Ten things I hate about Big Brother - Big Brother 10 Opinion

Views

Ten things I hate about Big Brother

I bet you can't guess what's first on the list

RANT ALERT

So we’re just a couple of days away now from the tenth series of Big Brother - a series I’ve loved (on the whole) from the first day of the first series. So how come I can’t find any motivation to write about the series with launch just days away?

At the moment I’ve got nothing good to say about it at all - it’s all negative, and even the prospect of an interesting launch week twist is simply tarnished by the fact we won’t be able to enjoy it in the same way we’ve enjoyed previous series.

So it’s time for a bit of therapy - to get all the things I’m hating about the show off my chest. All in one go, so hopefully you won’t have to endure them again. Well, for now at least.

So here goes - in no particular order, the ten things I hate about Big Brother.

No Live Feed.
No surprise it’s top of the list, and I don’t need to repeat myself again. Big Brother is a 24/7 concept, so without the 24/7 aspect, the concept fails. Regardless of how great any launch twist might be this year, the fact we can’t see it unfold live means it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Marcus Bentley.
I just hate his voice - he’s become a caricature of himself and it baffles me that despite working in London for the last decade, his Geordie accent is much thicker now than it was over the first few series. Even Ant and Dec don’t lay it on that thick.
Evictions.
The evictions should be the highlight of the week, not highlights, phone numbers, booing. Make the eviction show special once again and feel like the TV event they’re supposed to be.
Website.
If you’ve not seen it, the official site has launched tonight, and it’s actually great to see it’s got a different look compared to the last few years. However, it is clearly style over substance and actually getting to the useful information on the site is rather tricky. I could also mention the live feed again here, but I won’t.
YouTube.
100m+ watched Susan Boyle on YouTube - and Britain’s Got Talent were proud of that fact, and has the wisdom to realise that videos uploaded - by the fans, not producers - would bring people to the main show. The result - the highest rated programme on British TV in 5 years.
C4’s attitude - block the content, piss off the fans.
The Ads.
I should be struggling by now, but I’m not. This year’s ad campaign has been the same old same old routine with fancy graphics and no genuine reason to watch. Big Brother must be the only programme currently on TV advertising itself in exactly the same way it did five years ago.
Big Mouth.
Axing the daily Big Mouth in favour of a weekly edition on the night of the week when it’s needed least is a massive mistake, and axing Jack Whitehall is an even bigger mistake - especially considering he was the one and only thing worth watching on Big Brother’s Big Quiz (which truly was awful!). The good news for Jack is he’s getting his own C4 show which will run for the duration of Big Brother - but the truth is it’s unlikely the TNT Show will pull in more than a million viewers in it’s weekly 11pm show, and similar shows in the past on C4 have rarely made a second series. Redirecting the finances for this show - and Jack Whitehall - back to keeping Big Mouth on air at least three nights a week would not only have been much better for Big Brother, but a wiser move for C4 as a whole too.
The Crowd.
When watching TV you want the live audience to reflect the audience at home - but with Big Brother so often that is simply not the case. I’d prefer many evictees to come out to no crowd than to a mob of ignorant boos.
The Live Feed.
Did you really think I’d get through this without mentioning it again? It’s even more annoying that the limited hours remaining on E4 are at such rubbish times. Even the overnight streaming is delayed as long as possible. Put it on at 11pm and people might switch from the main show and watch for an hour or so. Put it on at 1am and people will go to bed.
The Final.
And to finish with, the final. The younger readers here might struggle to believe that the final of Big Brother used to be as epic as what we saw on Saturday with Britain’s Got Talent - but nowadays it’s just a case of getting the remaining housemates out as quickly as possible, and having so many in recent finals has made reaching the final week much less of an achievement. And to add to the event, the final needs to be 100% live - even just a five minute delay lessens it’s impact, especially when for much of the final you can’t actually vote on the outcome.

RANT OVER - FOR NOW

It’s sad isn’t it, and I know for some of you it’s not what you want to read - but when a loyal fan of “10 years” such as myself is feeling like this, it only shows how little C4 actually care about their fan base.

The only reason I’m hating so much at the moment is because I absolutely love Big Brother and the entire concept, and although I’ve long accepted it’s unlikely to survive beyond BB11, I think it deserves to be treated with a lot more respect by those at C4 - after all, it’s responsible for a good chunk of their income.

And for those not interested in the negatives, I looked at the positives a couple of weeks ago. Or tried to a least.

Written by Brekkie Posted on June 2 2009 at 8:48pm

Share/bookmark this post:

Link to this story:

Davina rubbishes BB axe comments

18 housemates for BB10?

25 comments

Mike says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:09 pm

“…and had deals in place with YouTube beforehand…”

By which you mean, “lost out on £1.5m”.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/apr/26/susan-boyle-youtube-itv

anne says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:11 pm

I think the fact that C4 won’t be showing Live Feed during the day is disgusting. Why oh why are they doing this? Originally we were told it was to do with financial cut backs. Now we know it was not that.

The LF will be on, they will still have to spend the money on camera persons, but it will not broadcast during the day, only at night from 12.00am to 6.00 am.

