ABOUT...

Where can you watch someone give out threats dressed as a patnomime dame? Witness an arguement between two 'clowns?' See a relationship between a man and a chicken flourish and realise how mad you must be to sit in an oversized can of sardines or regurgitate 2 litres of fish guts? Only one show. Big brother...

In1999 by John De Mol, Don of reality TV, or founder of Endemol (Whatever persepctive you want to look at it) who brought us recent hits such as Deal or no Deal, gave birth to the idea of 'Big Brother.' The show format quickly began to develop, and before long the first ever series was aired in 1999 for 3 months. Before we knew it, big brother was springing up over all four corners of the globe. The 'Big 4' (Germany, USA, UK and Australia) in the BB world were founded soon after in mid 2000 to early 2001.

Here in the UK, the producers decided to hire new sensation Davina McCall to be the face of the show, after her work on MTV and ITV's 'Fear factor.' A house was constructed in Bow, London and 10 new housemates moved in for the first ever time. The format was relativly simple. 10 housemates, 8 weeks, weekly nominations, back to basics. There was a vegetable patch and chickens to care for too.

In 2001, Channel 4 realised what a success series 1 had been and decided to do a Celebrity series. The format was basicly the same as that to BB1's, except it only lasted a week and featured 6 housemates. Later that year came Big Brother 2. BBLB accompanied the main show for the first time, fronted by Dermot O'Leary and Natalie Casey. The house got a major rewamp, and a new lgo was unveiled. A new logo that would soon become an iconic piece of art throughout the UK. More advertising than ever took place and the 10 housemates moved in and warned to expect 'Cabin fever.' The series was another success. Big Brother needed to move on, and the only was up was out.

So the producers bought a new set in the famous Elstree Film and TV studios. The house was over 3 times the size and secret rooms and divides could be formed efectivly. Another new Eye logo was inroduced. This time 12 housemates entered. The chickens were still inhabitants in the garden, along with the vegetable patch. A few weeks in the house was divided into Rich and Poor. This continued through most of the series. After 9 weeks we had another winner.

2003 brought Celeb BB2. The house remained unchanged, but a new pink logo was introduced.6 celebs lived in the house for 3 weeks and battled it out to give a sumly donation to a charity of their choice. Before BB4 went underway in the same year, the producers wanted to spread the word more than ever. In a mulit million pound stint, national landmarks had the brand new Eye logo painted or branded or carved beside it. Monuments included the famous white horse and a traditional castle. Bilboards sprung up everywhere, TV countdowns and House ads were formed and even the C4 headquarters underwent a BB themed change. The house was completly curvey and 12 housemates entered. This series brought the first Housemate re-entry and international to UK housemate swap. There was also a themed treat room unveiled each week.

Teen BB was introduced to our screens for the first and only time in 2004. There was only one eviction and it lasted 2 weeks. The winner won a world trip with another HM of their choice. 2004's Main series of Big Brother saw a new format, new 'Spiky' eye, massive advertising and the first proper theme, 'Evil.' The series was the most successful to date. The housemates were all unique and different. The tasks were broadcast live on Saturday nights and included horrible stints and consequesnces for failing. A new spin off show (Now called BBBM) was created and fronted by TV legend Russell Brand. The twists were enourmous too. One twist let two seemingly evicted housemates play the roll

of Big Brother in a secret house for a week. After their time away from the main house they were re-entroduced. This sparked the biggest fight in Big brothers world wide history. Most of the fight was edited out. Eventually a winner emerged and won £94 000 out of the possible £100 000 prize fund.

The 3rd celebrity series went underway in 2005, folloed by another hit, Big Brother 6. The glossy, high polished house, advertisements, presenters, tasks, twists and housemates was refreshing. The serieshad contreversial and funny momments and fitted well in series 5 footsteps. BB6 also followed the 'Evil' theme with a sub theme 'Unlucky 13.' This was because 13 housemates entered on the launch. Secret missions were introduced and a new house dubbed the 'Secret Garden' was revealed halfway through. In the final week one housemate was offered to split the £100 000 right there in the Diary room. This would mean the winner would only get half the intented prize in the final. After 13 weeks our 6th winner emmerged.

2006 brought us fan favourite CBB4 and presented us with flamboyant and crazy celeb housemates. There was constant tension and alot of controversy and bullying. The series produced some of the most memerable BB moments to date as well as a longer run of 4 weeks and a major twist. (One housemate and the eventual winner was a non celeb) There was even a celeb relationship! The main series that year was BIg Brother 7. The new 'Swirly' yellow and balck eye was relased along with the usual set of new graphics and advertisments. 15 housemates entered on the launch including an OCD sufferer, a mentally unstable man who claimed he wanted to kill himself in the house, an annorexic and a tourettes syndrome sufferer. The two youngest housemates ever in the UK also featured in BB7. The series theme was twisted and innevitably revolved around massive twists including much bigger second houses and housemates and speedboats up for grabs. There was even a Willy Wonka style Kit Kat campaign to win a place as a housemate in the seires. 92 days and 23 housemates after the innitial launch the winner received their £100 000.

In early 2007, Jade Goody, a UK massive celebrity thanks to her time during BB3 as a housemate reenterd a

long with her boyfriend and mum in a 'Servents and Masters' twist. The worldwide known 'Race row' hit our screens and was reported by news stations in the UK, US, AU, Ireland and India less than a week later. Before Jade's eviction she apoligised to Shilpa Shetty who eventually won the seires. By May 2008 Big Brother had spread well and truelly around the world. Entering our 8th series we witnessed an all female launch, a phone call from Australia, a Big Brother TV station and a secret pool bar aswell as a second house. After a mammoth 94 days and countless rows and secret rooms later our latest winner grabbed his £100 000.

BB9 is coming. What will it bring? Find out June 5th.