Big Brother was once worth watching - Telegraph article

[Yaki da]

As unlikely as this now sounds, there was a time when Big Brother was worth watching. No, really, there was. This is easy to forget when the latest series, which only started last week, has already attracted hundreds of complaints from viewers, appalled by the wanton behaviour of the housemates.

Marco Pierre White Jr (the odious son of a stock cube salesman) seems intent on fornicating and groping his way through series 17 of the show. Laura Carter and Evelyn Ellis, meanwhile, have taken permanent leave of their clothes and last night cosied up together in the hot tub. Alas, two pairs of boobs and one massive tit look set to dominate Channel 5 this summer...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/06/14/big-brother-was-once-worth-watching-no-really-it-was/

[MB.]

It was?

[Greg!]

Can garuantee this TV snob hasn't even watched BB this year or any series since about 2001

[Yaki da]

Can garuantee this TV snob hasn't even watched BB this year l, or any series since about 2001

I'm sure he has. Given that he's reflecting the views of most people posting on forums like these or Digital Spy.

[Greg!]

oh just read the article. BB1 was so boring but he's entitled to his opinion

[Yaki da]

oh just read the article. BB1 was so boring but he's entitled to his opinion

Good idea to read the article before posting on it. BB1 was exciting for its time and had one of the best BB scenes ever when they confronted Nick.

BB3 and BB5 remain, by some distance the two best series imo.

And it has nothing to do with being a TV snob. A TV snob would never say BB was worth watching in the first place. It's about recognizing a serious decline in quality, and if people can't acknowledge this has happened, I don't know what to say.

[Maru]

I think some people are still in denial about this series...

For me, launch night was so promising but between Marco and Laura's trash and the splitting of production between two houses, it's been very difficult to get to know the HM's and feels overproduced. I have to put a lot of effort to catch up because I am overseas.

[Samm]

His opinion is automatically bad as he ignored the peak of BB, BB6!

[Greg!]

Good idea to read the article before posting on it. BB1 was exciting for its time and had one of the best BB scenes ever when they confronted Nick.

BB3 and BB5 remain, by some distance the two best series imo.

And it has nothing to do with being a TV snob. A TV snob would never say BB was worth watching in the first place. It's about recognizing a serious decline in quality, and if people can't acknowledge this has happened, I don't know what to say.

This series > BB1

[Greg!]

His opinion is automatically bad as he ignored the peak of BB, BB6!

But that had vile nudity and attention seekers so it's bad tv!!1!1!

[Yaki da]

I think some people are still in denial about this series...

For me, launch night was so promising but between Marco and Laura's trash and the splitting of production between two houses, it's been very difficult to get to know the HM's and feels overproduced. I have to put a lot of effort to catch up because I am overseas.

There's drama that gives people something to talk/complain about. But how anyone can look at the production staff and their repeated failures and say, objectively, that this show is good is beyond me. You might enjoy the car crash nature of it all, but the show has been wrecked.

My own view is that they should drop the celebrity series they do in the Summer, which never does as well as the one in Jan, and use the money to make the two series left as good as they can be. Clearly there are budget issues, but why destroy the programme altogether because you want to milk it for everything it's worth, instead of making one celeb series and one main series as good as they can be, which begins with giving fans what they've been asking for for years. That can only begin once you find a way to save money and you do that by not spending a ridiculous amount of it on celebrities 2 times a year.

[Yaki da]

This series > BB1

Nope. BB1 had a very clear and basic format that did not leave everyone totally baffled by it like this series has done.

Any series where the production team become over-reliant on endless twists which they seem incapable of pulling off and never fully explain cannot be anything other than a failure, regardless of how much enjoyment you might get out of watching a tit of a man suck on the tit of a woman.

[Marsh.]

Great article and so right. :clap1:

[TomC]

I'm no BB1 fan, but I would take it over what we get now.

[Marsh.]

His opinion is automatically bad as he ignored the peak of BB, BB6!

No he didn't. He clearly mentions it, along with Kinga, in the article.

[Greg!]

Nope. BB1 had a very clear and basic format that did not leave everyone totally baffled by it like this series has done.

