Big Brother is a reality television show where, in each series, a group of people live together in the Big Brother House, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 16 participants. The housemates try to win a cash prize by avoiding periodic evictions from the house. The idea for the show came during a brainstorm session at the production house of John de Mol Produkties (an independent part of Endemol) on September 4, 1997. The first Big Brother broadcast was in the Netherlands in 1999 on the Veronica TV channel. It has been a prime-time hit in almost 70 countries. The show's name comes from George Orwell's 1949 dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (see Big Brother).
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Though each country has made its own adaptations and changes to the format, the general concept has stayed the same: "housemates" are confined to a specially designed house where their every action is recorded by cameras and microphones at all times and they are not permitted any contact with the outside world.
In most versions, at regular intervals, normally once weekly (although in most early series it was every two weeks), the housemates are invited to vote to have one of a number of nominated housemates evicted from the House. In some cases, two housemates may be evicted simultaneously (a "double eviction"), or rarely, no housemates will be removed for that week. At the end of the game, the last remaining housemate is declared winner of that particular series and receives prizes, often including a large amount of money, a car, a holiday and (in some editions) a house.
From a sociological and demographic perspective, this format can be analyzed to see how people react when forced into close confinement with people who lie outside their comfort zone, since they may hold different opinions or ideals from other contestants, or simply be from a different group of people than a contestant is used to. Indeed, the format is ideally suited to such analysis because the viewer sees how a person reacts on the outside through the constant recording of their actions and also what they feel on the inside through the Diary Room. The results can often be violent or angry confrontations, providing entertainment to the public.
Besides living together under continuous observation, which is the major attraction of the contest, the program relies on four basic props: the stripped-bare back-to-basics environment in which they live, the evictions, the weekly tasks set by Big Brother and the "Diary Room", in which the housemates individually convey their thoughts, feelings, frustrations and their nominees for eviction.
In the first season of most series of Big Brother, the House that the housemates had to live in was very basic. Although essential amenities such as running water, furniture and a limited ration of food were provided, luxury items were often forbidden. This added an element of survival to the show, increasing the potential for tensions within the house. Nowadays almost all series provide a modern house for the contest, with a jacuzzi, sauna, VIP suite, loft and other luxuries.
The housemates are required to do any housework as they see fit and are set tasks by the producers of the show, who communicate with the housemates via the omnipresent authority figure known to them only as "Big Brother". The tasks set are designed to test their team-working abilities and community spirit, and in some countries the housemates' shopping budget or weekly allowance often depends on the outcome of any set tasks. The housemates have a weekly allowance with which they can buy food and other essentials.
At regular intervals, the housemates each privately nominate a number of fellow housemates that they wish to see evicted from the house. The housemates with the most nomination points are then announced and viewers are given the opportunity to vote for whom they wish to see evicted. After the votes are tallied, the "evictee" leaves the house and is interviewed live by the host of the show, usually in front of a studio audience.
The series is notable for involving the Internet. Although the show typically broadcasts daily updates in the evening (which are sometimes criticized for their heavy editing), viewers can also watch a continuous, 24-hour feed from multiple cameras on the web. These websites were highly successful, even after some national series started charging for access to the video stream. In some countries, Internet broadcasting was supplemented by updates via email, WAP and SMS. The House is even shown live on satellite television, although in some countries, such as the UK, with a 10-15 minute delay to allow libellous or unacceptable content (such as references to people who are not taking part in the program and have therefore not consented to have personal information about them broadcast) to be removed.
Despite derision from many intellectuals and other critics, the show has been a commercial success around the world. More generally, the voyeuristic nature of the show, where contestants volunteer to surrender their privacy in return for minor celebrity status and a comparatively small cash prize, has attracted much scorn.[1] On numerous occasions, participants in the various series have become sexually involved with each other, sometimes engaging in intercourse in front of Big Brother's cameras. This recorded material is typically not broadcast due to its explicit nature, as in the Australian and American editions. Other editions, however, such as the German and British versions, do broadcast it. The Internet stream also captures such moments, which has led to some controversy, with certain jurisdictions such as Greece attempting to have the show removed from the airwaves.[1]
Most international versions of the show remain quite similar to each other in that their main format remains true to the original fly on the wall, observational style, with the emphasis being on human relationships. This is taken to the extent where contestants are forbidden from discussing nominations or voting strategy altogether. The U.S. version, however, has since 2001 taken on a significantly different format from the others in their second season, with a far stronger emphasis on strategy, competition and voting.
The housemates are, for the most part, isolated within the house. They are allowed no access to television, radio or the Internet and are not allowed any form of communications with the outside world (including other media). In some shows, even books and writing material are not permitted, with the exception of religious materials such as the Bible, Torah or Qur'an.
