More diverse Big Brother returns to UK after five-year absence

[letmein]

A more “aspirational” house and housemates who represent different sections of society and will engage in the debates of modern Britain are among the changes as Big Brother goes “back to basics” when it returns to British TV on Sunday.

At a time when division is exacerbated by culture wars and social media echo chambers, the producers have taken the format back to its social experiment roots by narrowing down 30,000 applications to just 16 housemates who reflect the “changes in society” since the reality show was axed five years ago by Channel 5.

“Gender identity terms like ‘non-binary’ and ‘gender fluid’ were nonexistent in society,” previously, Khagram said, along with, “phrases like ‘Black Lives Matter’ or ‘Me Too’ … we’ve been through a global pandemic since the last series of Big Brother aired”, so when choosing housemates the team was “mindful and representative” of “changes in the way we tackle mental health, political viewpoints, empowerment, prejudice and equality”.

Big Brother’s executive producer, Natalka Znak, said she was interested in finding people with “different accents” and “ordinary jobs” along with older contestants – the age range is from 18 to about 50+ – to ensure “a variety in age [and] backgrounds so it is a social experiment, because they’re just trapped in that [Big Brother] world”.

She was keen to find people who will provide “all the debates of modern society … you do want the national things that people are talking about … different generations approach things differently. I’m interested in that debate [and] in what young people think of old people.”

However, housemates and production teams were given inclusion and diversity training because “people are from different backgrounds” so might not “understand … why things might be unacceptable”.

https://amp.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/oct/05/more-diverse-big-brother-returns-to-uk-after-five-year-absence

[Zizu]

I’m worried …


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[ComingToGetYou]

Sounds good to me. A healthy mix of different people.

[Good King Glennceslas]

Sounds good to me. A healthy mix of different people.

This. Can’t see this is an issue for anyone with at least a functioning brain cell.

[Oliver_W]

I'm fairly sure people were identifying as nonbinary back when it finished on C5, and a while before that. It's nothing new.

[UserSince2005]

Gross

[Oliver_W]

However, housemates and production teams were given inclusion and diversity training because “people are from different backgrounds” so might not “understand … why things might be unacceptable”.

Homophobic muslim?

[Father Chris Mouse]

Sounds good to me. A healthy mix of different people.

Yeah, same. I really hope it's not filled with wannabe celebs, and influencers i'll be happy. A real mix of people will be great.

[Zizu]

Just as long as there aren’t loads of WUMs or trouble makers


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[Father Chris Mouse]

Just as long as there aren’t loads of WUMs or trouble makers


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What's a "WUM"?

[Zizu]

What's a "WUM"?


Sorry

Wind - up merchant


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[Father Chris Mouse]

Sorry

Wind - up merchant


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Oh right, thanks.

I mean, there will always be WUM's and trouble makers in BB tbf. It's not like the house has ever been a utopia with all getting along, holding hands and living in harmony.

[Christmas Dynasnow]

:facepalm:

[Stu]

This. Can’t see this is an issue for anyone with at least a functioning brain cell.
Yeah it sounds good to me. Big Brother should be a mirror to society, and a lot of the buzzwords used in that press release are society.

No doubt it'll drive certain people apoplectic that their freedom is being eroded because the show they used to love where some lass chucked a wine bottle up her chuff is being watered down or whatever.

[DigitalSid]

We all know this will just mean the usual 20 something fame-seekers but brown. The days of diversity of thought being allowed on mainstream UK tv are well gone.

[Good King Glennceslas]

Yeah it sounds good to me. Big Brother should be a mirror to society, and a lot of the buzzwords used in that press release are society.

No doubt it'll drive certain people apoplectic that their freedom is being eroded because the show they used to love where some lass chucked a wine bottle up her chuff is being watered down or whatever.

It will definitely trigger certain people that’s for sure!

[Alf]

Let's see how diverse it is. Let's see the smack heads, the football hooligans, the homeless, the pizza delivery guys. The Brexiteers, the anti-vaxers, the MAGA's.

