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| Big Brother | |
|---|---|
_2019_Logo.jpg){kind=logo} International logo ofBig Brother since 2019 | |
| Created by | John de Mol Jr. |
| Original work | Big Brother (Netherlands) |
| Owner | Banijay Entertainment[1] |
| Years | 1999–present |
Big Brother is areality competition television franchise created byJohn de Mol Jr., first broadcast in the Netherlands in 1999 and subsequently syndicated internationally[2] beginning in 2000. The show features contestants called "housemates" or "HouseGuests" who live together in a specially constructed house that is isolated from the outside world. The show has been cited as having had widespread influence on the status of television and celebrity.[3]
The name is inspired byBig Brother fromGeorge Orwell's novelNineteen Eighty-Four, and the housemates are continuously monitored during their stay in the house by live television cameras as well as personal audio microphones. Throughout the course of the competition, they are voted out of the house (usually on a weekly basis) until only one remains and wins the grand prize.
As of 5 August 2023[update], there have been 508 seasons ofBig Brother in over 63 franchise countries and regions. English-language editions of the program are often referred to by its initialsBB.[4]
At regular intervals, the housemates privately nominate a number of their fellow housemates whom they wish to be evicted from the house.[5] The housemates with the most nominations are then announced, and viewers are given the opportunity tovote via telephone for the nominee they wish to be evicted or saved from eviction. The last person remaining is declared the winner.
Some more recent editions have since included additional methods of voting, such as voting through social media and smartphone applications. Occasionally, non-standard votes occur, where two houseguests are evicted at once or no one is voted out. In the earlier series ofBig Brother, there were 10 contestants with evictions every two weeks. However, the British version introduced a larger number of contestants with weekly evictions. Most versions ofBig Brother follow the weekly eviction format, broadcast over approximately three months for 16 contestants.
The contestants are required to do housework and are assigned tasks by the producers of the show (who communicate with the housemates via the omnipresent authority figure known to them only as "Big Brother"). The tasks are designed to test their teamwork abilities and community spirit. In some countries, the housemates' shopping budget or weekly allowance (to buy food and other essentials) depends on the outcome of assigned tasks.
The termBig Brother originates fromGeorge Orwell's novelNineteen Eighty-Four, with its theme of continuous oppressive surveillance.[2]
The first version ofBig Brother was broadcast in 1999 onVeronica in theNetherlands. In the first season ofBig Brother, the house was very basic. Although essential amenities such as running water, furniture, and a limited ration of food were provided, luxury items were often forbidden. This added asurvivalist element to the show, increasing the potential for social tension. Nearly all later series provide a modern house for the contest with a Jacuzzi, sauna, VIP suite,loft, and other luxuries.
The format has become an international TV franchise. While each country or region has its own variation, the common theme is that the contestants are confined to the house and have their every action recorded by cameras and microphones and that no contact with the outside world is permitted.
Most international versions of the show remain quite similar: their main format remains true to the originalfly on the wall observational style with an emphasis on human relationships, to the extent that contestants are usually forbidden from discussing nominations or voting strategy. In 2001, theAmerican version adopted a different format since the second season, where the contestants are encouraged to strategize to advance in the game; in this format, the contestants themselves vote to evict each other and a jury of evicted contestants vote for the winner. Occasionally, individual game twists and format changes may allow for some viewer voting, usually to give a game advantage to the Housemates selected by the viewer vote.Big Brother Canada, introduced in 2013, also follows the American format, while the Australian series also used an American-styled format when the series was rebooted in 2020, with the winner being decided by Australia's vote among the Finalist.
Other international versions have included aspects of the American format. In 2011, theBritish version controversially adopted the discussion of nominations before reversing this rule after a poll byBig Brother broadcasterChannel 5.[6]
From a sociological and demographic perspective,Big Brother allows an analysis of how people react[7] when forced into close confinement with people outside of theircomfort zone (having different opinions or ideals, or from a different socioeconomic group). The viewer has the opportunity to see how a person reacts from the outside (through the constant recording of their actions) and the inside (in the Diary or Confession Room). The Diary Room is where contestants can privately express their feelings about the game, strategy and the other contestants. The results range from violent or angry confrontations to genuine and tender connections (often including romantic interludes).
In 2011, Braziliansociologist Silvia Viana Rodrigues wrote a thesis at theUniversity of São Paulo analyzing reality shows as spectacles that proliferaterituals of suffering.[8] She analyzes such rituals in various cultural products fromHollywood andBrazilian television, with special attention toBig Brother Brasil. When investigating the openly eliminatory and cruel face of the game,[9] Silvia Viana points out that such characteristics are liable to be entertainment with great and crucial public engagement because such processes of elimination,competition, exclusion, the affirmation of thewar of all against all, of self-management and personal self-control throughsocio-emotional skills,entrepreneurship, thebanality of evil, the naturalization oftorture, the "battle for survival" logic and the incorporation ofNazi language and elements are already part of contemporary social life, especially in the context of work underneoliberalism.[10] The thesis was later published as a book.[11]
The show is notable for involving the Internet. Although the show typically broadcasts daily updates during the evening (sometimes criticized by viewers and former contestants for heavy editing by producers),[12] viewers can also watch a continuous feed from multiple cameras on the Web in most countries. These websites were successful, even after some national series began charging for access to the video stream. In some countries, Internet broadcasting was supplemented by updates via email,WAP and SMS. The house is shown live on satellite television, although in some countries there is a 10–15 minutes delay to allow libelous or unacceptable content (such as references to people not participating in the program who have not consented to have personal information broadcast) to be removed.
Contestants occasionally develop sexual relationships; the level of sexual explicitness allowed to be shown in broadcast and Internet-feed varies according to the country's broadcasting standards.
Big Brother contestants are isolated in the house, without access to television, radio, or the Internet. They are not permitted routine communication with the outside world. This was an important issue for most earlier series of the show. In more-recent series, contestants are occasionally allowed to view televised events (usually as a reward for winning at a task). In most versions of the program, books and writing materials are also forbidden, although exceptions are sometimes made for religious materials such as the Bible,Tanakh or theQur'an. Some versions ban all writing implements, even items that can be used to write (such as lipstick or eyeliner). Despite the housemates' isolation, some contestants are occasionally allowed to leave the house as part of tasks. Contestants are permitted to leave the house in an emergency.
News from the outside world may occasionally be given as a reward. Additionally, news of extraordinary events from the outside world may be given to the Housemates if such information is considered important, such notable past examples include that of national election results,[13][14] (along with Housemates being able participate in said elections, for countries with compulsory voting)[15] theSeptember 11 attacks,[16] and theCOVID-19 pandemic.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]
Contestants have regularly scheduled interactions with the show's host on eviction nights. Throughout each day, the program's producer, in the "Big Brother" voice, issues directives and commands to contestants. Some versions of the show allow private counselling sessions with a psychologist. These are allowed at any time and are often conducted by telephone from the Diary Room.
Season 16 of the Australian adaption ofBig Brother has the house located inside theGold Coast theme parkDreamworld, allowing patrons on certain rides to see into the house garden, with some overhead yelling to the housemates. Previous series at Dreamworld had the house located outside the theme parks grounds, separating the housemates from park visitors.[25]
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Due to the intelligibility of certain languages across several nations, various regional versions ofBig Brother have been produced. Some countries have multiple franchises based on languag, for example, the United States has English- and Spanish-language versions of the show.