Any series where the production team become over-reliant on endless twists which they seem incapable of pulling off and never fully explain cannot be anything other than a failure, regardless of how much enjoyment you might get out of watching a tit of a man suck on the tit of a woman.

It was boring. It's only remembered fondly because it was the first series and seemed exciting and unique at the time it aired

[Rob!]

I forgot Channel 5 were aiming for a telegraph reading audience

[Marsh.]

This series > BB1

:joker: :joker: :joker:

[Marsh.]

It was boring. It's only remembered fondly because it was the first series and seemed exciting and unique at the time it aired

Or because they had housemates with, what's it called again.... oh yeah, personalities.

[Rob!]

Or because they had housemates with, what's it called again.... oh yeah, personalities.

http://66.media.tumblr.com/f905407f1419adf376330578d06951d6/tumblr_o8td0aLARQ1v9roxto1_400.gif

[TomC]

was the first series and seemed exciting and unique at the time it aired

Well that's the whole point... That's the reason it was worth watching at the time.

I don't agree that BB1's HMs had 'personalities' though to any extent greater than the HMs we get now. They were quite basic and held back a lot.

[Yaki da]

It was boring. It's only remembered fondly because it was the first series and seemed exciting and unique at the time it aired

I don't know how old you are, but if you watched it when it aired originally, it was the most discussed show on television.

And you can excuse it for getting a little dull after Nick left, because it was the first ever show. It had to be tweaked a little and it was and you got BB3 and then BB5 as a result.

But anyone who thinks any effort on Channel 5 with the lack of live coverage, the meddling with nominations, the crap website, the endless twists which never work and on and on, has surpassed what it became on Channel 4 from about BB2 - BB7 is watching a different show to me and should frankly be held as partly responsible for the sorry state it is now in.

[Greg!]

Or because they had housemates with, what's it called again.... oh yeah, personalities.

lmao the "villain" of the series had the personality of a door. The only good housemates were Caroline, Anna and Sada. Some of the males had no personality whatsoever

[Greg!]

I don't know how old you are, but if you watched it when it aired originally, it was the most discussed show on television.

And you can excuse it for getting a little dull after Nick left, because it was the first ever show. It had to be tweaked a little and it was and you got BB3 and then BB5 as a result.

But anyone who thinks any effort on Channel 5 with the lack of live coverage, the meddling with nominations, the endless twists which never work and on and on, has surpassed what it became on Channel 4 from about BB2 - BB7 is watching a different show to me and should frankly be held as partly responsible for the sorry state it is now in.

I watched like the fist 12 episodes oh YouTube because I was about 2 when it first aired. I had to stop because it was boring. Maybe it's a generational thing but I prefer series with lots of drama and comedic moments like BB17

[Pete.]

Haters can stop watching and watch BB2 on YouTube or something. The show is what it is and has evolved, for good or bad, and this series has been great so far so I don't see the issue

[Yaki da]

Well that's the whole point... That's the reason it was worth watching at the time.

I don't agree that BB1's HMs had 'personalities' though to any extent greater than the HMs we get now. They were quite basic and held back a lot.

Yeah, that's true. The real differences between BB2 - BB9 and what we get now are the production team and its constant need to manipulate and contrive drama and the way they have thrown away the entire format of the show in attempting to do so which has just made them look ridiculous and the show borderline unwatchable.

[TomC]

I think it's more the fact that the show has developed, and has got more extreme over time @greg

[Rob!]

I think it's totally a generational thing. Watch an episode of Corrie or Eastenders on YouTube from the 80s and it's a very different show to what airs now.
High drama is where series tend to peak the first time they have it and then all they can do is try and retain it. Doesn't work. But they can't go back either.

[*mazedsalv**]

See, I get this, I really do. But those times have changed.

Back then, boredom was key in seeing what would happen, eg. unexpected friendships etc...

But that wouldn't work. And it's not just BB, but other shows too. BB is old, it's 17 years old. They've done everything. Of course it was fresher back then. EVERY series in the world was.It would not survive with a BB1/2 format, it certainly could with a BB3 onwards one though. Even from BB3, producers tried to stir (see first eviction).

