[Brekkie]

Before we get started. anyone who thinks the show can survive by just going "back to basics" and sticking with the original 10 year old format can get back in their bubble. This thread is for people who realise Big Brother needs to change if it's got any chance of surviving.

OK, next we need to send anyone who think BB needs something completely new and original down to Endemol HQ to sell the producers their ideas. We'd all love a completely new twist (which works), but I'd be shocked if the producers actually came up with something completely original - mainly because I'd imagine by now most ideas have been touched upon by some reality show or another. It's also quite risky - yes, great if it works like "Evil" did back in BB5, but probably the final nail in the coffin if it doesn't.


Therefore IMO it's time to evolve the format with something that we know does work, and something that we've touched upon before in BBUK, but never explored fully. If the show fully embraced either format it really would offer something completely new to the series - yet still unquestionably remain Big Brother.

Now, I know both formats have their doubters, so this is your queue to leave too - or perhaps I should have some faith in my abilities to win you over. The key thing with both formats is for it to work we must embrace it fully - from start to finish, and throughout every aspect of the show.


Head of House
Firstly, think Brazil, not BBUSA. Their variation of the HoH format has made their series arguably the most successful BB in the world. It gets a ridiculous share of viewers (something like 80% at times) and for one final got over 75m votes - figures even American Idol could only dream about.

The key thing is their tweaks to the format keep the public vote, and even to an extent the traditional nominations process. However, this doesn't mean that their Head of House is HoH in name only - they are almost as influential as their US counterparts.

Basically the week pans out like this:

• HoH Challenge: The housemates compete to become HoH, with the HoH immune from eviction and getting their own private room for the week, plus other perks.
• Nominations: The HoH chooses the first nominee, with the other HMs voting once each for the second nominee - and the HoH breaking any tie. The two nominees then face the public vote to determine who is evicted - and as it's always a head to head vote, we can put the vote to save argument to bed as it makes no difference here - to save one, you evict the other. Simple. (Also having HMs make just one nomination each should hopefully see an end to the ridiculous nominations shows where half of them aren't even shown!)
• Veto: This area could be used from the start or saved as a twist for future years. Basically their equivalent of the Veto sees it's winner award immunity to one HM, but personally I'd keep it as in the US, allowing the Veto winner to save a nominee and forcing the HoH to name a replacement. And with the ability to save the nominee chosen by the HMs, this adds the extra twist of the HoH being able to decide both nominees should the Veto be used.
• This process continues throughout the series. At the final 4 stage the HoH chooses both nominees, and then when three remain it can either be down to the public to decide the winner or we can have one final round of HoH, with the HoH through to the final and the other two HMs up for eviction, leaving just 2 in the final.
• There are also regular weekly challenges for food and occasional luxury challenges.

I think if we fully embraced that format and it was presented as an all new Big Brother it really could work - but the producers have to be 100% behind it. If they start trying to make compromises to appease those who think we should stick with the original format it would fall apart and ultimately in an attempt to please all they'd end up pleasing no-one.


The second format is something we've seen before a couple of times and something which has been used at some point in most series around the world:

Heaven and Hell
Well, I'm calling it Heaven and Hell as that's what's most familiar in most viewers minds - but really I'm thinking Big Brother: The Battle.

Basically it's the Rich/Poor divide - but it dominates the series from the start, not just a couple of weeks in the middle, and is taken to extremes - so the rich side really is luxurious with additions such as a gym and sauna to make it even more desirable, while the poor side really is hell! Outdoor showers, kitchen and toilet, very basic accommodation - basically somewhere nobody would want to live.

The key areas though is the challenges - and for it to work we really need a new separate challenge arena to accommodate challenges that just couldn't take place in the garden.

There are many variations of the Battle format, but essentially the key components are:

• Weekly Battle: The two sides go head to head to determine who lives where. Some weeks these would be team challenges, other weeks who lived where could be decided individually
• Individual Battles: Each week one HM from each side should face off for a place in the rich house, with the loser living in the poor house. This also means that if the main battle is team orientated, these challenges enable the teams to be mixed up a bit
• Nominations: Again many ways of adapting the process and personally I liked what we did in BB9 with the "housemates from hell" having to earn the right to nominate. Other variations see only HMs from Hell eligible to be nominated, or both sides of the house nominating independently, with one HM from each side nominated for eviction.
• Additional challenges should be more about luxuries than rewards, but obviously luxuries for the poor side would be much more basic than for the rich side. Personally I think with food the rich side should basically get a full budget while the poor side get basic supplies, but you could have challenges where the Poor Side can win a take away or something.

The divide does split the audience just like it splits the housemates. Some people love it, others hate it. Some people think 4 weeks is too long, others think it's not long enough. My main change here would be having it form the basis of the whole series, though in the last week or two the HMs would probably come together as one team.

There are several variations of the format which could be used - I'd be happy enough if they used the BB9 combination of HoH and Heaven and Hell as the starting point and developed it into a format which could sustain the whole series. The key thing though is the challenges - and that's why a separate challenge arena is required so big challenges can be set up - and it's them more than the format itself which would be the selling point of the all new BB10 and would set the series apart from previous series. I think really now the show has exhausted most variations of the Weekly Task - time for a new approach.


So those are the basics of two variations of the format proven to work around the world, and I'd be happy with either. I was leaning towards the "Big Brother: The Battle" idea as I think that's more of a natural progression from the original format, but for that reason to I'm now slightly favouring going completely new with the HoH format. For too many years the show has just relied on the faithful viewer tuning in, and for too many years they've been turning off. It's time for BB to make some noise again - and a complete relaunch really would do that.


So which do you prefer - HoH or Heaven and Hell? Vote now.