[Jarrod]

I've again had the brilliant opportunity to interview the voice of Big Brother, Marcus Bentley with the help of Mollie. Here is the interview:

We recently caught up with the voice of Big Brother himself, Marcus Bentley. Read what he has to say here…

Hi Marcus! How have you been since we last spoke before the start of Celebrity Big Brother 2011?

I was on such a high when Big Brother returned on Channel 5 that my excitement was going through the roof. Although it didn’t really leave our screens for long it’s comeback has felt like a new lease of life and I suppose I no longer take it for granted and appreciate everything about being associated with it. I’m enjoying using Twitter in my communication with the show’s fans, it helps in feeling even closer to the Big Brother community. I’m really enjoying myself I suppose. The only negative aspect of the show moving to Channel 5 is that I had to leave my job as a continuity announcer at Channel 4 ( Channel 4 asked me to resign as soon as they heard I was to continue doing Big Brother) I’d done the job for ten years, worked with a great team and I’m really missing it. Never mind , I wouldn’t swap my BB role for anything!

The response to the past few series has been phenominal! What has been your favourite part of the shows move to Channel 5?

The show has Developed a long way since its early incarnation. I’ve particularly been pleased with how we’re are now moving the stories along quicker and more sharper. We now cut some of the tasks into a montage with music which brings out the fun of the show. I love the flashbacks for the viewers (especially when a housemate is fibbing about what went on the previous night!) It is entertainment and I feel we are making it more so on Channel 5. Big Brother has been around for 12 years and to keep it on tv it has to look, feel and be contemporary. We can’t just deliver the same type of show that was delivered in BB 1 etc. where a lot of the tasks were lame & the show was at a very slow pace. It would be too old fashioned. I feel Endemol & Channel 5 are delivering a show for NOW and to bring in new fans as well as the old. The show lives and dies of course on its housemates but it has to be packaged correctly and delivered in an exciting and entertaining way. I’m very happy to be still part of that package.

How have you been enjoying Big Brother since it’s move to Channel 5 last summer?
As I’ve said I love the way it’s packaged. And as a Channel, 5 are very enthusiastic about having Big Brother and the energy they bring to it has helped bring it to another level. At times it has felt like a brand new show and not only is it developing a new audience for Channel 5 it is delivering another audience to Big Brother. I’m loving the new presenters at the same time I’m grateful that they still want me to do it. I think that the new and old aspects of the show have blended perfectly.

You took a very humorous and unserious approach to narrating in the last three series, something that received mixed reactions from fans of the show. Will you continue this for BB13 or will you go back to basics?

During Big Brother one I was directed very precisely by the producers to sound a certain way – slow, posher, and quite dry. I wasn’t keen on how I was sounding and since then I’ve developed a style that I like and that I think is appropriate for the show. Over the years I’ve always liked to use the odd suggestive word or phrase out of the blue eg. ” Nadia & Marco are in the diary room playing with her lady- garden”! The show and style always has to move forward and my narration has to be versatile. I wanted to mix it up. Sometimes my older style narration – ” Some of the housemates are in the bedroom” then on other occasions something sarcastic or suggestive and dare I say funny like , “yesterday Aaron and Faye fell out — again”!! My role is the Voice of Big Brother and I think this is has evolved like the show – it is sometimes funny but not all the time. Most of the time it is just how it’s been for years. But of course Big Brother fans are very passionate and although some appreciate the change of style others a very conservative and don’t like nuance. Quickly going back to BB1 – the style and script was often very humorous taking a rise out of the housemates particularly Nasty Nick!

If you ever had to be a main presenter for Big Brother, how would you take to that role as opposed to the off-screen life of narrating?

I enjoy my role too much to consider it – I reckon I’ve got the best job on the show. In fact I really am the nightly presenter, I’m just out of vision. I have asked the producers if I can start featuring in the odd sketch for Bit on the Side – lets see if my wishes come true!

The new eye was released recently and it has quite a colourful techno/80s feel about it – will there be any theme like this in the main series this year?

I’ve no idea on this year’s theme but I reckon it’s going to be something along the lines of an Epic contest – Olympic/ Hunger Games style !

Are there any brand new concept changes in store for us this year that you could give us a sneaky hint about?

I like most fans are waiting with baited breath to see what’s getting delivered this year. Jamie East has said that something is being tried this year that’s a first in Big Brother history! I haven’t a clue what he’s talking about but I’m very excited. I’ve always wanted there to be another , proper “secret” house with housemates from each camp completely unaware of each’s existence! I’ve also been campaigning for the return of the Tree!

The live feed is something that’s in heavy demand by fans of the show. Are there any plans to bring back it back daily either on 5* or 24/7 through subscription. Can you reveal anything to us regarding this?

I have no news on what’s happening on Live feed. The hour or so of feed around the evictions was very popular and achieved record viewing figures at times. Although when live feed was on Channel 4 etc. it wasn’t viewed by that many and became economically unviable. It’s extremely expensive to produce and ,like most things in this business, if it isn’t watched it becomes difficult to justify. I hope it comes back and that the fans watch it in droves – I want them to be happy.

Have you seen the House? And can you give us any sneaky hints on what we can expect?

I haven’t been up to the studios yet but my mate has told me that the house is particularly amazing this year. A complete redesign Of the layout not just the decoration. But, as I said I haven’t seen it so, like all fans I’m looking forward to launch night !

And Finally, do you think it is a good idea to feature Celebrity Big Brother again this year?

Big Brother is an expensive show to produce and it needs to be on for around 13 weeks in the summer so it can make money. 13 weeks is a long time to have the same characters and to,attempt to keep its audience interested can be challenging for producers of the approximately 90 shows. therefore I guess the idea is to increase interest in the product by giving us another hit of new housemates and indeed last summer’s Celeb was such a hit that it makes sense to do it again. I’ve often thought that Celeb BB is too short and that the Normal is too long at 13 weeks – so, I feel this is the perfect combination. A great idea

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Hope you enjoy.