It was proven to us last year. The first 2 weeks was the least manipulated series in a long time, but people were not interested. There is no way people would watch 10 weeks of people talking to chickens (even if it was for a bit). After 1 day people would say "OMG it's so dull and switch off". It's just not possible to go back to basics. People nowadays want BAM BAM. People don't have patience to see something slowly blossom (not just BB fans but all shows!)

We've been through the ringer and back, that it'd just not be feasible to return back to that.

[Yaki da]

Haters can stop watching and watch BB2 on YouTube

The whole point of Big Brother is that you watch it unfold as it happens. No series is going to be as exciting when you watch it back without all the talk that was going on at the time about it.


The show is what it is and has evolved, for good or bad, and this series has been great so far so I don't see the issue

It's had all the same problems, if not more, that it is has had on Channel 5 for the last 3 or 4 years and perhaps some new ones thrown in as well. The show has not evolved, it has devolved. And it will not get better until everyone acknowledges this so that they recognize something has to be done to salvage it before it is just axed.

This is 2016 and it's an interactive show with no website, no live coverage (which the original idea was built on), constant meddling in nominations to the point where the viewers, presenters and even the producers don't know what's going on. That does not and could not ever represent an improvement.

And why fans of the show who are unhappy should be told to just "Switch off" when all they want is the show to improve has always been beyond me.

[Marsh.]

I don't agree that BB1's HMs had 'personalities' though to any extent greater than the HMs we get now. They were quite basic and held back a lot.

Well they certainly displayed more about them as people than the basic inane sh*te we get now.

[Marsh.]

http://66.media.tumblr.com/f905407f1419adf376330578d06951d6/tumblr_o8td0aLARQ1v9roxto1_400.gif

:joker:

[Marsh.]

lmao the "villain" of the series had the personality of a door. The only good housemates were Caroline, Anna and Sada. Some of the males had no personality whatsoever

And do enlighten me as to the personalities we have been presented with this year?

It's also worth asking if you watched BB1 as it aired, or whether you watched it years later?

[Crimson Dynamo]

(the odious son of a stock cube salesman)

and thus the tone of the "article" was set

:rolleyes:

[Marsh.]

I watched like the fist 12 episodes oh YouTube because I was about 2 when it first aired. I had to stop because it was boring. Maybe it's a generational thing but I prefer series with lots of drama and comedic moments like BB17

And there we have it. :joker:

[Greg!]

And there we have it. :joker:

No need to laugh at my opinions. Bit rude.

https://uploadir.com/u/netlmhem

[MB.]

Can we at least agree that BB17 > BB2

[Marsh.]

No need to laugh at my opinions. Bit rude.

https://uploadir.com/u/netlmhem

:smug:

I'm laughing more at you watching 12 episodes on youtube god knows how many years after it aired.

[Marsh.]

Can we at least agree that BB17 > BB2

No one likes a liar.

[Yaki da]

I think it's totally a generational thing. Watch an episode of Corrie or Eastenders on YouTube from the 80s and it's a very different show to what airs now.
High drama is where series tend to peak the first time they have it and then all they can do is try and retain it. Doesn't work. But they can't go back either.

The people who are watching Big Brother today and mostly those who always did watch it (it's just more and more of them have turned off). But all of us know full well that it has experienced an extraordinary decline in quality on Channel 5. That deterioration can be offset to some extent by a good choice of housemates, but they're fighting a losing struggle against the production team which seems to be run by idiots, who have forgotten that this is an interactive show and they have built a brick wall up between it and the fans.

[Greg!]

:smug:

I'm laughing more at you watching 12 episodes on youtube god knows how many years after it aired.

When I watched it is irrelevant I found it boring

[MB.]

No one likes a liar.

Me when you gush over such vibrant characters as Elizabeth and Dean

[Marsh.]

When I watched it is irrelevant I found it boring

When you watch a show like Big Brother is incredibly relevant.

Watching it years later, not live and with the feeds as it unfolds is not the same at all. :hee:

30 minute episodes on youtube is not a Big Brother. :smug:

[Yaki da]

Can we at least agree that BB17 > BB2

Nope. Many of us watched BB2 when it happened. It was the first series to have a 24/7 feed on a Channel (E4) and viewers came to genuinely care about housemates like Brian, Helen, Paul, Dean and Bubble, who they got to watch every day whenever they felt like it. It had a very clear format which everyone understood, real drama, rather than contrived and though it wasn't as good as series 3 or 5, it was highly enjoyable and had arguably the best final 2 of any series.

