screen talent.
Big Brother has seen its share of controversies over the years, including contestants being accused of making racist and sexist comments.
ITV said the famous house will see the return of tasks, nominations and live evictions, with the voting audience playing a “crucial role” throughout the series – before voting for the show’s winner.
AJ and Will host “Big Brother: Late & Live” in front of a live studio audience every night after the show airs, which includes the evictee’s first live interview as well as celebrity guest commentary and weekly nomination results.
Big Brother: Live Stream also returns to screens, following Big Brother: Late & Live, showing footage from the brand new house until the early hours of the morning every night on ITVX.
The social experimentation program, in which housemates live together in a custom-built house without access to the outside world for weeks to win a cash prize, started on Channel 4 in 2000 before Channel 5 took over in 2011.
Big Brother 2023: Duty of care protocols complete
Housemates must undergo a social media ban, attend “respect and inclusion training” and have access to one-on-one sessions to support their mental health before, during and after the show.
Respect and Inclusion Training will outline expectations regarding language use and acceptable behavior in the House of Representatives.
Prior to filming, all housemates underwent psychological and medical assessments, including evaluations by an independent doctor, mental health professionals and information reports from each housemate’s primary care physician.
The housemates were also required to confidentially disclose any medical histories and other information that would be relevant to their participation in Big Brother.
Additionally, their family members and friends are asked not to post content on their individual social accounts during their time in the House of Representatives due to a social media shutdown.
ITV also said the housemates had been given information about the experience of taking part in Big Brother including the possible positive and negative effects.
Participants will also undergo a series of background checks, including checking their social media by an independent specialist service.
The show’s welfare team and other members of the editorial and production team received training in mental health first aid and “respect and inclusion”.
According to ITV, the team have outlined Big Brother’s expectations of appropriate behavior and language.
Housemates are also provided and discussed the Housemate Rules, which outline expectations and explain important aspects of life in the Big Brother House.
Mental health professionals will be available to the Housemates for ongoing support throughout their time in the House.
The Big Brother welfare team also supports friends and family through regular contact and updates.
After leaving the Big Brother House, there will be individual training on how to deal with social media and the press.
A mandatory session with a psychologist is also offered immediately after a roommate leaves the house.
Further support sessions will be tailored specifically to a roommate’s individual needs and support will continue until mental health professionals have agreed an end date for each individual roommate.
Contact from the Head of Welfare will continue for a period of 14 months after the end of the series and additional help will also be offered if required.