Contestants are not completely isolated, however. They have regular scheduled interactions with the show's host (mostly on eviction nights), and throughout each day the program's producer, via the "Big Brother" voice, instructs the contestants in various matters and sometimes issues tasks or commands them to take certain actions. In some versions of the show, private chats with a psychologist are allowed at any time, often by means of a telephone in the Diary Room.
The Big Brother format has been adapted in some countries in that the housemates are locally known celebrities. These shows are called Celebrity Big Brother or Big Brother VIP, depending on where the series is. In some countries, the prize money normally awarded to the winning housemate is donated to a charity, and all celebrities are paid to appear in the show as long as they do not voluntarily leave before their eviction or the end of the series. The rest of the format rules are almost the same as the ones from the original version, although in many occasions they are not so strict due to the exceptional character of the program. The series has been a prime-time hit in many countries and was aired for the first time in 2000, in the Netherlands.
The Big Brother format has been extensively modified in some countries, most often to the point where the housemates are either teenagers or housemates from previous seasons. The winners of these seasons are often eligible to win the prize for themselves, unlike most of the celebrity edition versions.
There are also "test runs" with a group of celebrities or journalists living together in the house during a few days, with the only goal being testing out the house. There are occasions where people who have auditioned for the show are also put in the house, most notably in the British edition, where many housemates claim to have met before. Series such as these are known to occur in Argentina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, Pacific, Philippines, Spain and many other countries. In some cases, it is not broadcast, but in others, such as the US edition, it is used as a promotional tool.
Region/Country | Local Title | Network | Winners | Main Presenters |
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Big Brother Africa | M-Net E4 (UK) (2003) Africa Channel "(United States of America)" (2003 series in 2008) |
Season 1, 2003: |
Mark Pilgrim (2003) Kabelo "KB" Ngakane (2007 - present) |
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Big Brother | Top Channel |
Season 1, 2008: Arbër Çepani |
Arbana Osmani |
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Gran Hermano |
Telefe |
Season 1, 2001: Marcelo Corazza |
Soledad Silveira (2001-03) Jorge Rial (2007-09) |
Gran Hermano Famosos |
Season 1, 2007: Diego Leonardi |
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Big Brother Australia | Network Ten TV 2 (New Zealand) |
Season 1, 2001: |
Gretel Killeen (2001-2007) |
Celebrity Big Brother | Network Ten | Season 1, 2002: Dylan Lewis | ||
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Big Brother |
Kanaal Twee |
Season 1, 2000: Steven Spillebeen |
Walter Grootaers |
Big Brother VIPs | vtm Kanaal Twee |
Season 1, 2001: Sam Gooris |
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Big Brother All Stars | Kanaal Twee |
Season 1, 2003: Heidi Zutterman |
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Big Brother Brasil | Rede Globo |
Season 1, 2002: Kléber de Paula |
Pedro Bial |
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Big Brother | Nova Television Nova+ (Live) |
Season 1, 2004-2005: Zdravko Vasilev |
Niki Kunchev (2004-2006) and Evelina Pavlova (2004-2005) Milen Tsvetkov (2008-) |
VIP Brother | Nova Television Nova+ (Live) (2006-2007) |
Season 1, 2006: Konstantin Slavov |
Niki Kunchev (2006-2007) and Evelina Pavlova (2006). | |
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Loft Story | TQS |
Season 1, 2003: Julie Lemay & Samuel Tissot |
Renée-Claude Brazeau (2003) Philippe Fehmiu (2003) |
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Gran Hermano | Caracol TV |
Season 1, 2003: Mónica Tejón |
Adriana Arango Carlos Calero |
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Big Brother | RTL |
Season 1, 2004: Saša Tkalčević |
Daria Knez (2004) |
Celebrity Big Brother | RTL |
Season 1, 2008: Danijela Dvornik |
Antonija Blaće |
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Big Brother | TV NOVA |
Season 1, 2005: David Šín |
Eva Aichmajerová, Lejla Abbasová and Leoš Mareš |
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Big Brother |
TV Danmark |
Season 1, 2001: Jill Liv Nielsen |
Lisbeth Janniche |
Big Brother VIP | TV Danmark |
Season 1, 2003: Thomas Bickham |
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Big Brother All Stars | TV Danmark | Season 1, 2004: Jill Liv Nielsen | ||
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Gran Hermano | Ecuavisa |
Season 1, 2003: David Burbano |
Toty Rodríguez |
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Big Brother Suomi |
Sub |
Season 1, 2005: Perttu Sirviö |
Mari Kakko (2005-2006) |
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Loft Story | M6 |
Season 1, 2001: Christophe Mercy & Loana Petrucciani |
Benjamin Castaldi |
Secret Story |
TF1 | Season 1, 2007: Marjorie, Cyrielle and Johanna Bluteau ("Les Triplées") Season 2, 2008: |
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Big Brother |
RTL |
Season 1, 2000: John Milz |
Percy Hoven (2000) |
![]() ![]() Greece and Cyprus |
Big Brother |
ANT1 |
Season 1, 2001: Giorgos Triantafyllidis |
Andreas Mikroutsikos (2001-2003) |
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Big Brother Nagy Testvér | TV2 |