In 2001,Big Brother 3 of the Netherlands introduced the "Rich and Poor" concept, in which the house is separated into a luxurious half and a poor half, and two teams of housemates compete for a place in the luxurious half. The Dutch version continued this concept to the end of itsfourth season. Other versions later followed and introduced a similar concept, of which some have their own twists:Africa (in2010,2011,2012 and2013),Albania (in2010),Australia (in2003 and2013),Balkan States (inVIP 2010 and2011),Brazil (2009–present),Canada (2013–2024),Denmark (in2003),Finland (in2009 and2014), France (in2009,2011–2017),Germany (in2003,2004–05,2005–06,2008,2008–09 and sinceCelebrity 2014),Greece (in2003),India (in2012 and2013),Israel (in2009),Italy (in2006 and2007),Norway (in2003),Philippines (in2009,Teen 2010 and2011),Poland (in2002),Portugal (inVIP 2013 and2016),Slovakia (in2005),Slovenia (in2008,2015 and2016),Scandinavia (in2005),South Africa (in2014),Spain (in VIP 2004,2008,2009–10 and2010),United Kingdom (in2002,Celebrity 2007,2008,Celebrity 2013 and2016),United States (2009–present) andTamil Nadu, India (2023–24)
In 2011–12, theseventh Argentine series addedLa Casa de al Lado ("The House Next Door"), a smaller, more luxurious house which served multiple functions. The first week it hosted 4 potential housemates, and the public voted for two of them to enter the main house. The second week, two pairs of twins competed in the same fashion, with only one pair allowed in. Later, the 3rd, 4th and 5th evicted contestants were given the choice of staying on their way out and they competed for the public's vote to reenter the house. Months later, after one of the contestants left the house voluntarily, the House Next Door reopened for four contestants who wanted to reenter and had not been in such a playoff before. The House Next Door was also used in other occasions to accommodate contestants from the main house for limited periods of time, especially to have more privacy (which of course could be seen by the public).[citation needed]
Theninth Brazilian season featured the "Bubble": a glass house in a shopping mall in Rio de Janeiro where four potential housemates lived for a week. Later in the season, a bubble was built inside the Big Brother house, with another two housemates living in it for a week until they were voted in and the glass house dismantled. The Glass House was reused in theeleventh season, featuring five evicted housemates competing for a chance to join the house again, and in thethirteenth season, with six potential housemates competing for two places in the main house. A dividing wall from the ninth season was reused in thefourteenth Brazilian season, when mothers and aunts of the housemates entered forInternational Women's Day and stayed in the house for 6 days, though they could not be seen by the housemates. Every season brings back the glass house. Some editions also featured an all-white panic room, where contestants were held until one of them decided to quit the show.
In thefourth English-Canadian season, two house guests were evicted and moved into a special suite where they were able to watch the remaining house guests. A week later, the houseguests were required to unanimously decide which of them to bring back into the house.
In 2004, thefifth British series introduced a villainousBig Brother with harsher punishments, such as taking away prize money, more difficult tasks and secret tricks. This concept has also been used in Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, South America,[clarification needed]Scandinavia,[clarification needed] Serbia, Spain, Thailand, Philippines and Mexico.
In 2004, thefifth American season introduced twins who were tasked with secretly switching back and forth in the house; they were allowed to play the game as individual house guests after succeeding at the deception for four weeks. This twist was reused in theseventeenth American season without the deception element – the pair simply needed to survive five weeks without beingevicted. HouseGuests who discovered this twist could use the twins to their strategic advantage.
This twin or triplet twist was used in several countries. Some made modifications to this twist; others have had twins in the house together without this element of secrecy. The following are the countries that have featured twins or triplets: Australia (in2005), Germany (in2005–06), Brazil (in2006 and2015), Bulgaria (in2006,2012 andVIP 2017), United Kingdom (in2007,Celebrity 2011,Celebrity 2012,2013,2015,2016 andCelebrity 2017), France (in2007,2011,2013,2015 and2016), Spain (in2007 and2013), Poland (in2007 and2019), India (in2008), Africa (in2009), Balkan Region (in2009 and2013), Philippines (in2009,Teen 2012 and2014), Portugal (in2010 and2012), Israel (in2011), Ukraine (in2011), Argentina (in2011 and2016), Albania (in2013,2017,Celebrity 2021–22 andCelebrity 2022–23), Greece (in2020) and Kosovo (inCelebrity 2022–23).
Several versions of the program feature variations of the housemates competing in pairs:
Secret missions are a common element of the show since their introduction during thesixth British series. During these missions, one or more housemates are set a task fromBig Brother with the reward of luxuries for the household and/or a personal reward if the task is successful. Some versions ofBig Brother have secret tasks presented by another character who lives in plain sight of the housemate. Such characters include Marsha the Moose (fromBB Canada) and Surly the Fish (fromBB Australia).
Thethird Belgian season introduced a mole. This housemate was given secret missions byBig Brother.[26]
The sixth Australian season featured The Insider. Voted on by Australia, the Housemates deemed "The Most Competitive" had to complete secret missions tasked by Big Brother in order to win immunity from Nomination Voting and hence, Eviction. Failure in a mission would result in Automatic Nomination.
Theeighth American season introduced "America's Player", where a selected house guest must complete various tasks (determined by public vote) in secret for the duration of their stay in the house in exchange for a cash reward. It was repeated in thetenth American season for a week. Theeleventh American season featured Pandora's Box, in which the winning head of household was tempted to open a box, withunintended consequences for the house. Thetwelfth American season featured a saboteur, who entered the house to wreak havoc with tasks suggested by viewers. Thesixteenth American season featured "Team America", in which 3 houseguests were selected to work as a team to complete tasks (determined by public voting) for a cash reward; this continued for the entire season despite the eviction of a team member.
Thefourth Argentine series added a telephone in the living room. This telephone rang once a week for ten seconds, and the person to pick up the receiver was given an order or news from Big Brother (which typically no other housemate could hear). The order could be beneficial or detrimental, but a refused order resulted in the nomination for eviction. If nobody picked up the call, the whole house would be nominated for eviction.[citation needed]
SinceBig Brother 2, theBritish series has opened with a twist. This has included having potential Housemates being voted upon by the public for one to enter the house (Big Brother 2 &Big Brother 13); public voting for least-favourite housemates, with the housemates choosing between two nominees to evict (Big Brother 3); first-night nominations (Big Brother 4 &Big Brother 13); suitcase nominations (Big Brother 5); Unlucky Housemate 13 (Big Brother 6); Big Brother Hood (Big Brother 7); an all-female house and a set of twins as contestants (Big Brother 8); a couple entering as housemates, who must hide their relationship (Big Brother 9); housemates having to earn housemate status (Big Brother 10, with an altered version of the twist appearing inBig Brother 21); amole entering the house with an impossible task (Big Brother 11);Pamela Anderson entering as a guest for 5 days (Big Brother 12); a professional actor posing as a housemate and a mother and daughter as contestants (Big Brother 14); one contestant gets a pass to the final (Big Brother 15); first night eviction (Big Brother 16); two houses with "the other house" featuring enemies from the main house housemates past (Big Brother 17);Jackie Stallone entering a house containing her son's ex-wifeBrigitte Nielsen (Celebrity Big Brother 3); a "fake celebrity" (a civilian contestant pretending to be a celebrity) in a celebrity edition (Celebrity Big Brother 4); a visit fromJade Goody's family (Celebrity Big Brother 5) and unlocked bedrooms allowing housemates to immediately claim beds[27] with the last housemate becoming the Head of House (Celebrity Big Brother 6).
A common opening twist is to introduce only a cast of a single sex on the premiere of the show while having members of the opposite sex introduced over the next few days. Theeighth British series first used this twist with an initial all-female house, adding a male housemate two days later. The same twist was used in thefourth Bulgarian series, and an all-male premiere was used onBig Brother Africa 4. Thesecond Belgian season was used a similar twist in 2001, where eleven male housemates and one female housemate entered the house on launch night and the second female housemate entered the house on the third day.
Thefifth British series introduced fake evictions, where Big Brother misleads housemates that eviction has taken place, only for the "evicted" housemate to reenter the house sometime later.
In theeighth British series, one housemate was evicted, interviewed and sent back into the house.
In thefifth Philippine season, four housemates were fake-evicted and stayed in a place calledbodega. In the second batch of theeight Philippine season, four housemates were fake-evicted due to losing their duel challenge and temporarily stayed in a secret room. In the adult edition of thetenth Philippine season, two housemates, and later three more, were fake evicted after failing in two differentLigtask challenges and temporarily stayed in the task room until the end of their weekly task.
The concept of the fake-eviction was incorporated into the Australian series for the first time in thesixth Australian season, when housemates Camilla Severi and Anna Lind-Hansen were both fake-evicted in Day 8 and were moved into a secret room in the house, the Revenge Room. Severi and Lind-Hansen could see who nominated them for eviction and were given the opportunity to wreak havoc upon the house and those who nominated them by constructing extravagant tasks for the housemates to complete and for making mess in the house when they were not looking. Severi and Lind-Hansen returned to the house in a live special on Day 10. In thetenth Australian season, Benjamin Zabel was fake evicted for 24 hours before being returned to the house with immunity from eviction for that week. In theeleventh Australian season Travis Lunardi was fake-evicted and received advice from Benjamin Zabel for 24 hours; Travis returned to the house after a 3-day absence with immunity from eviction for that week.