[Marsh.]

Me when you gush over such vibrant characters as Elizabeth and Dean

Brian, Helen, Bubble, Amma, Penny and Stuart say suck on me dick. :smug:

[Marsh.]

Nope. Many of us watched BB2 when it happened. It was the first series to have a 24/7 feed on a Channel (E4) and viewers came to genuinely care about housemates like Brian, Helen, Paul, Dean and Bubble, who they got watch every day whenever they felt like it. It had a very clear format which everyone understood, real drama, rather than contrived and though it wasn't as good as series 3 or 5, it was highly enjoyable and had arguably the best final 2 of any series.

:clap1:

[MB.]

Brian, Helen, Bubble, Amma, Penny and Stuart say suck on me dick. :smug:

Penny is the only good housemate in that list m8

[MB.]

Nope. Many of us watched BB2 when it happened. It was the first series to have a 24/7 feed on a Channel (E4) and viewers came to genuinely care about housemates like Brian, Helen, Paul, Dean and Bubble, who they got to watch every day whenever they felt like it. It had a very clear format which everyone understood, real drama, rather than contrived and though it wasn't as good as series 3 or 5, it was highly enjoyable and had arguably the best final 2 of any series.

That's a yes then

[Marsh.]

Penny is the only good housemate in that list m8

Stop lying you'll end up with a nose like LT.

[Yaki da]

This is the problem. Some of you are comparing the experience of watching a series unfold as it does with watching back an old series on youtube. Watching a series back will never be as much fun as watching a series as it happens regardless of how good that series seemed at the time. The whole magic of BB is being able to discuss it as it happens with friends and with others on forums.

That's the most extraordinary thing about the lack of live coverage to me. In the age of 24/7 social media sites like twitter, the live feed actually lended itself perfectly to that. Imagine what Fight Night from BB5 would have been like with twitter there. The Digital Spy forums crashed that night.

[Yaki da]

That's a yes then


You don't seem to be capable of communicating.

[MB.]

Happy birthday

[Babayaro.]

MB stop with the sarcasm!!

[Marsh.]

This is the problem. Some of you are comparing the experience of watching a series unfold as it does with watching back an old series on youtube. Watching a series back will never be as much fun as watching a series as it happens regardless of how good that series seemed at the time. The whole magic of BB is being able to discuss it as it happens with friends and with others on forums.

That's the most extraordinary thing about the lack of live coverage to me. In the age of 24/7 social media sites like twitter, the live feed actually lended itself perfectly to that. Imagine what Fight Night from BB5 would have been like with twitter there. The Digital Spy forums crashed that night.

:clap1:

:worship:

[Greg!]

Sorry but Hughie, Georgina and Natalie > BB1

[Yaki da]

But that wouldn't work. And it's not just BB, but other shows too. BB is old, it's 17 years old. They've done everything. Of course it was fresher back then. EVERY series in the world was.It would not survive with a BB1/2 format, it certainly could with a BB3 onwards one though. Even from BB3, producers tried to stir (see first eviction).

It could survive quite fine, probably much better, with big characters, normal nominations/evictions, inventive tasks, 24/7 coverage and a good website. All of which it used to have. The fact that some of these things don't exist in 2016 which they did back in 2006, represents a clear decline.

It was proven to us last year. The first 2 weeks was the least manipulated series in a long time

Utter nonsense. There was manipulation on the very first night when Showbiz was evicted, Nick was told he had to nominate face to face every week and Jack was given 3 free passes.

Furthermore is was a terrible lineup full of limp wristed men, at least 2 of whom were virgins, and older girls who acted like their big sisters.

There is no way people would watch 10 weeks of people talking to chickens (even if it was for a bit). After 1 day people would say "OMG it's so dull and switch off". It's just not possible to go back to basics. People nowadays want BAM BAM. People don't have patience to see something slowly blossom (not just BB fans but all shows!)

Basics are what I listed... Fewer housemates with strong individual personalities (Not saying every early series had this but some did), normal nominations/evictions, less meddling, less elaborate twists which never work, a good website with a 24/7 feed that keeps us updated throughout the day which people can talk about on social media sites that never even existed in the early days of BB.

