[Brekkie]

As threatened, while I'm awaiting inspiration for a new format idea, a recap of some of my old ones. Some of you may have read these on Digital Spy, and they are all from last year or the year before.

None are necessarily what I'd suggest at this moment in time for BB9 - although some might work, I think BB needs to find it's feet again first. And they all contain alot of waffle, so be prepared for a long read!

I'll start with one I did last year - a series which sneaks a new format in while nobody's looking and could set BB on a very different course in future years.


Living with the Enemy

Firstly, the basics - 93 days again (perhaps 100), launching on a Thursday, but unlike BB7/8, the format is designed more with the longer series in mind.

A massive 18 HMs, divided into two teams of nine. The theme "Living with the Enemy" relate to the divide not being physical by the teams - they must live and sometimes work together - but they are opponents.

The house - the major change is the entrance is moved to the side with an Bow style walkway rather than the staircase. Also added is a Gamesroom, and while there is just one bedroom, it is two spaces in one.

This idea runs throughout the house - for example in the lounge the sofas would clearly be divided into two contrasting sets, while the dining table would have two set of chairs. Even things like the crockery would be in two contrasting sets - so if we have a "battle of the sexes" theme for example, blue and pink would unashamedly be used to illustrate the divide.

Also added is a "Battle Zone", which is an additional space which will be used for some tasks and challenges.




Week 1:
The show launches on the Thursday and all 18 HMs will move in. With more moving in it might get a bit boring sending them in one by one, so the show will be slightly revamped so groups of HMs move in at the same time. All 18 will move in during the launch show though.

At the end of the launch show the HMs are informed of the basic rule changes such as there being two teams and them competing against each other for food, the jackpot, immunity and rewards etc.


The format in week 1 is slightly different to subsequent weeks, so I hope you follow this:

On Friday HMs will pair up with someone from the opposing team and they must work together to win the roles of "Team Captains" for the first week.

The team captain's will then each have to nominate one person from their own team to automatically face the eviction vote.

The other HMs will then vote ONCE for a second member of their team to face the public vote, with the one or more team members with the most votes joining the captain's choice in facing possible eviction.

The captain's are immune.

One member of each team will be evicted on Friday (Day 9) in a double eviction.

(NOTE: In a secret twist the week 1 team captains will also be told that each week they are both in the house they will win £1000 each - so it'll be in their interests to protect each other and pocket the cash!)

The weekly task will remain for food, with it's format varying between the two teams working with and against each other. Similarly they'll be occasional reward challenges too which sometimes see the teams working with or against each other.

One of the main tasks though where they'll work against each other all the time is the Jackpot Challenge , held in the "Battle Zone". These are held roughly once a week, but at random times signalled by a BB German style "Match Alarm".

While only the winner gets the jackpot, what they win will depend on how their team performs during the series. Both teams begin with £100,000 and winning a Jackpot Challenge means a team will steal money from the opponent jackpot - probably around £5000 - £10000 for each challenge.


Week 2+
After the first week the more regular format gets underway.

The weekly Team Captain's won't be chosen by challenges, but instead by a vote/discussion amongst the team. HMs cannot be a team captain two weeks running.

On Saturdays the Captains Challenge will take place, with the captain and a number of teammates of their choice (sometimes just one, sometimes all) compete to win immunity for their team.

The losing team must then face the nomination and eviction process. The (losing) team captain will nominate one person from their own team to automatically face the eviction vote.

The other HMs (in the losing team) will then vote ONCE for a second member of their team to face the public vote, with the one or more team members with the most votes joining the captain's choice in facing possible eviction.

HOWEVER - the opposing Team Captain can - if they choose too - replace one of the nominees with the losing captain.

An eviction then takes place on the Friday.


This process continues till around the middle of the season with a few twists along the way, such as:

• HMs swapping teams
• team members becoming "the enemy within"
• the winning team nominating who from the losing team is up for eviction
• the possibility of double evictions or new HMs - though neither are absolutely neccessary

After about eight weeks and with one double eviction along the way, we're left with 8 HMs.


Week 9+
From here, the format changes..

If the changes have been accepted by the loyal BB viewer and they quite like seeing competition that means something and a new nomination process - well, then we've nearly sneaked in the HoH format without anyone realising!

Everyone is now the enemy, including your former teammates, and now it's everyone for themselves! Instead of choosing team captains to compete in the Captain's Challenge, everyone (except the outgoing captain) competes for the role of "House Captain"

The House Captain would be immune and as with previous Team Captains, they would be responsible for nominating one person (any HM now) to automatically face the public vote.

The other HMs would then vote ONCE each to determine the second nominee. And then the viewers vote one out and we start again.

There could be some kind of Veto challenge, but I would leave that and bring it in as the twist in the next series.


Food and Reward challenges are now all group or individual efforts - while the Jackpot Challenges now enter a new phase.

Yes, now the Jackpot Challenges are individual too. The HMs start with the money they accumulated in the Team Challenges, but now it's time to steal money off each other individually. Challenges would vary, but an example could be a simple Q&A quiz where HMs who answer questions correctly win £1000 off the HM of their choice.


Final Week
Six in the final week, never mind on the final night, is too many IMO - so we're back down to at most 4 so they're really forced to mix with each other.

How far the House Captain (well - lets be honest - HoH) idea goes is negotiable.

We could get to the final four and that would be it, or we could go one round further and then have the House Captain choose both nominees, with one evicted and the other making the final three. You could then even go on once again and have the new House Captain being the only one guaranteed a place in the final with the other two automatically up for eviction, but to be honest I think getting it down to three or four is enough!


And then ultimately we have a winner - and how much they win will depend on how their team-mates performed in the early stages of the show - and how they performed in the Jackpot Challenges as the series came to a close.


[i]And that is Big Brother: Living with the Enemy...


As I said, an idea I posted last year and one that brings a much needed competitive element into the show, taking elements from both Big Brother: The Battle and the HoH idea. Indeed long term the plan would be for the format to evolve in a reworking of HoH the next year.