Come on C4 lets have Live Feed.

Brekkie says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:21 pm

Thanks Mike - I’ll correct that. Actually a very interesting point:
“It does not matter if the clips are uploaded by a fan or by ITV because the revenue generated always goes to the copyright owner under YouTube regulations.”

BB10RIP says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:22 pm

The Youtube stuff is interesting. Yet again Usual UK Media Greed wrecking it for the enjoyment of the viewers.

Crazy that in the case of BGT and BB you can watch clips outside of UK for a UK show as a result.

Brekkie says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:27 pm

My interpretation would be Endemol, not C4, make the cash out of that, but C4 have some sort of exclusivity over what’s shown in Britain - hence they’ve blocked clips in the UK, but not the rest of the world.

Any sense though and they’d strike a deal with Endemol and YouTube to rectify that. I’m sure Endemol would prefer to be sharing any YouTube revenue for UK clips with C4 than getting none at all. And considering C4 are always pleading poverty, why are they cutting off a revenue stream, however small, which costs them virtually nothing.

steVe.F:) says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:33 pm

Brekkie, even though I am normally against you on this anti-BB debate…. I have to agree with you on every single point you made. Instead of making Big Brother better this year, they will drive them away! I am not even sure my self if I will watch it if the live fix remains axed.

Brekkie says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:41 pm

Appreciate your comment steVe.F:) - I’m expecting a few to moan about my moaning, but it’s good to see you get where I’m coming from.

Honestly, I don’t think I’d be watching if it wasn’t for the various BB forums and fansites I’m involved with - and I don’t feel comfortable watching it more to criticise than to enjoy.

And for many people on the official forums the community where they discussed BB has now disappeared - and without it many of those probably won’t bother watching either.

BB10RIP says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:52 pm

@Brekkie

Keep up the good work here and DS etc !
As you know and I know a sizeable % of those not liking the moaning are CH4 plants trying to stop the complaining on fan sites and now pedaling the naff official site etc

Miaow says: June 2, 2009 @ 9:54 pm

I agree with your 10, though I’d shift emphasis from the livefeed, which was niche, and was only really enjoyed by hardcore fans, and to things like the evictions, the finales, the ads.

The way the producers have dealt with improving these things has been nothing but thick. Incessant booing at evictions makes no sense, and creates no real atmosphere; it would be much better if there was only a final 4, and to achieve this it would be best to have less housemates overall (16 housemates means that the first few weeks simply serve as a prolonged introduction to the series;) and the ads NEED, by their very nature, to be memorable (they remain uninspired, slapdash, forgettable.)

Big Brothers Big Mouth was turning into a very dull show, and I don’t feel it makes much odds that it has been reduced. BBLB needs to be better though, and it needs to stand as THE bb spin-off, like it once did.

BB10RIP says: June 2, 2009 @ 10:02 pm

Live feed was not niche that is Nonsense and should be 1) in that list . Plus you mention evictions , the finales etc on live feed. None of that this time and in itself indicates it was hardly niche.
For all you know the evictions etc could be filmed now 8 hours before to a script as an example

Plus the whole point of BB since inception of the format was that viewers could watch anytime 24/7 and that is the case in every other BB in the world now except the uk. Funny how Albania could provide a feed during a credit crunch yet a G8 country that the UK is cant

ryan.b says: June 2, 2009 @ 10:27 pm

I also think that they should do a countdown to the housemate being evicted like in BB1. Who thinks the same?

BBFan says: June 2, 2009 @ 10:34 pm

1- Agree, but I don’t really watch the live feed so it won’t affect me but I can see how it will piss off most fans

2- I like Marcus, he is intrinsic to the show. But he is a caricature of himself and they’ve got him into the habit of name checking everyone which is annoying

3- Agree. Noone watches BBLB anymore so they should steal the F&F and speak to the crowd features back. I’d also like them to use the Hijack feature of audience questions.

4- I like the site and I’ll reserve judgement until we see how it develops …

5- They have their own Youtube site and want as many hits as possible etc … although it is annoying. But behind BGT was the media, had the news not picked up on it then it would never have done as well as it did. that will NEVER happen to BB

6- They aren’t even bothering with a house advert this year and the music in the main advert is disjointed, but the first half is the best advert of its type ever imo, but lacks impact

7- Apparently they’re reformatting this year so again I’ll reserve judgement

8- I don’t mind them booing but I’d rather they booed the housemate rather than booing them because their favourite never won (Rachel, Ulrika both booed due to Mikey, Verne not winning)

9- I watch the night feed more than day feed (I work early hours into the afternoon rather than a normal 9-5) so I’m normally up at that time anyway but that must be incredibly frustrating for most, especially as a lot of viewers watch the night feed around midnight

10- YES! No objections to 5 or 6 in the final week but please kick them out on Wednesday and just 4 in the final!! They will have 3 non-Friday events left (CBB only used 2) so they might as well use them up in the last week (what a shock that would be, 2 evictions in one week), and bring back the housemate pleas to win, more best bits etc not just a short clip with phone numbers underneath. Bring back more highlights to build up suspense. I hate it when they show highlights on the final but it really adds to the atmosphere I think, maybe even inbetween interviews so we get longer to vote. A full live show gets a bit dull.