In thethirteenth Brazilian series, Anamara Barreira was fake evicted. She was removed and put into a small private apartment without the other housemates knowing she was still in the house. After 24 hours, she returned to the house as Head of Household and with immunity from eviction that week. In thesixteenth Brazilian series, Ana Paula Renault was similarly fake evicted, put into a small private apartment, and returned after 48 hours with immunity from eviction that week. In theeighteen Brazilian series, Gleici Damasceno was similarly fake evicted, put into a small private apartment, and returned after 72 hours with immunity from eviction and with the power to put someone to eviction.
In thefirst Turkish series, there is a fake eviction in week 10.
The Indian versionBigg Boss sees frequent fake evictions. InBigg Boss Kannadaseason 4, winner Pratham and co-contestant Malavika were kept in secret room after fake eviction for one week and they were both allowed in the Bigg Boss house.
Similarly, inBigg Boss Kannadaseason 5, firstly Jaya Srinivasan and Sameer Acharya were put into the secret room after fake eviction for one week and then Sameer Acharya was allowed into the house, but Jaya Srinivasan was evicted from the secret room itself. In the same season, the runner up Divakar was put into the secret room after fake eviction for one week.
The fourteenth American season had four house guests from past seasons return to coach twelve new house guests, playing for a separate prize of $100,000. However, in a reset twist, they opted to join the normal game alongside the other house guests.
The seventh Argentine series incorporated a red button into the Confession Room, which would sound an alarm throughout the house. This button was to be used when a contestant wanted to leave the house voluntarily, and the contestant would be given five minutes to leave the house. A red button is also used inSecret Story series, however, in this case whoever presses the button will try to guess someone's secret.
InCelebrity Hijack UK, evicted housemates were given the opportunity to choose if a "ninja" delivered good or bad gifts to the house. Later that year, theeighth Australian series introduced the Housemate Hand Grenade, where an evicted housemate decided which remaining housemate received a penalty. A similar punishment used onBig Brother Africa was called the Molotov Cocktail, Dagger or Fuse.
Thefifteenth American season allowed viewers to vote for a house guest to be made M.V.P., who then secretly nominates a third houseguest for eviction (in addition to the two selected by the Head of Household).
In a further twist introduced part-way through the MVP twist, the viewers themselves decided who the third nominee would be, with the HouseGuests still thinking one of their own is the MVP. Like many such twists, this was ended halfway into the season as the pool of contestants shrank.
Thesixteenth andseventeenth American seasons featured two Heads of Household every week and had four houseguests nominated for eviction. There was also a "Battle of the Block" competition where the two sets of nominees competed to save themselves; the winning pair not only saved themselves but dethroned the Head of Household who nominated them, who was then vulnerable as a replacement nominee if a veto was used. It is also used in specific weeks in Brazil sinceBig Brother Brasil 16 where the HOH's have to choose which HoH will getR$10,000 and who is the one that will win immunity.
In the American version, each season there are three cash prizes: $750,000 for the winner, $75,000 for second, and $50,000 for who was voted by the viewers to be America's Favorite HouseGuest.
In 2011,Big Brother Africaseason 6 was the first season ofBig Brother to have two winners, each getting US$200,000.
In 2012, the four finalists fromGran Hermano 12+1 (Spain) were given the chance to choose a formerly evicted housemate to be their partner. The companion of the winner became the "+1 winner" and received a secondary prize of €20,000.
In 2015, thesixth Philippine season, also had two winners; one from theteens and one from theregular adults. Each of which received PHP1,000,000.
Bigg Boss 8 (India) ended with a twist, where the top five contestants were crowned 'champions'. The season was extended by 35 days (total 135) as a spin-off calledBigg Boss Halla Bol, where ex-contestants from previous seasons entered the house to compete with the five champions.
Thefourth Philippine season introduced the concept of having reserved housemates, those of whom are short-listed auditioners who were given a chance to be a housemate by completing tasks assigned by Big Brother. It was eventually done also in theeighth Philippine season where the reserved housemates were placed in a camp (a separate House but is just adjacent to the Main House) and that reserved housemate must compete amongst other reserved housemates while gaining points by participating in various tasks, including those that required the participation of doing such tasks outside of the Big Brother House premises. As the eviction was done weekly, once an official housemate is evicted from the Main House, the housemate(s) with the most points earned for that particular week crossovers to the Main House and becomes an official housemate.
These reserved housemates twist was also used in Argentina'sseventh season and Brazil'sninth season.
In 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, theBig Brother Portugal revival started with a twist, where all the contestants were isolated in different apartments for 14 days, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. Cameras were filming them 24 hours a day as usual, and they were able to communicate with each other and host Cláudio Ramos using tablets.[28]
In 2002, theMexican and Spanish editions (BBM1 andGH3) made temporary housemate exchanges. Mexico's Eduardo Orozco swapped with Spain's Andrés Barreiro for 7 days. In 2010, the first 2-housemate exchange was held by Spain andItaly (GH11 andGF10). Gerardo Prager and Saray Pereira from Spain were swapped with Carmela Gualtieri and Massimo Scattarella of Italy for 7 days.
In later years, several housemate exchanges were done around the world:Argentina (GH3) and Spain (GH4),Ecuador (GH1) and Mexico (BBM2), and Africa (BBA1) and United Kingdom (BB4) in 2003;Scandinavia (BB2) andThailand (BBT2) in 2006;Philippines (PBB2) andSlovenia (BB1), andArgentina (GH5) and Spain (GH9) in 2007; Africa (BBA3) andFinland (BB4) in 2008;Finland (BB5) andPhilippines (PBB3) in 2009;Finland (BB6) andSlovenia (BBS1) in 2010; Spain (GH12) and Israel (HH3) in 2010–11;Finland (BB7) andNorway (BB4) in 2011;Argentina (GH7) and Israel (HH4) in 2012; Mexico (BB4) and Spain (GH16) in 2015; and Spain (GHVIP5) and Brazil (BBB17) in 2017.
In 2003, Mexico's Isabel Madow (BB VIP2) and Spain's Aída Nízar (GH5) were swapped for 7 days. This twist was also done between Russia (BBR1) and Pacific (GHP1) in 2005, and Argentina (GH4) and Brazil (BBB7) in 2007.
In 2009, as part of the casting process for Italy'sGF9, Doroti Polito and Leonia Coccia visited Spain'sGH10.
In 2012, four contestants from Denmark'sBB4 visited Sweden'sBB6 and competed in a Viking-themed challenge. The Danish team won and 'kidnapped' Swedish contestant Annica Englund to the Denmark house for the following week.
In 2012, evicted housemate Laisa Portella of Brazil (fromBBB12) was a guest on Spain'sGran Hermano 13 for a week; the following week, non-evicted Noemí Merino of GH13 stayed in the Brazilian Big Brother house for 5 days.
In 2016,Big Brother UK housemateNikki Grahame andBig Brother Australia housemate Tim Dormer were voted in by Canada to be houseguests on the 4th season ofBig Brother Canada. Similarly,Big Brother UK housemateJade Goody appeared as a housemate on the2nd season ofBigg Boss Hindi.
Big Brother Australia (2015) contestant Priya Malik joinedBigg Boss 9 (India) the same year as a wild card.
In 2017,GHVIP5 contestant Elettra Lamborghini visited Brazil'sBBB17.
In 2019, the winner of Italy'sGF15, Alberto Mezzetti visited Brazil'sBBB19.
In 2022, Bindhu Madhavi, 4th Runner-up ofBigg Boss Tamil 2017 made her entry as a contestant in a Telugu back to win spin-off namedBigg Boss Non-Stop and emerged as the winner of that show respectively.
After winning thedebut season ofBigg Boss Marathi (regional version ofBig Brother), winner Megha Dhade made her entry inBigg Boss season 12 as a wild card contestant.
After winningseason 2 ofBigg Boss Marathi (regional version ofBig Brother), winner Shiv Thakare made her entry inBigg Boss 16.
Anouska Golebiewski, an evicted housemate from the United Kingdom (housemate fromBB4) visited Australia (BB3) in 2003. In 2005, United Kingdom (Nadia Almada ofBB5) visited Australia (BB5) again. In 2006, United Kingdom (Chantelle Houghton ofCBB4) visited Germany (BBG6). This twist was used in later years by other countries: Africa (Ricardo Ferreira ofBBA3) visited Brazil (BBB9) in 2009; Germany (Annina Ucatis and Sascha Schwan ofBBG9) visited the Philippines (PBB3), and Italy (George Leonard and Veronica Ciardi ofGF10) visited Albania (BB3) in 2010; Sweden (Martin Granetoft and Peter OrrmyrSara Jonsson ofBB5) visited Norway (BB4) in 2011; Brazil (Rafael Cordeiro ofBBB12) visited Spain (GH12), and Argentina (Agustín Belforte ofGH4) visited Colombia (GH2) in 2012; United States (Dan Gheesling ofBB10/BB14) visited Canada (BB1 and theBB2 Jury) in 2013; Canada (Emmett Blois ofBB1) visited South Africa (BBM3) in 2014; and Spain (Paula Gonzalez ofGH15) visited Mexico (BBM4) in 2015.