[bots]

what i liked about BB first time round was when there were the random little nuggets of absolute genius. Totally adhoc and unrehearsed. That doesn't require any special diversity, it just needs humans interacting naturally and spontaneously. If we get any moments like that, i will be happy

[Alf]

We know what diverse means. Token Black. Token asian. Camp gay. Trans. Illegal migrant. Tree hugging eco-warrior. An Essex girl or boy and someone who works in the city of London

[Zizu]

We know what diverse means. Token Black. Token asian. Camp gay. Trans. Illegal migrant. Tree hugging eco-warrior. An Essex girl or boy and someone who works in the city of London


Sounds intriguing :)


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[Father Chris Mouse]

Let's see how diverse it is. Let's see the smack heads, the football hooligans, the homeless, the pizza delivery guys. The Brexiteers, the anti-vaxers, the MAGA's.

We know what diverse means. Token Black. Token asian. Camp gay. Trans. Illegal migrant. Tree hugging eco-warrior. An Essex girl or boy and someone who works in the city of London

It will obviously be "manufactured" diversity, not actual modern day British diversity. But as long as it's entertaining, and not all preachy i don't really care.

[Alf]

Yeah it sounds good to me. Big Brother should be a mirror to society, and a lot of the buzzwords used in that press release are society.

No doubt it'll drive certain people apoplectic that their freedom is being eroded because the show they used to love where some lass chucked a wine bottle up her chuff is being watered down or whatever.Didn't Kinga come from London with a Greek-Polish background?

Even the diverse people can shove a bottle up their fanny.

[Christmas Dynasnow]

We know what diverse means. Token Black. Token asian. Camp gay. Trans. Illegal migrant. Tree hugging eco-warrior. An Essex girl or boy and someone who works in the city of London

Sound like an advert for John Lewis

[Oliver_W]

We know what diverse means. Token Black. Token asian. Camp gay. Trans. Illegal migrant. Tree hugging eco-warrior. An Essex girl or boy and someone who works in the city of London

Sounds almost exactly like BB6, which was brilliant.

In fact, BB6 had multiple "token" black people, and still managed to be good!

Shocker, right?

[Alf]

Sounds almost exactly like BB6, which was brilliant.

In fact, BB6 had multiple "token" black people, and still managed to be good!

Shocker, right?Yes. Derek and Makosi were the best two characters of that series.

The camp gay Brian in BB2 was the best of his series.

The Asian Deena was the best in BB13

The Bi crazy guy Freddie/halfwit was the best of his series.

The communist lesbian, Carole was the best in season 8

[Oliver_W]

Yes. Derek and Makosi were the best two characters of that series.

The camp gay Brian in BB2 was the best of his series.

The Asian Deena was the best in BB13

The Bi crazy guy Freddie/halfwit was the best of his series.

The communist lesbian, Carole was the best in season 8

Well, exactly. People are more than their demographic traits.

[Alf]

Well, exactly. People are more than their demographic traits.Unless you're gammon of course. Nobody likes those guys.

[madman411]

My concern reading this is that this season is going to be so inanely PC and “unoffensive” that there’s going to be no spark. We’re at the point in society where I’m apprehensive a show like Big Brother can work… like it did 20 years ago.

[Zizu]

My concern reading this is that this season is going to be so inanely PC and “unoffensive” that there’s going to be no spark. We’re at the point in society where I’m apprehensive a show like Big Brother can work… like it did 20 years ago.


But why should being PC or inoffensive be regarded as a negative ?

I hate infighting / stressful situations

We are all so different


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[BBDodge]

My concern reading this is that this season is going to be so inanely PC and “unoffensive” that there’s going to be no spark. We’re at the point in society where I’m apprehensive a show like Big Brother can work… like it did 20 years ago.

Diverse housemates should lead to more conflict. Conflicting opinions anyway, we don't need a fight.

[Good King Glennceslas]

Rylans human teeth

[Good King Glennceslas]

Wrong thread lmao

[Zizu]

Diverse housemates should lead to more conflict. Conflicting opinions anyway, we don't need a fight.


Agreed


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[Oliver_W]

Diverse housemates should lead to more conflict. Conflicting opinions anyway, we don't need a fight.
However, housemates and production teams were given inclusion and diversity training because “people are from different backgrounds” so might not “understand … why things might be unacceptable”.

To me that smacks of someone's background leading them to not see that hating on LGBT folks is seen as backward, and the other HMs being briefed that the person will hold those views.

If not that exactly, then something like that.

[letmein]

But why should being PC or inoffensive be regarded as a negative ?

I hate infighting / stressful situations

We are all so different


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Because that’s not life and having everyone walking on eggshells pretending to be nice is not entertaining. It’s fake and boring.

