Big Brother is back! Returning show goes back to basics as a barman, a butcher and a Muslim make-up artist enter the house – but fans have already accused it of ‘going woke’
Big Brother has returned to British television after a five-year hiatus.
The influential social experiment, in which housemates live together in a custom-built house with no access to the outside world for weeks in a bid to win a cash prize, has reopened its doors.
New hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best kicked off the initial show on ITV, after the reality show was axed in 2018 on Channel 5, introducing a new group of 16 contestants to a studio audience.
But when a barman, a butcher and a Muslim make-up artist entered the house, fans accused the show of being ‘woke’.
Will said: “The OG (the original) is back and if you’ve never seen him before, get ready for the biggest reality show on earth, and like all the famous faces he’s got a glow for 2023 ready for a brand new series. ‘
Back with a bang? Big Brother has returned to British TV after a five-year hiatus as a barman, butcher and Muslim make-up artist, fans have accused the show of being ‘woke’ (housemate Jenkin pictured)
Here she comes! Make-up artist Farida, 50, from Wolverhampton, was the next to enter the house
AJ, in a blue suit, added: “The UK’s most famous house returns tonight, we’ve got a brand new house, are we going to put any new housemates in it?”
‘At the end there will be one contestant standing and they will win £100,000.’
Jenkin, 25, from Bridgend, Wales, was the first housemate to enter.
He said: ‘I’m not the only gay man in the village, I’m the best… I’m a bartender, a cleaner, I call bingo and 69 is my favorite number.’
He added: “I can’t help being a bit of an instigator. I’ll bring the drama.’
On why he signed up for the show, he said: ‘I was bored and thought I’d do something different, let me have a go.’
And about what he is most looking forward to participating in, he said: “I think he will meet new people.” I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also scared because I’m like, “Oh, how is this going to go…” but it’s going to be okay.’
On why he is most likely to be nominated, he said: “I’m only talking about people, I’m not going to lie. I can’t keep secrets, I really struggle.’
Make-up artist Farida, 50, from Wolverhampton, was the next to enter the house.
On why she signed up to be a housemate, she said: “I’m very proud of who I am and I feel that Asian women and Asian culture are underrepresented on TV.
“A lot of people think that wearing a headscarf could stop you from getting opportunities, but for me it was the complete opposite.” I take it with confidence and it has actually given me many opportunities.
“I want to let people know that we Muslims are really not suppressed.” I’m far from repressed – I used to be a holiday rep!’
On what she’s looking for from the experience, she continued: “I’m honestly looking forward to everything, I’m just going to take it.” I believe in living for a moment and I want to remember that I am one of the thousands of candidates who managed to enter the house.’
And on why the housemates might kick her out of the house, she said: ‘People will nominate me because they feel intimidated by the fact that I have the potential to win this, it’s as simple as that.’
Butcher Tom, 21, from Somerset, followed Farid into the house, insisting he was “funny and outgoing”.
Tom said he could be nominated for eviction because he could ‘potentially offend some people’, adding: ‘My mouth moves faster than my brain.’
Asked what he would do with the prize money if he won, he said: “There are a few good cars I want to buy. I’d probably put a good chunk of it into house savings and then probably head to Ibiza or somewhere else.’
The youngest contestant to enter the Big Brother house this year was next, for 18-year-old youth worker Hallie, who had never lived away from home before.
On why she signed up, she said, “Just the whole experience. I feel that Big Brother is the biggest social experiment and I want to be a part of it. It’s about putting my face out there and just having fun, enjoying life. I’m only 18 so I didn’t grow up watching it, but as I got older I watched clips on YouTube and stuff so I was a fan. And yes, just for fun, really?’
She said her friends would describe her as: “I’m a bit of a diva and I speak my mind, but I’m also a very lovely person. I’m a girl, sure. I’m honest, funny and, yes, just plain brilliant.’
The influential social experiment show opened its doors on ITV for the first time in five years after Channel 5 axed it in 2018 amid falling ratings.
In the launch show, a new team of ‘carefully selected housemates from all walks of life’ arrived in a brand new house in front of a studio audience.
A total of 30,000 people applied to participate in the show, and only 16 were selected to enter the house.
The winner will win a whopping £100,000 when the series ends.
Big Brother hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best have reminded fans to be kind online to the new batch of contestants ahead of the show’s return to UK TV screens this week.
Before the show started on Sunday night, Odudu, 35, said in a video posted on Instagram: “Please remember that all our housemates are real people with their real lives.
“If you wouldn’t say anything to them in person, be careful what you say to them online.”
TV presenter Will, 38, said: “We all just want to be fair and kind to everyone, and that way we can all enjoy this series together and support our housemates on the show and beyond.”
AJ added: “Let’s make this the most positive series yet and give all the housemates the respect you wish you were a housemate.” Is that a deal?’
The new group of housemates underwent respect and inclusion training to set an “expectation of appropriate behavior and language” before taking part in the show, ITV said.
As part of the broadcaster’s care protocol, all housemates will receive training to prepare them for life in the house – as well as psychological and medical assessments, background checks and social media screening.
Similar to the recent series of ITV’s Love Island, housemates and their family and friends have also been asked not to post any content about the show on their individual social media accounts while in the house.
It comes as the broadcaster’s duty-care policy has faced scrutiny following a number of controversies involving on-screen talent.
Big Brother has had its fair share of controversies over the years, including contestants being accused of making racist and sexist comments.
ITV said the celebrity house will see the return of live tasks, nominations and evictions, with the voting public playing a “key role” throughout the series – before voting for the show’s winner.
AJ and Will will host Big Brother: Late & Live in front of a live studio audience each night after the show airs, which will feature the first ever live interview of the expats, as well as commentary from celebrity guests and the weekly nomination results.
Big Brother: Live Stream is also back on screens, showing footage from the brand new house until the wee hours every night on ITVX following Big Brother: Late & Live.
The social experiment programme, which sees housemates living together in a custom-built house with no access to the outside world for weeks in a bid to win prize money, began in 2000 on Channel 4 before Channel 5 took over in 2011.