Big Brother’s Farida appeared on TWO TV shows before entering the iconic house

By William On Oct 8, 2023

New Big Brother housemate Farid has already appeared on two TV shows in the past.

The make-up artist, 50, from Wolverhampton, entered the house during the ITV show on Sunday night.

New hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best kicked off the launch show, after the reality show was canceled by Channel 5 in 2018, introducing the new group of 16 contestants to the studio audience.

Viewers quickly recognized Farida because she recently participated in an episode of Blankety Blank and Come Dine With Me.

One fan tweeted: ‘Nice warm up for Farida doing Blankety Blank first.’

TV appearance: New Big Brother housemate Farid has already appeared on two TV shows in the past

Gameshow: Viewers quickly recognized Farida because she recently participated in an episode of Blankety Blank and Come Dine With Me

Another said: Come to dinner with me? Blankety Blank… now Big Brother… Farida seems to be moving around’

A third added: ‘Faridah is wearing make-up on TikTok. She was also on Blankety Blank recently…’

On why she signed up to be a housemate, Farida said: “I’m very proud of who I am and I feel 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.’

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.

Housemates: The make-up artist, 50, from Wolverhampton, entered the house during the ITV show on Sunday night

One fan tweeted: ‘Nice warm up for Farida doing Blankety Blank first.’

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.

Return: New hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best kicked off the initial show on ITV, after the reality show was canceled by Channel 5 in 2018, introducing a new batch of 16 contestants

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.

Big Brother continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

Big Brother 2023: Duty of Care Protocols in full

Housemates must go through a social media blackout, take part in “respect and inclusion training” and will have access to one-on-one mental health support sessions before, during and after the show.

Respect and inclusion training will set expectations regarding language use and acceptable behavior in the Home.

Prior to filming, all housemates underwent psychological and medical assessments, including assessments by an independent physician, a mental health professional and informational reports from each housemate’s general practitioner.

Housemates were also asked to disclose in confidence any medical history or other information that would be relevant to their participation in Big Brother.

In addition, their family and friends will be asked not to post any content to their individual social media accounts during their time in the Social Media Blackout Home.

ITV also said housemates were given information about the experience of being on Big Brother including possible positive and negative implications.

Contestants also go through a series of background checks, including a social media check by an independent specialist agency.

The show’s team and other members of the editorial and production team have received training in mental health first aid and ‘respect and inclusion’.

ITV says the team set out Big Brother’s expectations for appropriate behavior and language.

Housemates are also provided with and discussed House Rules which set expectations and explain key aspects of life in the Big Brother House.

While in the Home, mental health professionals are available to the residents for ongoing support during their stay in the Home.

The Big Brother Wellbeing Team also supports friends and family with regular contact and updates.

After leaving the House of Big Brother, there will be a tailor-made training on working with social media and the press.

A mandatory session with a mental health professional will also be provided immediately after the housemate leaves the house.

Further support sessions will be provided specific to the individual needs of the resident and support will remain in place until the mental health professionals agree on an end date for each individual resident.

Ongoing contact by the head of social care will continue for a period of 14 months after the end of the series, and additional help will be offered where needed.