[Zizu]

Because that’s not life and having everyone walking on eggshells pretending to be nice is not entertaining. It’s fake and boring.


Our lives are full of stress and anguish why would you want to see a group of strangers experience those same conditions.


Watching a happy , settled group of people all getting on with each other respectfully - would be a refreshing change .


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[Candy Annie Cane]

Our lives are full of stress and anguish why would you want to see a group of strangers experience those same conditions.


Watching a happy , settled group of people all getting on with each other respectfully - would be a refreshing change .


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Surely that would seem more staged though. People being natural is what we need - not fake and forced niceness.

I don't think it is realistic to think that they will all be able to get along living in such close confines for 7 weeks

If they do all get on organically that is great but people biting their tongues and playing nice for the cameras is not what BB is about imo.

[Zizu]

Surely that would seem more staged though. People being natural is what we need - not fake and forced niceness.

I don't think it is realistic to think that they will all be able to get along living in such close confines for 7 weeks

If they do all get on organically that is great but people biting their tongues and playing nice for the cameras is not what BB is about imo.


My preference would be to choose a group of sensible, reasonable people but from diverse backgrounds .

Not hire a bunch of weirdos instructed to ‘be nice’ ..


Obviously tensions will rise even with a group of reasonable folk but they would still be able to settle things in a mature , reasonable manner .



You can see angry , out of control people screaming at each other in just about every town centre any night of the week

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[Candy Annie Cane]

My preference would be to choose a group of sensible, reasonable people but from diverse backgrounds .

Not hire a bunch of weirdos instructed to ‘be nice’ ..


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If it happens organically that will be great. However, people from diverse backgrounds will have diverse opinions and so there will be differing views on a lot. Now, if that leads to sensible debate, that's great but as the whole premise of BB is almost a "pressure cooker" environment, I am sure there will be disagreements that arise. How they handle the disagreements will be what makes it interesting to watch. I personally would prefer a blow up argument to bitching and back biting behind people's backs.

[bots]

when it's 16 people, even if everyone was as nice as pie and calm. There will be arguments after a week. It's just how it goes :laugh:

[Stu]

I could be completely wrong because it's all just conjecture on a media fluff piece but all it sounds like is they're going to play it more natural, which sounds like a good thing. The first few years of the show were like this. They weren't 'dull', they had plenty of arguments, but they were human arguments from human situations that didn't feel overly contrived.

It's possible to both be nice and be entertaining. I think some have the view that BBUK was always and should always be this cynical mental circus. BB5 set the expectation that each season thereafter would have to somehow construct a fight night, and I'm not saying those years sucked, but its actual national interest peak remains the early few years - BB3 in particular, which...well...it was quite nice and ordinary really. But still massively entertaining.

If Big Bruv Gone Woke means going back to something like that and not casting the banana farm like they did in 2006 then I'm all for it. Some of the nastier elements of the show have aged and become much more uncomfortable as time has gone on.

[ChristmasNeeve]

I could be completely wrong because it's all just conjecture on a media fluff piece but all it sounds like is they're going to play it more natural, which sounds like a good thing. The first few years of the show were like this. They weren't 'dull', they had plenty of arguments, but they were human arguments from human situations that didn't feel overly contrived.

It's possible to both be nice and be entertaining. I think some have the view that BBUK was always and should always be this cynical mental circus. BB5 set the expectation that each season thereafter would have to somehow construct a fight night, and I'm not saying those years sucked, but its actual national interest peak remains the early few years - BB3 in particular, which...well...it was quite nice and ordinary really. But still massively entertaining.

If Big Bruv Gone Woke means going back to something like that and not casting the banana farm like they did in 2006 then I'm all for it. Some of the nastier elements of the show have aged and become much more uncomfortable as time has gone on.

Yeah definitely.

Remember the days when the nastiest thing we'd ever known was Nick writing down names on a piece of paper and saying he had been in the army.....................those were simpler times :flutter:

[Stu]

Yeah definitely.

Remember the days when the nastiest thing we'd ever known was Nick writing down names on a piece of paper and saying he had been in the army.....................those were simpler times :flutter:
It essentially spawned a much nastier strain of reality TV, and then itself started to emulate this.

Look, I know the whole "But it's a social experiment!" thing was a bit of a broadsheet absolution, but looking back on it Big Brother was actually crazy wholesome by today's standards. Look at the best bits packages of any of the early years. Warts and all, but it really was a show about a bunch of people getting together and figuring stuff out.

