Behemoth
27-05-2005, 14:25
LONDON (Reuters) - "Big Brother," the daddy of all TV reality shows, starts a new run on Friday at a time when the fly-on-the-wall format is increasingly under the spotlight.
Big Brother has been sold around the globe, proving hugely popular with viewers and the media.
But recent such programmes including the high-profile "Celebrity Love Island" have attracted poor viewing figures and some critics believe the idea has had its day.
Thirteen contestants will enter the house on Friday evening and the producers have added several twists in a bid to keep the programme fresh.
The house will be transparent so the contestants will feel more "claustrophobic" and the showers will be outside.
"The house will feel very different to any previous house and more than ever this year there really is nowhere to hide," said Commissioning Editor Angela Jain.
The producers also said the 13th person would be the "unluckiest housemate ever".
Critics say contestants have become so familiar with the format they are no longer willing to show their true colours, leaving the show bland and boring.
In a bid to regain the upper hand, the programme has moved in a more risque direction.
The last version of the camera-filled house tested British reserve with the introduction of a toilet that had a see-through glass door and one couple were thought to have had sex.
The 12 contestants also had to share one bedroom.
In this year's show, the producers have gone one step further, introducing heat-seeking cameras in the bedrooms to capture the contestants' every move.
"The housemates won't even be able to hide in their beds," they said.
Big Brother has been sold around the globe, proving hugely popular with viewers and the media.
But recent such programmes including the high-profile "Celebrity Love Island" have attracted poor viewing figures and some critics believe the idea has had its day.
Thirteen contestants will enter the house on Friday evening and the producers have added several twists in a bid to keep the programme fresh.
The house will be transparent so the contestants will feel more "claustrophobic" and the showers will be outside.
"The house will feel very different to any previous house and more than ever this year there really is nowhere to hide," said Commissioning Editor Angela Jain.
The producers also said the 13th person would be the "unluckiest housemate ever".
Critics say contestants have become so familiar with the format they are no longer willing to show their true colours, leaving the show bland and boring.
In a bid to regain the upper hand, the programme has moved in a more risque direction.
The last version of the camera-filled house tested British reserve with the introduction of a toilet that had a see-through glass door and one couple were thought to have had sex.
The 12 contestants also had to share one bedroom.
In this year's show, the producers have gone one step further, introducing heat-seeking cameras in the bedrooms to capture the contestants' every move.
"The housemates won't even be able to hide in their beds," they said.