A similar event took place between the United States and Canada in 2014 whereinRachel Reilly (fromBB12/BB13) made a video chat to Canada (BB2). Rachel Reilly also appeared onBig Brother Canada's side show, which airs after the eviction episode.
There were occasions that a former housemate from one franchise participated and competed in a different franchise: Daniela Martins of France (SS3) competed in Portugal (SS1); Daniel Mkongo of France (SS5) competed in Italy (GF12);Brigitte Nielsen of Denmark (BB VIP) competed in the United Kingdom (CBB3);Jade Goody of the United Kingdom (BB3, BB Panto, and CBB5) competed in India (BB2); Sava Radović of Germany (BB4) competed in theBalkan States (VB1); Nikola Nasteski of the Balkan States (VB4) competed in Bulgaria (BB All-Stars 1); Žarko Stojanović of France (SS5) competed in the Balkan States (VB VIP5); Željko Stojanović of France (SS5) competed in the Balkan States (VB VIP5); Kelly Baron of Brazil (BBB13) competed in Portugal (BB VIP);Lucy Diakovska of Bulgaria (VIP B4) competed in Germany (PBB1); Leila Ben Khalifa of Italy (GF6) competed in France (SS8);Priya Malik of Australia (BB11) competed in India (BB9); Tim Dormer of Australia (BB10) andNikki Grahame of the United Kingdom (BB7,UBB) competed in Canada (BB4) after beating Jase Wirey of the United States (BB5,BB7) and Veronica Graf of Italy (GF13) in a public vote; Leonel Estevão-Luto of Africa (BB4) competed in Angola & Mozambique (BB3);Frankie Grande of the United States (BB16) competed in the United Kingdom (CBB18); Fanny Rodrigues of Portugal (SS2) competed in France (SS10); and Tucha Anita of Angola (BB3);Amor Romeira of Spain (GH9) competed in Portugal (SS6) and Alain Rochette of Spain (GH17) competed in France (SS11); Despite being American,Brandi Glanville competed first in the United Kingdom (CBB20) then later competed in first Celebrity series in the United States (CBB1); Aída Nizar of Spain (GH5 andGHVIP5) competed in Italy (GF15); Ivana Icardi of Argentina (GH9) competed in Italy (GF16); Gianmarco Onestini of Italy (GF16) competed in Spain (GHVIP7); Michael Terlizzi of Italy (GF16) competed in Spain (GHVIP8); Heidi Baci of Italy (GF17) competed in Albania (BBVIP3).
| Series participants | Prize | Points | Winner | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB10 Germany BB11 United Kingdom | A screening of the2010 FIFA World Cup (round of 16)Germany vs.England game | After five penalties, the score was 1–1 and the game went tosudden death. After 36 penalties, German housemate Robert shot the ball wide and UK housemate Ife scored, winning 2–1. | United KingdomBB11 | 26 June 2010 |
| Team and Song | Jury's points | Dates | Winner | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy GF11 | Greece BB5 | Argentina GH6 | Total | Tests | Israel Performance | Spain Performance | Ratings | Closed | ||
| GH12: "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" | 12 | 12 | 12 | 36 | 30 December 2010 to 4 January 2011 | 5 January 2011 | 6 January 2011 | 7 January 2011 | 8 January 2011 | GH12 |
| HH3: "Bandido" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | ||||||
TheBig Brother format has been adopted in some countries; the housemates are local celebrities, and the shows are calledCelebrity Big Brother orBig Brother VIP. In some countries, the prize money normally awarded to the winning housemate is donated to a charity, and all celebrities are paid to appear in the show as long as they do not voluntarily leave before their eviction or the end of the series. The rest of the rules are nearly the same as those of the original version.
The 2006 Netherlands series was entitledHotel Big Brother. This variation introduced a group of celebrity hoteliers and a Big Boss, who run a hotel and collect money for charity without nominations, evictions or a winner.
Another variation appeared in the UK in early 2008, entitledBig Brother: Celebrity Hijack. Instead of being housemates the celebrities became Big Brother himself, creating tasks and holding nominations with the help of Big Brother. The housemates were considered by the producers "Britain's most exceptional and extraordinary" 18- to 21-year-olds. The prize for the winner of the series was £50,000.[29]
In 2009,VIP Brother 3 Bulgaria introduced the concept of celebrities competing for charitable causes, which changed each week. Housemates were sometimes allowed to leave the house to raise money for the charity. Ten out of Thirteen seasons ofBigg Boss (the Indian version ofBig Brother) have been celebrity-only seasons. The 10th season ofBig Boss had celebrities put up against commoners, where a commoner ultimately won.
The American and Canadian versions ofBig Brother differ from most global versions of the series. The American series began in 2000 with the original Dutch format—i.e., housemates, or HouseGuests, as they are styled in the United States, nominating each other for eviction and the public voting on evictions and the eventual winner. But due to both poor ratings and the concurrent popularity ofSurvivor, a gameplay-oriented format was introduced in thesecond season, with HouseGuests allowed to strategize, politic and collude to survive eviction, with the entire nomination and eviction process being determined by the HouseGuest themselves.
Each week the HouseGuests compete in several competitions in order to win power and safety inside the house, before voting off one of the HouseGuests during the eviction. The main elements of the format are as follows:
Before thesixteenth American season, HouseGuests competed in a Have/Have-Not challenge similar to the shopping tasks onBig Brother UK and other international editions. The winners become Haves and enjoy a full pantry of food, while Have-Nots, will be left with a staple diet of "slop" (fortified oatmeal), sleep in designated uncomfortable beds and take cold showers. In later seasons, the Haves & Have-Nots are determined either by the HoH themself or by the results of the HoH Competition.
When only two contestants remain, a jury formed of the most recently evicted HouseGuests (generally seven or nine) votes which of the two finalists wins the grand prize. Beginning in the fourth (2003) American season, jury members were sequestered off-site so that they would not be privy to the day-to-day goings-on in the house. (Celebrity Big Brother US does not sequester its jury members—all evicted celebrity HouseGuests vote on the winner.).[37] The final Head of Household competition is split into three parts; the winners of the first two rounds compete in the third and final round. Once only two HouseGuests remain, the members of the jury cast their votes for who should win the series.[38]
In addition, American and CanadianBig Brother do not air a live launch show, as is customary in international editions—by the time the network show and live online feeds begin airing, it is not uncommon for at least one HouseGuest to already have been evicted. Also, the North American editions currently air only three times a week, compared with daily or six days a week for the recently rebooted British franchise. As a result, the TV episodes focus primarily on the main events regarding the gameplay and house politics versus the day-to-day goings-on in the house; to see the latter, watching the live feeds is necessary.
In 2013, English-speaking Canada introduced its own version of the show on the cable channelSlice; the series moved toGlobal TV for its third (2015) season. The show followed the American format but with more elaborate twists and greater viewer participation in the game. Secret tasks were introduced, usually presented by the show's mascot, "Marsha the Moose"; also, as in most global franchises, Big Brother was a distinct character who interacted with the HouseGuests. TheFrench Canadian version mostly followed the American/Anglophone Canadian format, but the public could evict a housemate on some occasions and decided the winner.
The2020 revival of theBig Brother Australia series adopted a slightly altered version of the American format (having previously used the international format) while pre-recording the series months in advance. A "Nomination Challenge" is held to determine who holds the power to nominate for that round, with the winner naming three Nominations for Eviction. During each eviction, all Housemates (excluding the Nominating Housemate) vote to evict. There is no rule prohibiting individuals holding Nomination Power in consecutively between weeks and no Power of Veto is held. Additionally, the Australian public still decided the winner between the final 3.
Big Brother Brasil combines the American/Canadian and international formats. Brazil votes on evictions and the winner, but housemates compete for HoH, Power of Immunity, and Power of Veto; there is also a weekly shopping competition. HoH nominates one housemate for eviction, while the rest of the house nominates a second housemate. The winner of the Power of Immunity competition gets to choose someone to be safe from nomination.