Kids don't realise what back to basics, classic Big Brother actually is :fist:

[ChristmasNeeve]

It essentially spawned a much nastier strain of reality TV, and then itself started to emulate this.

Look, I know the whole "But it's a social experiment!" thing was a bit of a broadsheet absolution, but looking back on it Big Brother was actually crazy wholesome by today's standards. Look at the best bits packages of any of the early years. Warts and all, but it really was a show about a bunch of people getting together and figuring stuff out.

Kids don't realise what back to basics, classic Big Brother actually is :fist:

Thing is though, it's been so long now, a whole generation ago when we had that, it could actually be considered a new take again and fashionable. That high, manufactured drama has been absolutely done to death the last 10 years.

[Zizu]

I could be completely wrong because it's all just conjecture on a media fluff piece but all it sounds like is they're going to play it more natural, which sounds like a good thing. The first few years of the show were like this. They weren't 'dull', they had plenty of arguments, but they were human arguments from human situations that didn't feel overly contrived.

It's possible to both be nice and be entertaining. I think some have the view that BBUK was always and should always be this cynical mental circus. BB5 set the expectation that each season thereafter would have to somehow construct a fight night, and I'm not saying those years sucked, but its actual national interest peak remains the early few years - BB3 in particular, which...well...it was quite nice and ordinary really. But still massively entertaining.

If Big Bruv Gone Woke means going back to something like that and not casting the banana farm like they did in 2006 then I'm all for it. Some of the nastier elements of the show have aged and become much more uncomfortable as time has gone on.


This ^^


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[Zizu]

Yeah definitely.

Remember the days when the nastiest thing we'd ever known was Nick writing down names on a piece of paper and saying he had been in the army.....................those were simpler times :flutter:


Yes !!

Remember how outraged we all were that he’d broken the rules

:)


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[ComingToGetYou]

I could be completely wrong because it's all just conjecture on a media fluff piece but all it sounds like is they're going to play it more natural, which sounds like a good thing. The first few years of the show were like this. They weren't 'dull', they had plenty of arguments, but they were human arguments from human situations that didn't feel overly contrived.

It's possible to both be nice and be entertaining. I think some have the view that BBUK was always and should always be this cynical mental circus. BB5 set the expectation that each season thereafter would have to somehow construct a fight night, and I'm not saying those years sucked, but its actual national interest peak remains the early few years - BB3 in particular, which...well...it was quite nice and ordinary really. But still massively entertaining.

If Big Bruv Gone Woke means going back to something like that and not casting the banana farm like they did in 2006 then I'm all for it. Some of the nastier elements of the show have aged and become much more uncomfortable as time has gone on.

Brilliantly articulated. If BB3 is a sort of template, it's a good decision.

[ChristmasNeeve]

Yes !!

Remember how outraged we all were that he’d broken the rules

:)


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I know :laugh: Oh and remember he pretended that he'd been married at 18 and his wife had died in a car crash

[Zizu]

I know :laugh: Oh and remember he pretended that he'd been married at 18 and his wife had died in a car crash


I’d forgotten that .. how weird I recall the bits of paper .. and not that !!


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[ChristmasNeeve]

I’d forgotten that .. how weird I recall the bits of paper .. and not that !!


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It was kind of hilarious in hindsight even though we were all outraged at the time

[Candy Annie Cane]

It was kind of hilarious in hindsight even though we were all outraged at the time

I remember that being the catalyst that got a lot of people watching. The website crashed because people were trying to get on to see what was going on. It was scandalous at the time. :laugh: It was so innocent at the start....:love:

[ChristmasNeeve]

I remember that being the catalyst that got a lot of people watching. The website crashed because people were trying to get on to see what was going on. It was scandalous at the time. :laugh: It was so innocent at the start....:love:

I just looked it up again and apparently, he stole the story of the dead wife from his ex girlfriend who'd actually lost her finance tragically when she was very young :worry:

[Candy Annie Cane]

I just looked it up again and apparently, he stole the story of the dead wife from his ex girlfriend who'd actually lost her finance tragically when she was very young :worry:

That is really low tbh

[ChristmasNeeve]

That is really low tbh

Yeah it is, must have been horrible for her watching him make that **** up.

It was hilarious though that he'd told everyone he had been in the territorial army and then one of their tasks was a kind of assault course and he looked ridiculously bad :laugh: