The sneaky tactics used by Big Brother housemates in a bid to take the crown – as the 2024 series kicks off

After a triumphant comeback last year, the reality show that started it all, Big Brother, is back on our screens today.

ITV’s reboot of the ‘ultimate social experiment’ returns with a new group of housemates who will compete to win £100,000.

With so much money at stake, many contestants have entered the famous house with a cunning strategy to take home the big cash prize.

But which strategies are successful? And what do the champions of the past have in common?

MailOnline spoke to psychologists to find out exactly what it takes to win the show.

As any fan of the series knows, Big Brother bundles a number of strangers into a specially built house for a few weeks.

Although they are isolated from the outside world, their every move is monitored by television cameras and microphones installed throughout the house.

Every week, housemates vote for two people to leave – and those with the most votes are evicted, decided by a public vote.

Of course, one of the most famous Big Brother housemates of all time had a strategy in a desperate bid to win the money – and it failed disastrously.

In series 1, ‘Nasty’ Nick Bateman tried to manipulate his fellow housemates and influence how they voted, breaking one of the show’s biggest rules, and was ejected.

So, according to an academic, winning the show depends heavily on being on the right side of both housemates and the audience – and adhering to the rules.

‘They need to win over their housemates to avoid nominations and possible eviction, while also appealing to the public watching from home,’ Dr Andy Morley from the University of Central Lancashire’s School of Psychology told MailOnline .

‘It’s interesting to note that in the first season of Big Brother, the show was widely seen as a game, with contestants using different strategies to win – some even resorting to cheating.

‘However, public perception has changed; Nowadays, viewers seem to prefer real participants and often disapprove of those who manipulate the game.”

The year after ‘Nasty’ Nick, Paul ‘Bubble’ Ferguson entered the house confident that he could take home the prize money for his young daughter with his ‘bubbly’ everyday personality.

But he was shocked when he was voted out in the fifth week – not long after admitting he was only doing it for the money.

Meanwhile, Tom Bryant mostly kept a low profile in the 20th series last year – a tactic that kept him in the house until the final week.

But he was quickly voted out by the public after an ugly outburst at fan favorite Yinrun following a shocking personal nomination.

Looking at previous Big Brother winners, they all had very endearing qualities – from the humor of Brian Dowling, the piety of Cameron Stout to the funniness of last year’s winner, Jordan Sangha – and managed to maintain their integrity to the end. to show.

“To succeed in the game, participants must appear friendly and kind to their housemates, but also relatable and genuine to the audience, who will ultimately vote for the person they feel a connection with,” added Dr. Morley added.

Dr. Morley cited a recent study entitled “On How to Be Liked in First Meetings,” which examined two types of behavior when meeting strangers: “communal” and “agentic.”

‘Community behaviour, being polite, warm, friendly and benevolent, helps build trust and form bonds,’ Dr Morley told MailOnline.

“These actions make individuals appear approachable and likeable.

‘On the other hand, agentic behaviors – such as showing leadership, trust, organization and sometimes even dominance – tend to inspire respect and admiration.

‘For Big Brother participants, finding a balance between these two behavioral types is crucial.’

Dr. Rachael Molitor, a chartered psychologist and teacher based in the West Midlands, said the best strategy to win Big Brother is a combination of ‘authenticity and adaptability’.

‘With authenticity, people are drawn to others who seem genuine and true to themselves,’ she told MailOnline.

‘Both the general public watching the show and the housemates can tell that someone is on a false front.

‘Being adaptable to situations that Big Brother can throw at the participants and ‘trying things out’ for the sake of group conformity can benefit the length of stay.’

Dr. Molitor added, “Being kind and emotionally intelligent, forming genuine alliances and using humor appropriately are traits seen in those who have achieved success in the past.”

Dr. Howard Fine, a consultant psychologist for the media, said there is no single strategy for winning Big Brother, but the key element is “adapting to the dynamics in the house.”

“As the group of housemates changes through evictions and possible surprise additions, the housemates must consider the roles they are expected to play,” said Dr. Fine to MailOnline.

“The housemates are allowed to enter the house with the intention of being nice and forging as many connections and alliances as possible.”

Dr. Fine added that first place on Big Brother is not “ultimately victory” because true success in the real world can be defined after the contestants leave the house.

Although she was the second housemate to be evicted in 2002, Alison Hammond is one of the most successful Big Brother housemates with a reported net worth of between £1 million and £4 million thanks to a long list of TV stints.

“The ultimate winner is the housemate who can ride the publicity wave for as long as possible after filming and earn money from it,” says Dr. Fine.