We've been through the ringer and back, that it'd just not be feasible to return back to that.

You don't nderstand what it is people are asking for the show to return to.

[sampvt]

Ive watched every moment of BB and CBB and even Bots, (before it was taken over by gay central Rylan) and I am a mad fan of the show. Sadly this series has little or no resemblance to BB, its a scaled down CBB with deviants and weirdo that cant provide entertainment without showing body parts or using copious amounts of profanity.

[MB.]

Furthermore is was a terrible lineup full of limp wristed men

Ive watched every moment of BB and CBB and even Bots, (before it was taken over by gay central Rylan)

Ho ho homophobia!

[hot2go]

He's talking crap....BB is still good ...and if we hadn't had the others we wouldn't now have Huey, Natalie, Ryan and Charlie....they're the bonus balls

[Yaki da]

Ho ho homophobia!

Saying men are limp wristed has nothing to do with their sexuality. It is to do with their personalities. The men that year were mostly wimps. Wimps who were overshadowed by the much stronger girls. Who were themselves boring.

It is impossible to debate with a person like you.

[Crimson Dynamo]

this dick that wrote that article cannot see that if BB ran like BB1-6 now people would hate it and it would never get past BB1`

we can look back and love iot but the reality is that life has moved on apace and out viewing habits have massively changed


Its such a lazy article when he could have written something insightful

wanker

[Rob!]

Saying men are limp wristed has nothing to do with their sexuality. It is to do with their personalities. The men that year were mostly wimps. Wimps who were overshadowed by the much stronger girls. Who were themselves boring.

It is impossible to debate with a person like you.

Even though the phrase limp wristed is associated with gay men but ok

[Yaki da]

this dick that wrote that article cannot see that if BB ran like BB1-6 now people would hate it and it would never get past BB1

Nonsense. BB3, BB5 and BB6 and BB7 would do brilliantly today because the housemates were good and the format was easy to understand (apart from one or two twists) and it didn't insult the intelligence of the viewer to anything like the same degree it does today.`

we can look back and love iot but the reality is that life has moved on apace and out viewing habits have massively changed

And Big Brother has changed in completely the wrong ways, hence the reason it loses its audience year after year. It could have built on the format it had and instead it destroyed it and turned the show into something fewer and fewer people are watching. With good reason.


Its such a lazy article when he could have written something insightful

wanker

You didn't do any better.

[MB.]

Saying men are limp wristed has nothing to do with their sexuality. It is to do with their personalities

Let's just end this entire forum here shall we

[Marsh.]

this dick that wrote that article cannot see that if BB ran like BB1-6 now people would hate it and it would never get past BB1`

we can look back and love iot but the reality is that life has moved on apace and out viewing habits have massively changed


Its such a lazy article when he could have written something insightful

wanker

BB1-6 wasn't the same though.

BB1-2
BB3
BB4
BB5-7
BB9-11
BB12-13
BB14-17

are the different "styles" of the show IMO.

They could definitely get away with a style of show like BB3, 5-7. They just need a great core cast.

[Yaki da]

Even though the phrase limp wristed is associated with gay men but ok

It's associated with men who do not behave in a strong, masculine manner. Which can be a heterosexual man as readily as it can be a homosexual. Nick from last year is a perfect example of it.

As I said, it is impossible to debate with people like this.

[Yaki da]

Let's just end this entire forum here shall we

How about you end your contributions to this thread here, whilst the rest of us carry on...

[MB.]

BB1-6 wasn't the same though.

BB1-2
BB3
BB4
BB5-7
BB9-11
BB12-13
BB14-17

are the different "styles" of the show IMO.

They could definitely get away with a style of show like BB3, 5-7. They just need a great core cast.

I know BB8 wasn't great per se but it doesn't deserve to be wiped from history completely

Actually, on second thoughts, go ahead

[*mazedsalv**]

It could survive quite fine, probably much better, with big characters, normal nominations/evictions, inventive tasks, 24/7 coverage and a good website. All of which it used to have. The fact that some of these things don't exist in 2016 which they did back in 2006, represents a clear decline.