The pilot forBig Brother China, which premiered exclusively online in 2015, had housemates voting on evictions but the public voting for the winner.[39] A similar format was used forBig Brother: Over the Top, an online-only spin-off of the American series that ran in 2016.
Thenineteenth series ofBig Brother UK saw the adaption of the "Game Changer" competition which is very similar to the Power of Veto competition. The winner of this competition has the opportunity to save a nominee from eviction. Like the PoV, there are six people that play in the "Game Changer" competition. The process of how the contestants are chosen is different as the people who have been nominated play in the competition along with the richest housemate. If there are empty left in the competition, then the richest housemate hand picks who will playing in that weeks "Game Changer" competition. The winner of the competition, like the PoV, has the option to save housemate from eviction for the week or not use the power at all. Unlike the PoV however, if the winner does save someone then no replacement nominee was named leaving the remaining nominees up for eviction and facing the public vote.[40][41][42]
TheBig Brother format has been otherwise modified in some countries:
There are also "test runs", with a group of celebrities (or journalists) living in the house for several days to test it. There are occasions where people who have auditioned for the show are also put in the house, most notably in the British edition, where many housemates claim to have met before. These series have been televised inArgentina, Bulgaria,Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, the Pacific region, the Philippines and Spain. In some cases, it is not broadcast, but in others, such as the American edition, it is used as a promotional tool.
As of 28 November 2025,Big Brother has produced 514 winners in over 63 franchises.
| Country/Region | Official name | Network(s) | Winner(s) | Presenter(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa (English-language:Angola,Botswana,Ethiopia,Ghana,Kenya,Liberia,Malawi,Mozambique,Namibia,Nigeria,Rwanda,South Africa,Sierra Leone,Tanzania,Uganda,Zimbabwe andZambia) | Big Brother Africa | M-Net Africa Magic Mzansi Magic DStv(live) |
|
|
| Africa (French-language:Benin,Burkina Faso,Cameroon,Congo,DR Congo,Côte d'Ivoire,Gabon,Guinea,Madagascar,Mali,Niger,Senegal,Togo) | Secret Story Afrique[43] | Canal+ Afrique |
| Jean-Michel Onnin Stéphanelle |
| Albania | Big Brother Albania | Top Channel DigitAlb(live) |
|
|
| Big Brother VIP[44] |
|
| ||
| Angola Mozambique[45] | Big Brother Angola(1–2)[46] Big Brother Angola e Moçambique(3) | Jango Magic DStv |
|
|
| Arab world (Bahrain,Egypt,Iraq,Jordan,Kuwait,Lebanon,Oman,Saudi Arabia,Somalia,Syria andTunisia) | Big Brother: الرئيس Big Brother: The Boss | MBC 2 | Season 1, 2004:Discontinued[47] | Razan Moughrabi |
| Argentina | Gran Hermano | Telefe DirecTV(live;1–3, 6–7, 11–) Cablevisión(live;4–5) Multicanal(live;4) TDT(live;6–7) Pluto TV(live;10) |
|
|
| América TV DirecTV(live) Cablevisión(live) |
|
| ||
| Gran Hermano Famosos | Telefe Cablevisión(live) Multicanal(live) |
|
| |
| Big Brother | Network 10 10 (VoD)(live stream;16) |
|
| |
| Nine Network |
| Sonia Kruger | ||
| Seven Network |
| |||
| Celebrity Big Brother | Network 10 | Season 1, 2002:Dylan Lewis | Gretel Killeen | |
| Big Brother VIP | Seven Network |
| Sonia Kruger | |
| Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina,Croatia,Montenegro,North Macedonia andSerbia) | Veliki Brat Big Brother | Pink BH(1–4) Pink M(1–4) B92(1–3, 5) A1(3) Pink(4) RTL(4–5) OBN(5) RTRS(5) Sitel(5) Prva(5) |
|
|
| Veliki Brat VIP Big Brother VIP | Pink M(1–4) Pink BH(1–4) B92(1–2, 5) Pink(3–4) A1(4) BN(5) Prva(5) OBN(5) Sitel(5) |
|
| |
| Veliki Brat: Generalna Proba[52] Veliki Brat: General Rehearsal | B92 | Season 1, 2006: Jelena Provči & Marko Miljković | Marijana Mićić | |
| Belgium | Big Brother | Kanaal Twee |
| Walter Grootaers |
| Big Brother (Netherlands and Belgium)[53][54] | VIER/Play4 Telenet(live) |
| Current Geraldine Kemper Tatyana Beloy(3–) Former Peter Van de Veire(1–2) | |
| Big Brother VIPs | VTM Kanaal Twee |
| No presenters | |
| Big Brother All-Stars | Kanaal Twee | Season 1, 2003: Heidi Zutterman | Walter Grootaers | |
| Brazil | Big Brother Brasil | TV Globo Multishow Globoplay(live onPPV) |
|
|
| Bulgaria | Big Brother | Nova Television Nova+(live;1–4) Diema Family(live;5) |
|
|
| VIP Brother | Nova Television Nova+(live;1–2) Diema 2(live;3) Diema Family(live;4–6) |
|
| |
| Big Brother Family | Nova Television Diema Family(live) |
| Niki Kunchev | |
| Big Brother All Stars(1–4) Big Brother: Most Wanted(5–6) | Nova Television Diema Family(live;1–3) |
| ||
| Canada (English) | Big Brother Canada | Slice |
| Arisa Cox |
| Global |
| |||
| Canada (French) | Loft Story | TQS[59] |
|
|
| Loft Story: La Revanche Loft Story: The Revenge | Season 6, 2009: Sébastien Tremblay | Pierre-Yves Lord | ||
| Big Brother | V | Season 1, 2010: Vincent Durand Dubé | Chéli Sauvé-Castonguay | |
| Big Brother Célébrités | Noovo |
| Marie-Mai Bouchard | |
| Chile | Gran Hermano | Chilevisión |
|
|
| China | 室友一起宅 – Big Brother China Housemates, Let's Stay Together | Youku.com Tudou.com | Pilot season, 2015–16: Tan Xiangjun | Zhou Wentao(Live Final) Yang Ruilei(Live Final) |
| Colombia | Gran Hermano | Caracol Televisión | Season 1, 2003: Mónica Patricia Tejón | Adriana Arango |
| Citytv Bogotá[63] | Season 2, 2012: Diana Hernández | Agmeth Escaf | ||
| La casa de los famosos Colombia The House of the Famous Colombia[64] | Canal RCN ViX(live; 1) |
|
| |
| Croatia | Big Brother (Veliki brat) | Nova TV |
|
|
| Big Brother | RTL |
|
| |
| Celebrity Big Brother | Season 1, 2008: Danijela Dvornik | Antonija Blaće Marko Lušić | ||
| Czech Republic | Big Brother | TV Nova |
|
|
| Big Brother Česko & Slovensko (Czech Republic and Slovakia) | TV Nova Voyo |
| Míra Hejda(2) | |
| Denmark | Big Brother | TvDanmark |
| Lisbeth Janniche |
| Kanal 5 The Voice TV(live;4) 7'eren(live;5–6) |
|
| ||
| Big Brother VIP | TvDanmark | Season 1, 2003: Thomas Bickham | Lisbeth Janniche | |
| Big Brother Reality All-Stars | Season 1, 2004: Jill Liv Nielsen | |||
| Ecuador | Gran Hermano | Ecuavisa | Season 1, 2003: David Burbano | Toty Rodríguez |
| Finland | Big Brother Suomi | Sub |
|
|
| Nelonen Jim(11; Daily recaps) Ruutu.fi(stream; live 24/7) |
| Elina Kottonen(11–12, 14) Kimmo Vehviläinen(11–14) Alma Hätönen(11–12, 14) Anni Hautala(13, 15) Tinni Wikström(13) Sami Kuronen(15) Janni Hussi(15) | ||
| Julkkis Big Brother(9) Celebrity Big Brother Big Brother Suomi VIP(13) | Sub | Season 9, 2013: Jori Kopponen | Mari Sainio | |
| Nelonen Ruutu.fi(stream; live 24/7) | Season 13, 2021:Petra Maarit Olli | Anni Hautala Tinni Wikström Kimmo Vehviläinen | ||
| France | Loft Story | M6 |
| Benjamin Castaldi |
| Secret Story | TF1 NT1/TFX(Daily recaps:9, aftershow:12) CanalSat(live;1) TF1+(live feed:12) |
