Channel 4 has noted that Big Brother has ‘changed public perceptions’ of certain ‘backgrounds, cultures, races and values’ in its annual report for 2008.
The report notes that a number contestants in previous series, some of whom became winners, have frequently transcended ‘huge barriers of prejudice’ and that Big Brother demonstrates ‘enormous power’.
Results of surveys carried out on Channel 4’s behalf regarding last year’s ninth series of the show, in which blind housemate Mikey Hughes went on to take second place, are also revealed in the document.
According to the research, there was a 13% increase among regular Big Brother viewers who believed blind people were capable of leading independent lives between the start and end of BB9, whilst 62% said after a while they stopped seeing Mikey as blind and begun seeing him as ‘just another housemate’.
Previous competitors on the show include Portugese transexual Nadia from BB5, and BB7’s Pete, who suffers from Tourette’s syndrome.
Stick with bbspy…