Utter nonsense. There was manipulation on the very first night when Showbiz was evicted, Nick was told he had to nominate face to face every week and Jack was given 3 free passes.

Furthermore is was a terrible lineup full of limp wristed men, at least 2 of whom were virgins, and older girls who acted like their big sisters.



Basics are what I listed... Fewer housemates with strong individual personalities (Not saying every early series had this but some did), normal nominations/evictions, less meddling, less elaborate twists which never work, a good website with a 24/7 feed that keeps us updated throughout the day which people can talk about on social media sites that never even existed in the early days of BB.



You don't nderstand what it is people are asking for the show to return to.

I want 24/7 feed. I'm an avid watcher.

But bi matter what you say, BB would not survive with a completely back to basics approach. How would it? The generation had been dumbed down. The ratings will fall further. There are almost no older fans left just young ones who don't remember BB being what it was.

All I'm asking for is minimal twists and 24/7 coverage. That's my basics

[Will.]

Ho ho

Merry Christmas.

[MB.]

How about you end your contributions to this thread here, whilst the rest of us carry on...

If your contributions are calling other people's ideas terrible and being ignorantly low key homophobic then I'll continue as I am, ta :oh:

[Marsh.]

I know BB8 wasn't great per se but it doesn't deserve to be wiped from history completely

Actually, on second thoughts, go ahead

:clap1:

[Babayaro.]

What are the bets on Yaki da writing that article

[Rob!]

It's associated with men who do not behave in a strong, masculine manner. Which can be a heterosexual man as readily as it can be a homosexual. Nick from last year is a perfect example of it.

As I said, it is impossible to debate with people like this.

Erm. I'm a gay man and I'm fully aware of what it means.

[Maru]

Ive watched every moment of BB and CBB and even Bots, (before it was taken over by gay central Rylan) and I am a mad fan of the show. Sadly this series has little or no resemblance to BB, its a scaled down CBB with deviants and weirdo that cant provide entertainment without showing body parts or using copious amounts of profanity.

Pretty much.

[Marsh.]

I'm a gay man

http://66.media.tumblr.com/7586c9aaed82fc1c67aae9009919b0be/tumblr_o8tcx0PAFv1v9roxto7_250.gif

[MB.]

its a scaled down CBB with deviants and weirdo that cant provide entertainment without showing body parts or using copious amounts of profanity.

Fingers crossed they bring back the classy contestants of the golden era like Kinga and Michelle Bass :fc:

[Yaki da]

I want 24/7 feed. I'm an avid watcher.

But bi matter what you say, BB would not survive with a completely back to basics approach. How would it?

Whether it succeeds or fails is dependent on the housemates and always has been. BB3 had controversial and interesting characters, BB4 did not. BB5 - BB7 followed the BB3 model and that was probably BB's peak (Though BB3 did the highest ratings). It began to go downhill when the producers felt the need to meddle in the second half of BB7 (starting with the House Next Door), and then again with Jade Goody and her family on CBB, and worst of all, BB8 which started with that absurd (though at times amusing) all-female cast. The halfway house nonsense that year was just dire, and the idiot producers seem to have tried to recreate it this year and it's even worse this time.

Almost all of BB's problems have come about because they turned their back on an original format which with good housemates that people were fascinated by was still bringing in a lot of viewers. And imo, still would providing you have the live coverage and a good website to allow people to get to know them and feel involved in it all, which you can't anymore.


The generation had been dumbed down. The ratings will fall further. There are almost no older fans left just young ones who don't remember BB being what it was.

I'm not sure young people are the ones watching it. I suspect it's older people who are still the majority of the viewers. The reason more and more people are switching off is because everything has the feel of cheapness and desperation about it and no one knows what the hell is going on anymore. This was most perfectly demonstrated by last nights live twist.

[Marsh.]

Fingers crossed they bring back the classy contestants of the golden era like Kinga and Michelle Bass :fc:

Tbf, they were more than bodies. Kinga had the singing voice of an angel and Michelle Bass could do things with an aubergine you wouldn't believe.

[Jamesy]

It could survive quite fine, probably much better, with big characters, normal nominations/evictions, inventive tasks, 24/7 coverage and a good website. All of which it used to have. The fact that some of these things don't exist in 2016 which they did back in 2006, represents a clear decline.