|
| |
| NT1/TFX TF1(live launch:10—11, 13–) TF1+(live feed:13–) |
| |||
| Germany | Big Brother | RTL II Single TV(2) RTL(2–3) MTV2 Pop(4–5) Tele 5(4–6) 9Live(8) VIVA(5, 9) Premiere(live;5–9) Clipfish(live;10–11) Sky(live;10–11) |
|
|
| sixx Sky(live;12) 7TV(stream;12) Joyn(live, daily recaps;15–) |
|
| ||
| Sat.1 sixx(Weekly recaps;13) Joyn(live, daily recaps;14) |
| |||
| Promi Big Brother | Sat.1 sixx(Daily recaps;2–4, 6–8) IGTV(Daily recaps;7–) Sat.1 emotions(1) Sky(live 3 hours;1, live;3) maxdome(live;2) Bild(live;4) 7TV(stream;2–6) Joyn(stream;7–; live feed;11–) |
|
| |
| Greece Cyprus | Big Brother | ANT1 |
| |
| Alpha TV Sigma TV Nova(live) |
| |||
| Skai TV Sigma TV |
|
| ||
| Hungary | Big Brother | TV2 |
|
|
| Big Brother VIP |
| |||
| Való Világ powered by Big Brother[68] | Cool TV(12–) RTL Kettő(8–11) RTL+(stream) |
|
| |
| India (Hindi-language) | Bigg Boss (Television edition) | SET(1) | Season 1, 2006–07:Rahul Roy | Arshad Warsi |
| Colors TV(2–) Voot(live;4–16) Jio Cinema(live;17,18) JioHotstar(live;19–) |
|
| ||
| Bigg Boss Halla Bol (Spin-off) | ||||
| Bigg Boss OTT (Digital edition) | Voot(live;1) JioCinema(live;2–) |
| ||
| India (Kannada-language) | Bigg Boss Kannada (Television edition) | ETV Kannada(1) | Season 1, 2013:Vijay Raghavendra | Sudeepa |
| Asianet Suvarna(2) | Season 2, 2014:Akul Balaji | |||
| Colors Kannada(3–4; 7–) Colors Super(4–6) Voot(live;3–9) Jio Cinema(live;10,11) JioHotstar(live;12–) |
| |||
| Bigg Boss Mini Season (Spin-off) | Colors Kannada |
| ||
| Bigg Boss Kannada OTT (Digital edition) | Voot(live;1) |
| ||
| India (Malayalam-language) | Malayalee House | Surya TV | Season 1, 2013:Rahul Easwar | Revathi |
| Bigg Boss Malayalam | Asianet Hotstar(1,2) Disney+ Hotstar(live;3–6) JioHotstar(live;7–) |
| Mohanlal | |
| India (Bengali-language) | Bigg Boss Bangla | ETV Bangla(1) | Season 1, 2013:Aneek Dhar | Mithun Chakraborty |
| Colors Bangla(2) Voot(2) | Season 2, 2016: Joyjeet Banerjee | Jeet | ||
| India (Tamil-language) | Bigg Boss Tamil (Television edition) | Star Vijay Hotstar(1–3) Disney+ Hotstar(live;4–8) JioHotstar(live;9–) |
| |
| Bigg Boss Ultimate (Digital edition) | Disney+ Hotstar(Live;1) |
| Silambarasan | |
| India (Telugu-language) | Bigg Boss Telugu (Television edition) | Star Maa Hotstar(1–3) Disney+ Hotstar(live;4–8) JioHotstar(live;9–) |
| |
| Bigg Boss Non-Stop (Digital edition) | Disney+ Hotstar(live;1) | Nagarjuna | ||
| Bigg Boss Agnipariksha (Spin-off) (Digital edition) | JioHotstar |
| Sreemukhi | |
| India (Marathi-language) | Bigg Boss Marathi | Colors Marathi Voot(live;1–3) Jio Cinema(live;4–) |
| |
| Indonesia | Big Brother Indonesia | Trans TV | Season 1, 2011: Alan Wangsa |
|
| Israel | האח הגדול HaAh HaGadol Big Brother | Channel 2-Keshet Hot(live) yes(live) |
|
|
| Channel 13 Channel 26(live) |
|
| ||
| VIP האח הגדול HaAh HaGadol VIP Big Brother VIP | Channel 2-Keshet Hot(live) Yes(live) |
| ||
| Channel 13 Channel 26(live) |
| |||
| Italy | Grande Fratello | Canale 5 Italia 1(Daily recaps;13–) Stream TV(live;1–3) Sky(live;4–5, 8–9) Mediaset Premium(live;6–14) Mediaset Extra(live;15–) La5(live;11–) |
|
|
| Grande Fratello VIP | Canale 5 Italia 1(Daily recaps) Mediaset Extra(live) La5(live) |
|
| |
| The Couple - Una vittoria per due (Spin-off)[74] |
| |||
| Kosovo | Big Brother VIP Kosova | Klan Kosova Artmotion(live) |
| |
| Lithuania | Paslapčių namai The House of Secrets | TV3 | Season 1, 2013: Gintautas Katulis |
|
| Malta | Big Brother Malta[76] | TVM |
|
|
| Mexico | Big Brother México Big Brother PM(4) | Televisa Sky(live) |
|
|
| Canal 5 Sky(live) |
| Adela Micha | ||
| Big Brother VIP | Televisa Sky(live) |
|
| |
| La casa de los famosos México The House of the Famous Mexico[77] | Las Estrellas Canal 5 ViX(live) |
| Galilea Montijo[78] Diego de Erice[78] Odalys Ramirez[78] | |
| Mongolia | Big Brother Mongolia | Mongol TV | Season 1, 2021: Enku Bulgan | Unknown |
| Netherlands | Big Brother (Original edition) | Veronica |
|
|
| Yorin |
| |||
| Talpa |
|
| ||
| Big Brother (Netherlands and Belgium)[53][54] | RTL 5 Videoland(stream; live) |
| Current Geraldine Kemper Tatyana Beloy(3-) Former Peter Van de Veire(1–2) | |
| Big Brother VIPs(1) Hotel Big Brother(2) | Veronica | Season 1, 2000: No winner | Unknown | |
| Talpa | Season 2, 2006: No winner | Caroline Tensen | ||
| Secret Story | Net5 | Season 1, 2011: Sharon Hooijkaas |
| |
| Nigeria | Big Brother Nigeria(1) Big Brother Naija(2–8) | M-Net DStv(live) | Season 1, 2006:Katung Aduwak |
|
| Africa Magic GOtv DStv(live) |
| Ebuka Obi-Uchendu | ||
| Big Brother Titans (Nigeria and South Africa) | Africa Magic DStv(stream; live) |
| Lawrence Maleka Ebuka Obi-Uchendu | |
| Norway | Big Brother | TVN |
|
|
| TV 2 Bliss | Season 4, 2011: Tine Barstad |
| ||
| Pacific Region (Chile,Ecuador andPeru) | Gran Hermano del Pacífico | RedTeleSistema RED Televisión ATV | Season 1, 2005: Juan Sebastián López |
|
| Pakistan | Tamasha | ARY Digital ARY Zap |
| |
| Panama | Big Brother Panamá | TVN | Season 1, 2016: Katherine Sandoval |
|
| Peru | La Casa de Los Secretos The House of Secrets | Frecuencia Latina | Season 1, 2012: Álvaro de la Torre |
|
| Philippines | Pinoy Big Brother | A2Z(9–11) TV5(9, 11) Kapamilya Channel(9–11) ABS-CBN(1–8) TFC(Worldwide) Kumu(live;9–10) Lazada(live;11) Sky Cable(live;1–4) Studio 23(live;1–3) |
|
|
| Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition | Current GMA Network(3–)Former |
|
| |
| Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition | ABS-CBN(1–4) TFC(Worldwide) Sky Cable(live;1–4) Studio 23(live;1–3) |
| ||
| Poland | Big Brother | TVN |
|
|
| TV4 |
|
| ||
| TVN 7 |
|
| ||
| Big Brother VIP | TV4 | Season 5 (part 1), 2008: Jarosław Jakimowicz |
| |
| Portugal | Big Brother | TVI TVI Reality(live;5–) TVI Internacional(5) TVI Eventos(live;1) |
|
|
| Big Brother Famosos(1–2, 4–) Big Brother VIP(3) | TVI TVI Direct(live; VIP) |
|
| |
| Big Brother: Duplo Impacto Big Brother: Double Impact | TVI TVI Reality(live) |
|
| |
| Big Brother: Desafio Final Big Brother: Final Challenge |
|
| ||
| Big Brother Verão Big Brother Summer[82] | Season 1, 2025: Jéssica Vieira | |||
| Secret Story: Casa dos Segredos Secret Story: House of Secrets | TVI TVI Reality(live;6–) TVI Direct(live;1–5) |
| ||
| Secret Story: Desafio Final Secret Story: Final Challenge |
|
| ||
| Secret Story: Luta Pelo Poder Secret Story: Power Struggle | Season 1, 2015: Bruno Sousa | Teresa Guilherme | ||
| Secret Story: O Reencontro Secret Story: The Reunion | Season 1, 2018: Carina Ferreira | Manuel Luís Goucha | ||
| Romania | Big Brother | Prima TV |
|
|
| Russia | Большой Брат Bolshoy Brat Big Brother | TNT | Season 1, 2005: Anastasia Yagaylova | Ingeborga Dapkunaite |
| Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden)[88] | Big Brother | Kanal 5 FEM |
|
|
| Kanal 9 FEM | Season 3, 2014: Anders Olsson |
| ||
