[Jason.]

Originally Posted by *mazedsalv**

Thanks for this, and it kind of reflects my views.

CBB15 was controversial, it was funny but sometimes hard to watch. The first 2 weeks or so was among the best weeks of any BB ever in my opinion with a lot happening. From the launch, to Jeremy's ejection (which helped the show grab the two best Saturdays ratings ever on C5 for his ejection and the Sat after, 2.3m and 2.6m overnights), Ken's ejection, Perez V everyone, that bedroom row with Perez in the garden and Alexander walking due to Perez. Those 2 weeks were stellar, it's a shame that from that time on, the focus was too much on Perez, that they practically begged for him to stay when he wanted out, developing the secret room twist for him.

BB16 is a hard one. It was a decent start, but the rating proved that the current audience didn't want "normal interaction" with minimal manipulation. On ratings terms, I think 4 in 4out was needed as the week leading to that was barely getting 800k, it increased to around the 1.3m level after the twist and headed in the 1.4m region for the "legends". BUT, despite the twist being better for the show for ratings, it was much more damaging to the show in other respects, eg. losing a lot of the remaining fans support in the long run. It lead to what I think was joint with BB11 as the worst final.

CBB16 came along, and I can actually now call it my favourite summer CBB. Yes, initially I didn't like UK V USA much but the mix of Americans were decent, as were their interractions with each other and the Brits. We see rows between nations in their own group and in the other groups, but (as a fan of both), really enjoyed James and Austin's journey in the house. Their ups and downs, as well as everyone else falling apart around them, fighting each other, which lead to that night where a lot of people got involved in rows.

What CBB16 did well was the feed, decent mix of HMs to watch interact, nowhere near as much manipulation as BB16, as well as an original twist. It was still a room twist, but I like that they got played. It was brilliant to watch 2 people so happy to have had the public onside, only to find out the joke was on them. Either way, the winner of the series is actually my favourite on C5 CBB, with Gary 2nd.

To sum up...

CBB15- Very good, especially the first 2 weeks, it lacked in the last 2 weeks.
BB16- Pretty much a shambles, a waste of a series if I knew who would win from the start.
CBB16- Consistent all the way through. Consistently good.

Favourite summer CBB- CBB16
Favourite winter CBB- CBB13 (also my 2nd fave ever).

Despite the positive CBB summer reaction, I want it axed. Keep it as Jan CBB and June BB.

Brilliant post.

I agree with the last point. Axe summer CBB and just have one a year in January.

A 4 week CBB in January and a 10 week BB in June is the best way to go. Having three series per year (two of which from the same format) just makes the show more stale.

A reason why shows like IAC and TA still do well especially IAC is because it's developed into its own time slot and it's only one once a year and that's in November. It feels more of an event because of that whereas with CBB there's another series about 6 months after the previous one ends (or about 3 months separating the summer CBB from the January CBB the following year). When it's on less, you look more forwards to it, I find. It was like that on C4 when CBB was a January thing same way IAC is a November thing. But now we get another series in August, which is just unnecessary