Sorry for a long winded post but I just thought I’d offer more of an opinion than just “agree with every point”.

Alec says: June 2, 2009 @ 11:38 pm

Hi Brekkie, Agree with most of what you said.

I do like Marcus doing the narration tho.

Im doing a petition about channel 4 blocking videos on YouTube, maybe you could add it in your post and stop channel 4 robbing us of our videos.

Haven’t post the link you im sure you know my site. - You can see it in wordpress.

Brekkie says: June 3, 2009 @ 12:30 am

Ryan B - was confused for a minute but think I know what you’re on about now with the BB1 style eviction countdown. Basically Davina’s walk from studio to house - in which she spoke to the crowd more in that minute than she does now in an entire show (hosted in the middle of the crowd).

So glad they returned to announcing from the studio last year and hope that remains, but I’d like the transition from studio to crowd to be more like the old days - so with the screen lifting up to let Davina out, and then preferbly the crowd outside the studio, rather than directly outside the house.

I think a bit of breathing space between the house and the crowd would be good for the evictee - and in that space have the friends and family waiting to greet them.

bella says: June 3, 2009 @ 12:54 am

You forgot to mention the Live Feed

Elektriks says: June 3, 2009 @ 1:14 am

I do agree with the majority, if not all, of your points Brekkie but this below:

‘I think a bit of breathing space between the house and the crowd would be good for the evictee - and in that space have the friends and family waiting to greet them.’

I think thats ridiculous. I don’t wish to offend but the impact of those sliding doors and the probable booing or rare overwhelming cheer is pure television gold. Do you really want to see this year’s Charley or Grace walk out, collect a few faithful hugs, words of reassurement and then battle through the crowd without their worry or thoughts of ‘Oh fuck!’ etched upon their faces. As the fans who have had to endure their ranting, bitching and ultimately their personality I believe we have that right to see just that. *Rant Off*

…but Brekkie I hope you know I love you xoxo

Brekkie says: June 3, 2009 @ 10:43 am

To answer your question Elektriks - yes I do. The viewers need to be reminded these are real people with real family and real friends - not just villainous characters in a TV show. And it worked perfectly from BB1-4 - and to a certain extent with the extended walkway in BB8.

A whole other topic, but I loved Grace. She played the game and was honest about it - but heck, she’s female with a strong opinion, hence naturally must be a bitch.

BBFan says: June 3, 2009 @ 12:32 pm

Brekkie I agree with your other point (12.30am) about the crowd etc. The studio has a futuristic theme this year so they should definitely play on that and have the screen opening. And I think the BB4 set up with the huge stairs with the press at the bottom and the gates with the crowd behind worked perfectly. It really added to the “locked away” feel and when the crowd were allowed right outside the house during the final it felt a lot more like event TV.

Alasdair says: June 3, 2009 @ 12:39 pm

I agree with everything on the list, especially the crowd. The booing has become the normality, not the exception and it is now hostile booing not pantomime as Davina always says. Just to let you know that you can use hypercloak.com to get past the idiotic youtube block and watch all the fan videos. Hope that helps.

Brekkie says: June 3, 2009 @ 12:50 pm

Good point BB Fan about how moving the crowd away from the house emphasises the “no contact with the outside world”.

It’s something which the river and bridge helped to do at the original house, but though that’s not an option at Elstree they could still do something.

anne says: June 3, 2009 @ 4:04 pm

i have complained about no live feed but just got a silly reply saying my views would be passed on.

Burt says: June 3, 2009 @ 4:26 pm

If you think the boos are bad on TV, you should be at an eviction.

It’s much worse than what you hear on TV, and to be honest, unnecessary most of the time.

Proud to be British, not!

Brekkie says: June 3, 2009 @ 4:27 pm

… to the rubbish bin I suspect.

I’m not going to do another article but live feed start times for week beginning 13th June are now confirmed:

Sat - 12.05am
Sun - 1.15am
Mon - 1.25am
Tue - 11.55pm
Wed - 12.05am
Thu - 12.00am
Fri - 12.10am

That’s just 40 hours of live coverage over an entire week, half of which is likely to be the HMs sleeping.

So I guess we have a new meaning to 24/7 coverage - just 24 hours of live coverage over 7 days.

Chris says: June 3, 2009 @ 5:33 pm

I agree with most of it, epsecially the Live Feed and the stupid annoying crowd. But I think the final, personally, was really great and I love Marcus Bentley! His voice IS BB, and without it, it definately wouldnt be the same - and they changed the Diary Room voice now to the E4 voice over guy!! Grrr!

Brekkie says: June 3, 2009 @ 7:56 pm

“His voice IS BB, and without it, it definately wouldnt be the same”.

That argument only holds when the show is good though. At the moment, it’s not - and some of the things most associated with BB are arguably holding it back from ever recovering.

And depending what mood I’m in, I could put Davina in that category too.

P.S. Come back at midnight, or avoid the internet until after tomorrow’s launch show.

Leave a comment...

As this is an archive, new comments cannot be added.