Agree with everything you've said, you're pretty spot on.

This is the main problem with Big Brother now. Tasks are, well, tasks have been the same every week for every series for the past few years, "who said x about y" sums up 90% of C5 tasks, including the shopping ones. Where's the creativity? Overnight tasks and daily tasks that tested abilities became a true staple of the show in its best days. Now it's just about who said Gill has hairy armpits. If you guess right you get unlimited alcohol and a party.

The characters, they need more diversity, you don't need a house of 18 vain people that love the sound of their own voices and like to shout. Have a mix, have some quiet ones, people who work in different areas, people that come from different upbringings, a diverse cast is far more likely to clash and create an interesting show more than a cast of people who just want the same thing. C4 got casting far more right than C5 ever have.

The current website is appalling, and the lack of live feed is shocking for 2016, the internet is bigger than it has ever been and they don't use that for a live feed?

Big Brother as it is now tries far too hard to be complicated and create twists for the sake of it. If they stood back, stripped the show back a little, actually created interesting tasks and shopping tasks, the show could easily stick around for many years to come and thrive.

C5 have dragged the show so far into the ground by now, when the show does eventually get axed no other channel will buy it, and I doubt any channel would buy it after a break of a few years either. Channel 5 have tarnished the brand completely in the UK.

Less is more. We know times are different and a show needs to reflect this, although Big Brother does not have to be as over the top of silly as it is now, it needs to be simpler and more clever.

[sungrass]

I'm sure he has. Given that he's reflecting the views of most people posting on forums like these or Digital Spy.

Yep - I think the programe is geared towards a target audience of 13+ even though it has adult themes....they know younger people watch it and want them to - due to the advertising mantra "get em while their young"

[Yaki da]

Agree with everything you've said, you're pretty spot on.

This is the main problem with Big Brother now. Tasks are, well, tasks have been the same every week for every series for the past few years, "who said x about y" sums up 90% of C5 tasks, including the shopping ones. Where's the creativity? Overnight tasks and daily tasks that tested abilities became a true staple of the show in its best days. Now it's just about who said Gill has hairy armpits. If you guess right you get unlimited alcohol and a party.

The characters, they need more diversity, you don't need a house of 18 vain people that love the sound of their own voices and like to shout. Have a mix, have some quiet ones, people who work in different areas, people that come from different upbringings, a diverse cast is far more likely to clash and create an interesting show more than a cast of people who just want the same thing. C4 got casting far more right than C5 ever have.

The current website is appalling, and the lack of live feed is shocking for 2016, the internet is bigger than it has ever been and they don't use that for a live feed?

Big Brother as it is now tries far too hard to be complicated and create twists for the sake of it. If they stood back, stripped the show back a little, actually created interesting tasks and shopping tasks, the show could easily stick around for many years to come and thrive.

C5 have dragged the show so far into the ground by now, when the show does eventually get axed no other channel will buy it, and I doubt any channel would buy it after a break of a few years either. Channel 5 have tarnished the brand completely in the UK.

Less is more. We know times are different and a show needs to reflect this, although Big Brother does not have to be as over the top of silly as it is now, it needs to be simpler and more clever.

I agree with all that. And I would just add that the real advantage of a show like Big Brother was that it could reflect changes that have gone on in a society with the housemates it chose. It didn't need to change its format, it just needed housemates that were relevant to discussions going on in the outside world. Instead, they've chosen housemates with nothing to say, no interesting backgrounds and even if they did, they give us so little footage today, no one could ever know. It has become almost solely reliant on twists which no one understands and which people have been expressing their frustration about for years, to no response whatsoever from the people making what is supposed to be an interactive show. It's just dire. Everyone involved in the making of the show seems to have their fingers in their ears.

[Maru]

I'm not sure if anyone else caught it, but the day before last night's episode, I tried to watch the stream on channel5's website and the "test picture" came up a few times with it going back and forth. They eventually gave up and the live stream never happened... lol

Then last night we had the same thing, except cutting in with adverts and it happened with everyone not just the live stream. So to be technical, it's two nights of technical/production fumbles.

[sungrass]

Totally agree with you two