| Second Life | Big Brother Second Life | World Wide Web | Season 1, 2006: Madlen Flint | None |
| Slovakia | Big Brother: Súboj(1) Big Brother: Duel | Markíza |
| Viliam Rozboril(1) Zuzana Belohorcová(1) |
| Big Brother Česko & Slovensko (Czech Republic and Slovakia) | Markíza Voyo |
| Míra Hejda(2) | |
| Slovenia | Big Brother | Kanal A |
|
|
| Big Brother Slavnih Big Brother Famous | Pop TV |
| Nina Osenar | |
| South Africa | Big Brother South Africa | M-Net Mzansi Magic Mzansi Wethu DStv(live) |
|
|
| Big Brother Mzansi | ||||
| Lungile Radu(1–2) Lawrence Maleka(3–4) Smash Afrika(5) | |||
| Celebrity Big Brother | Season 1, 2002: Bill Flynn |
| ||
| Big Brother Titans (Nigeria and South Africa) |
| Lawrence Maleka Ebuka Obi-Uchendu | ||
| Spain | Gran Hermano | Telecinco(Main show and Debate) Telecinco Estrellas(9) Telecinco 2(10) LaSiete(11–14) Nueve(14) Divinity(15–18) Be Mad(live;18) Quiero TV(live;1–3) Vía Digital(live;4–5) Digital+(live;6–11) GH 24H(live;12) Mitele(live;13–20) |
| Main host: Mercedes Milá(1–2, 4–16) Pepe Navarro(3) Jorge Javier Vázquez(17–) Debate: Jesús Vázquez(4–5) Carolina Ferre(6) Jordi González(7–9, 11–13, 15–18) Jorge Javier Vázquez(10) Frank Blanco(14) Ion Aramendi(19–)[91] |
| Uno de GH20 (Spin-off) (Digital edition) | Mitele | Season 1, 2025: Joon Choi[92] | Nagore Robles | |
| Gran Hermano VIP | Telecinco(Main show and Debate) Cuatro(7) Divinity(3–6) Be Mad(live;6) Mitele(live;3–8) |
| Main host: Jesús Vázquez(1–2) Jordi González(3–5; 7) Jorge Javier Vázquez(6–7) Marta Flich(8) Debate: Carolina Ferre(1) Jordi González(2–3; 7) Sandra Barneda(4–6) Ion Aramendi(8) | |
| Gran Hermano 12+1: La Re-vuelta Gran Hermano 12+1: The Revolt | Telecinco(Main show and Debate) LaSiete Mitele(live) | Season 1, 2012:Alessandro Livi | Main host: Mercedes Milá Debate: Jordi González | |
| Gran Hermano Dúo | Telecinco(Main show and Debate) Divinity Be Mad(live) Mitele(live) CincoMAS(Americas) |
| Main host: Jorge Javier Vázquez(1) Jordi González(1)[95] Marta Flich(2) Carlos Sobera(3) Debate: Jordi González(1) Ion Aramendi(2–) | |
| Gran Hermano: El Reencuentro(1) El Reencuentro(2) The Reunion | Telecinco(Main show and Debate) LaSiete Digital+(live;1) |
| Main host: Mercedes Milá(1) Jordi González(2) Debate: Jordi González(1) Christian Gálvez(2) | |
| El Tiempo del Descuento | Telecinco CincoMAS(Americas) | Season 1, 2020: Gianmarco Onestini | Main host: Jorge Javier Vázquez Debate: Nuria Marín Font | |
| Secret Story | Telecinco | Season 1, 2021: Luca Onestini Season 2, 2022: Rafa Martinez[96] | Main host: Jorge Javier Vázquez(1) Carlos Sobera(2) Countdown: Carlos Sobera(1) Sandra Barneda(2) Debate: Jordi González(1) Toñi Moreno(2) | |
| Sweden | Big Brother Sverige | Kanal 5 |
| Adam Alsing |
| TV11 |
| Gry Forssell | ||
| Kanal 11 | Season 7, 2015: Christian Sahlström | Adam Alsing | ||
| Sjuan TV4 Play(stream) C More(live) TV4(8; Premiere) |
| Malin Stenbäck(8–) Arantxa Álvarez(9) Adrian Boberg(8; Premiere) | ||
| Big Brother Stjärnveckan Big Brother Week of the Stars | Kanal 5 | Season 1, 2002: Anki Lundberg | Adam Alsing | |
| Switzerland | Big Brother Schweiz Big Brother Switzerland | TV3 |
|
|
| Thailand | Big Brother Thailand | iTV(1–2) |
|
|
| Turkey | Big Brother Türkiye | Star TV | Season 1, 2015–16: Sinan Aydemir | Asuman Krause |
| Ukraine | Big Brother Україна Big Brother Ukraine | K1 | Season 1, 2011: Kristina Kotvickaja |
|
| United Kingdom | Big Brother | Channel 4 S4C(1–10) TVN Lingua(2–4) |
| Davina McCall MBE |
| Channel 5 MTV(16–19) TV3(16–18) Virgin Media One(19) |
|
| ||
| ITV2 ITV(20, select live episodes) ITVX (stream, live feed) Virgin Media One |
| Will Best AJ Odudu | ||
| Celebrity Big Brother | Channel 4 BBC One(1) S4C(2–7) | Davina McCall MBE | ||
| Channel 5 MTV(15–22) TV3(16–18) 3e(19–22) Virgin Media Two(22) |
|
| ||
| ITV ITVX (stream, live feed) Virgin Media Two Virgin Media Player |
| Will Best AJ Odudu | ||
| Teen Big Brother | Channel 4/E4 S4C | Series 1, 2003: Paul Brennan | Dermot O'Leary | |
| Big Brother Panto | Series 1, 2004–05: No winner | Jeff Brazier June Sarpong | ||
| Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack | Series 1, 2008: John Loughton | Dermot O'Leary | ||
| Ultimate Big Brother | Series 1, 2010:Brian Dowling | Davina McCall | ||
| United States (English) | Big Brother (Broadcast edition) | CBS Showtime 2(8–14) Pop(15–21) CBS.com/AOL(Live;1) CBS All Access(Live;15–22) Paramount+(Live;23–) Pluto TV(Live;25–)[100] |
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| Big Brother: All-Stars |
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| Big Brother: Over the Top (Digital edition) | CBS All Access | Season 1, 2016: Morgan Willett | Julie Chen Moonves | |
| Celebrity Big Brother | CBS Pop CBS All Access(Live;1–2) Paramount+(Live;3–) | |||
| Big Brother Reindeer Games[103] | CBS Paramount+ | Season 1, 2023:Nicole Franzel-Arroyo |
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| United States (Spanish) | Gran Hermano | Telemundo | Season 1, 2016: Pedro Orta[104] | Giselle Blondet |
| La casa de los famosos The House of the Famous |
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| La casa de los famosos: All-Stars The House of the Famous: All-Stars[110] | Season 5, 2025: Carlos "Caramelo" Cruz[111] | |||
| Uruguay | Gran Hermano [es] | Canal 10 | Season 1, 2026:Upcoming season[112] | |
| Vietnam | Người Giấu Mặt The person who hides his face Big Brother Vietnam | VTV6 | Season 1, 2013–14: Hoàng Sơn Việt | Huy Khánh |
| Country | Latest Series | Launch date | Finale date | Network | Days | Contestants | Host(s) | Grand prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Secret Story (season 2) | 4 October 2025 | TBA | Canal+ Afrique | TBA | 18 | Jean-Michel Onnin Stéphanelle | TBD |
| Albania | Big Brother VIP (season 4) | 21 December 2024 | 19 April 2025 | Top Channel | 120 | 38 | Ledion Liço | €100,000 |
| Argentina | Gran Hermano (season 12) | 2 December 2024 | 24 June 2025 | Telefe | 205 | 35 | Santiago del Moro | AR$ 70 million pesos |
| Australia | Big Brother (season 16) | 9 November 2025 | TBA | Network 10 | 13 | A$125,000 | ||
| Brazil | Big Brother Brasil 25 | 21 September 2025 | 15 November 2025 | TV Globo | TBA | 16 | Tadeu Schmidt | R$ 2.72 million |
| Bulgaria | Big Brother Bulgaria 7 | 8 October 2024 | 30 November 2024 | Nova Television | 54 | 16 | Bashar Rahal | BGN100,000 |
| Canada (French) | Big Brother Célébrités (season 5) | 12 January 2025 | 6 April 2025 | Noovo | 85 | 16 | Marie-Mai Bouchard | $100,000 |
| Colombia | La casa de los famosos (season 2) | 26 January 2025 | 9 June 2025 | Canal RCN | 135 | 27 | Carla Giraldo Marcelo Cezán | $500,000,000 |
| France | Secret Story (season 13) | 10 June 2025 | 7 August 2025 | TFX | TBD | 14 | Christophe Beaugrand | €105,000 |
| Germany | Promi Big Brother 13 | 6 October 2025 | 20 October 2025 | Sat.1 | 17 | 15 | Jochen Schropp Marlene Lufen]] | €50,000 |