Season 1, 2002: Éva Párkányi |
Claudia Liptai Attila Till |
Big Brother VIP | TV2 |
Season 1, 2003: Zolee Ganxsta |
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Grande Fratello |
Canale 5 |
Season 1, 2000: Cristina Plevani |
Daria Bignardi (2000-2001) |
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Bigg Boss | SET Colors Viacom 18 |
Season 1, 2006-2007: Rahul Roy |
Arshad Warsi (2006-2007) Shilpa Shetty (2008-) |
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Ha'Ach Ha'Gadol (האח הגדול) The Big Brother |
Channel 2 - Keshet | Season 1, 2008: Current season | Erez Tal and Assi Azar[3] |
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Big Brother México |
Televisa |
Season 1, 2002: Rocío Cárdenas |
Adela Micha (2002-2003) |
Big Brother VIP | Televisa |
Season 1, 2002: Galilea Montijo |
Víctor Trujillo (2002) |
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Big Brotherالرئيس
Al'Rais |
MBC |
Season 1, 2004: Discontinued[4] |
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Big Brother |
Veronica (1999-2000) |
Season 1, 1999: Bart Spring in 't Veld |
Rolf Wouters (1999) |
Big Brother VIPs | Veronica (2000) Talpa (2006) |
Season 1, 2000: No winner |
Caroline Tensen (2006) |
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Big Brother Nigeria |
M-Net | Season 1, 2006: Katung Aduwak | Olisa Adibua & Michelle Dede |
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Big Brother Norge | TVN |
Season 1, 2001: Lars Joakim Ringom |
Arve Juritzen (2001-02) |
Big Brother: Tilbake I Huset | TVN | Season 1, 2001: Leena Brekke | ||
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Gran Hermano del Pacífico |
Season 1, 2005: ![]() |
Álvaro García | |
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Pinoy Big Brother |
ABS-CBN |
Season 1, 2005: Nene Tamayo |
Willie Revillame (2005) Toni Gonzaga |
Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition | ABS-CBN |
Season 1, 2006: Keanna Reeves |
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Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition |
ABS-CBN |
Season 1, 2006: Kim Chiu |
Mariel Rodriguez (2006) Toni Gonzaga & Luis Manzano (2008) |
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Big Brother | TVN (2001-2002) TV4 (2007-...) |
Season 1, 2001: Janusz Dzięcioł |
Martyna Wojciechowska (2001-2002) |
Big Brother: Ty wybierasz | TVN |
Season 1, 2001: Małgorzata Maier & Sebastian Florek |
Martyna Wojciechowska |
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Big Brother VIP | TV4 | Season 1, 2008: Jarek Jakimowicz | Kuba Klawiter Małgorzata Kosik |
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Big Brother | TVI |
Season 1, 2000-2001: Zé Maria Seleiro |
Teresa Guilherme |
Big Brother Famosos | TVI |
Season 1, 2002: Ricardo Vieira |
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Big Brother | Prima TV |
Season 1, 2003: Soso Joi |
Andreea Raicu |
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большой брат
Bol'shoy Brat |
TNT | Season 1, 2005: Anastasia Yagaylova | Ingeborga Dapkunaite |
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Big Brother |
Season 1, 2005: |
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Second Life | Big Brother Second Life | World Wide Web | Season 1, 2006: Madlen Flint | |
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Big Brother Súboj | TV Markíza | Season 1, 2005: Richard Tkáč | Zuzana Belohorcová |
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Big Brother |
Kanal A |
Season 1, 2007: |
Nina Osenar |
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Big Brother South Africa | M-Net |
Season 1, 2001: Ferdinand Rabie |
Mark Pilgrim |
Celebrity Big Brother | M-Net |
Season 1, 2002: Bill Flynn |
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Gran Hermano |
Telecinco |
Season 1, 2000: Ismael Beiro |
Mercedes Milá (2000-2001, 2002-present) |
Gran Hermano VIP |
Telecinco |
Season 1, 2004: |
Jesús Vázquez | |
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Big Brother Sverige | Kanal5 |
Season 1, 2000: Angelica Freij |
Adam Alsing |
Big Brother Stjärnveckan | Kanal5 |
Season 1, 2002: Anki Lundberg (Baren) |
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Big Brother Schweiz | TV3 |
Season 1, 2000: Daniela Kanton |
Daniel Fohrler (2000) |
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Big Brother Thailand | iTV |
Season 1, 2005: Nipon Perktim |
Saranyu Vonkarjun |
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Big Brother |
Channel 4 |
Series 1, 2000: |
Davina McCall |
Celebrity Big Brother | BBC One Channel 4 E4 S4C (Wales) |
Series 1, 2001: |
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Teen Big Brother |
Channel 4 |
Series 1, 2003: ![]() |
Dermot O'Leary | |
Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack | E4 Channel 4 |
Series 1, 2008:![]() |
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Panto Big Brother | Channel 4 E4 S4C (Wales) |
Series 1, 2004: No winner | Jeff Brazier | |
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Big Brother |
Season 1, 2000: Eddie McGee |
Julie Chen | |
Big Brother: All-Stars |
Season 7, 2006: Mike "Boogie" Malin |
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Veliki brat |
Pink BH (Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
Season 1, 2006: |
Marijana Mićić |
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Veliki brat Proba | B92 |
Season 1, 2006: |
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Veliki brat VIP |
Pink BH (Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
Season 1, 2007: |
When two seasons in different countries are taking place simultaneously, housemates are sometimes temporarily exchanged between them.