| Greece | Big Brother (season 8) | 27 April 2025 | 31 July 2025 | Skai TV | 80 | 19 | Petros Lagoutis | €100,000 |
| Hungary | Való Világ (season 12) | 5 May 2024 | 28 July 2024 | RTL+ | 85 | 15 | Peti Puskás Csilla Megyeri | 37,650,000HUF |
| India (Hindi) | Bigg Boss 19 | 24 August 2025 | TBA | Colors TV | TBA | TBA | Salman Khan | TBA |
| India (Kannada) | Bigg Boss Kannada 12 | 28 September 2025 | TBA | Colors Kannada | TBA | TBA | Sudeepa | ₹50 lakh |
| India (Malayalam) | Bigg Boss (season 7) | 3 August 2025 | TBA | Asianet | 98 | 25 | Mohanlal | ₹50 lakh |
| India (Tamil) | Bigg Boss 9 | 5 October 2025 | TBA | Star Vijay | 105 | 24 | Vijay Sethupathi | ₹40.5 lakh |
| India (Telugu) | Bigg Boss 9: Ranarangam | 7 September 2025 | TBA | Star Maa | 105 | 15 | Nagarjuna | TBA |
| Israel | האח הגדול 15 | 20 May 2025 | 13 September 2025 | Channel 13 | TBD | 20 | Liron Weizman Guy Zu-Aretz | ₪1,000,000 |
| Italy | Grande Fratello (season 19) | 29 September 2025 | TBA | Canale 5 | 197 | 34 | Alfonso Signorini | €100,000 |
| Kosovo | Big Brother VIP Kosova (season 4) | 17 November 2025 | TBA | Klan Kosova | TBA | TBA | Alaudin Hamiti Jonida Vokshi | €100,000 |
| Malta | Big Brother Malta (season 1) | 19 January 2025 | 13 April 2025 | TVM | 85 | 15 | Ryan Borg Josmar Gatt | €40,300 |
| Mexico | La casa de los famosos (season 3) | 27 July 2025 | 5 October 2025 | Las Estrellas | 71 | 15 | Galilea Montijo Diego de Erice Odalys Ramírez | $4,000,000 |
| Nigeria | Big Brother Naija season 10 | 26 July 2025 | 5 October 2025 | Africa Magic | 72 | 29 | Ebuka Obi-Uchendu | ₦150 million |
| Pakistan | Tamasha (season 4) | 9 August 2025 | 11 October 2025 | ARY Digital | TBA | TBA | Adnan Siddiqui | Rs 25 |
| Philippines | Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0 | 25 October 2025 | TBA | GMA Network | TBA | 20 | TBD | |
| Portugal | Secret Story 9 | 14 September 2025 | 31 December 2025 | TVI | 109 | 22 | Cristina Ferreira | €250,000 |
| Spain | Gran Hermano (season 20) | 6 November 2025 | 2026 | Telecinco | TBA | 20 | Jorge Javier Vazquez | €300,000 |
| United Kingdom | Big Brother 2025 | 28 September 2025 | 14 November 2025 | ITV2 | 48 | 17 | AJ Odudu Will Best | £100,000 |
| United States (English) | Big Brother 27 | 10 July 2025 | 28 September 2025 | CBS | 83 | 17 | Julie Chen Moonves | $750,000 |
| United States (Spanish) | La casa de los famosos: All-Stars | 4 February 2025 | 2 June 2025 | Telemundo | 119 | 27 | Jimena Gallego Javier Poza | $200,000 |
On 5 May 2020,Endemol Shine Group announced that an officialBig Brothermobile game namedBig Brother: The Game was being developed by Irish gaming company 9th Impact, with a worldwide release expected later that year.[113][114] The game uses the American format, with competitions determining the Head of Household and Power of Veto holders, with an eviction cycle occurring each day. Players must form alliances with one another to stay in the game and advance to the next tier. Other users may spectate other games, but outside interference is strictly forbidden. Players were able to win up to $1,000,000 in prizes.[115]
A trial season took place in theRepublic of Ireland during the summer of 2020. The player Aoife Cheung won a €5000 prize after surviving four evictions. The game was officially launched on 15 October 2020 worldwide for bothiOS,Android devices and PC platforms.[116][117]
The first season concluded on 29 July 2021 and was won by Amy Elizabeth, a 31-year-old special education teacher fromDelaware who won a grand prize of $33,270.[118]
On March 7, 2023, a third season of the game was announced to launch later that year on mobile and PC platforms, includingSteam.[119][120] The grand prize was stated to be for up to $1,000,000, with new features being added in response to fan feedback. However, no global third season took place, with a special British and Irish-only version launching to coincide with the show returning toITV2 andITVX, in an official partnership with the broadcaster. This version featured overhauled graphics, with Banijay announcing that previous games had reached 500K players.[119]
In April 2000, Castaway, an independent production company, filed a lawsuit against John de Mol and Endemol for stealing the concepts of their own show calledSurvive!, a reality television show where contestants are placed on a deserted island and have to take care of themselves alone. These contestants were also filmed by cameras around them.[121] The court later dismissed the lawsuit filed by Castaway against de Mol and Endemol. TheSurvive! reality television format was later turned intoSurvivor.[122]
In 2000, the estate of George Orwell sued CBS Television and Endemol for copyright and trademark infringement, claiming that the program infringed on the Orwell novel1984 and its trademarks. After a series of court rulings adverse to the defendants (CBS and Endemol), the case was settled for an undisclosed amount of money on the evening of the trial.[123][124][125][126][127]
There have been three documented occurrences of possible rape happening during the show. InBig Brother South Africa, a male housemate was accused of assaulting a fellow housemate while she was asleep. The pair were filmed kissing and cuddling in bed before the cameras moved away and the male housemate reportedly claimed to housemates the next day that he had intercourse with the contestant. However, the female housemate was apparently shocked by the claims and informed female housemates that she had not consented to have sex with him (under South African law, this act would be constituted as rape).[128] This male housemate was expelled immediately after the allegations surfaced and was later arrested pending investigation, while the female housemate was removed from the house for her own protection and counselling. After this incident, the other housemates were warned not to attempt any further obscene actions, or they would be subject to a penalty of 43 years in prison and immediate expulsion from the house.
InBig Brother Brasil, many viewers reported that they watched a male housemate allegedly force himself on a female housemate while she was passed-out drunk after a "boozy party". Soon after, theFederal Police of Brazil entered the house and arrested the offending housemate, who was later banned from ever appearing on the show again.[129]
Additionally, an incident of sexual assault occurred in the Australian Big Brother house in 2006, during the show'ssixth season. Contestant Michael "John" Bric held down fellow contestant Camilla Severi in her bed while a second man, Michael "Ashley" Cox, "slapped" her in the face with his penis, anindecent act illegal under Australian law.[130] The incident was shown on the 'Adults-only' late-night segment,Big Brother: Adults Only, leading to the show's cancellation. Both men involved in the incident were removed from the house.
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