Big Brother series | Housemates involved | Year | Duration |
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![]() swapped with |
Eduardo Ozorco 'El Doc' swapped with |
2002 | 7 days |
![]() swapped with |
Eduardo Carrera swapped with |
2003 | 7 days |
![]() swapped with |
Álvaro swapped with |
2003 | 7 days |
![]() swapped with |
Gaetano Juko Kagwa swapped with |
2003 | 4 Days |
![]() swapped with |
Anton Granlund swapped with |
2006 | 7 Days |
![]() swapped with |
Bruce Quebral |
2007 | 5 days |
![]() swapped with |
Soledad Melli swapped with |
2007 | 7 days |
![]() swapped with |
Munya Chidzonga swapped with |
2008 | 7 days |
Big Brother series | Housemates involved | Year |
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![]() Housemate Visited |
Annouska |
2003 |
![]() swapped with |
Isabel swapped with |
2003 |
![]() Housemate Visited |
Ivan swapped with |
2005 |
![]() Housemate Visited |
Nadia |
2005 |
![]() Housemate Visited |
Chantelle |
2006 |
![]() swapped with |
Pablo swapped with |
2007 |
![]() Contestant |
Jade Goody |
2008 |
These are some of the subtitles of Big Brother shows around the world. These are not the local title of the show.
Region / Country | Season | Subtitle |
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3 | Big Brother Anders |
5 | Zero Privacy | |
6 | ||
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4 | Episode 4 |
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1 | Vidi sve (Sees Everything) |
2 | Gola istina (Naked Truth) | |
3 | Do kraja (To The End) | |
4 | Bez milosti! (No Mercy!) | |
5 | Avantura te zove! (Adventure calls you!) | |
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4 | The Battle |
6 | Das Dorf (The Village) | |
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3 | The Wall |
4 | Big Mother | |
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3 | The Battle |
VIP 2 | Big Brother Hotel | |
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3 | The Wall |
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Teen 2 | Plus |
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1 | Wielki Brat |
2 | ||
3 | Bitwa (The Battle) | |
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1 | O Grande Irmão |
2 | ||
3 | ||
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1 | Fratele Cel Mare |
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2 | Očekuj neočekivano (Expect the Unexpected) |
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VIP | El Desafío (The Challenge) |
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1,2 | Big Brother vas gleda! (Big Brother is watching you!) |
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Celebrity 1 | In Aid of Comic Relief |
Teen 1 | The Experiment | |
5 | Big Brother Gets Evil | |
Celebrity 3 | ||
7 | Big Brother Gets Twisted | |
9 | Zero Tolerance | |
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4 | The X-Factor |
5 | Project DNA - Do Not Assume | |
6 | Summer Of Secrets | |
7 | All-Stars | |
9 | 'Til Death Do You Part |
As of 5th September 2008, the UK version of Big Brother, including the special editions, totals 17 complete series with the 18th, Celebrity Big Brother 6, due to start in January 2009. To date, nine complete series of the regular format have aired, with a 10th upcoming in Summer 2009, and five complete series of the Celebrity format have aired with, a sixth due to air in January 2009. There have also been three special Big Brother shows in the UK: Teen Big Brother; Big Brother: The Panto; and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack.
Spain comes in second with 11 complete series, comprising nine regular and two VIP series, and a 12th currently on air. The United States is third, with ten complete Big Brother series.
There is a number of different formats around the globe that use rules similar to Big Brother, here are the most notable:
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