Big Brother UK Series 8 - some thoughts

[fahran]

Over the weekend, Julianne and I finally watched the last few episodes of BBUK 8, a series we absolutely loved

Comments

[hawkida]

BB UK has changed an awful lot as time has gone on. It's a pretty big thing over here - the newspapers will carry stories on the housemates and so on. The jokey aspect is happening more and more as time passes and seems to get positive reaction from the audience. Initially Big Brother was more stern and in control and the sillier stuff like BB going on holiday or asking direct questions in a fake naive manner wouldn't have happened. The BB experience for a contestant is now more of a holiday with lucrative magazine deals at the end of it. It was more interesting in some ways when the contestants didn't know if anyone would be watching, and when the rules that were set were adhered to - the tasks for example. Once upon a time they had a set budget for their shopping and they gambled a percentage of it on the task. If they passed they got extra money to spend and what they bought was safe. The luxury/basics thing doesn't work so well, really, especially when their winnings can subsequently be confiscated

Julianne's two cents worth

[hawkida]

Hawkida, if you ever get a chance (ie if it actually returns for another season), watch some Australian BB. You will love Davina forever! Over the years Gretel has changed from an intelligent and often funny host, to a man-hating hag, who tore Jamie to shreds following his eviction this year for no reason other than he is a man and she didn't personally like him. It was a shameful spectacle and she lost respect from most people in this country.

In comparison, Davina is a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed watching her.

The Australian house uses the gambled percentage for the shopping tasks, however there is one aspect of the Australian shopping process that we would have loved to see the UK house experience. The Australian "shopper/chef" for the week gets 5 minutes (Fahran, correct me if I'm wrong) in the BB shop with shopping baskets and they have to grab what the house needs, scan it and bag it and be out the door. None of this hour-long session with Carole the control-freak at the chalk-board. LOL. I'm sure it would make priceless

Re: Julianne's two cents worth

[hawkida]

It would take a lot to set up a "supermarket sweep" type affair for Big Brother as they aren't allowed to engage in product placement - you'll notice brand names are generally edited out of conversations and the cans they drink from are covered with white paper, masking the brand names

Re: Julianne's two cents worth

[fahran]

It's interesting they avoid product placement (and yes I did notice the Red Dwarf style cyder cans) but allow commercial music. In the Australian house it's just the opposite. There's product placement galore (particularly by sponsors Starburst this year) but the housemates are punished for singing commercial music.

With relation to your interviewing comment I have to agree. Davina is not the best interviewer. Gretel is actually a pretty decent interviewer, except, as Julianne said, when she lays into housemates she doesn't like. I think we find Davina's comments and frolicking rather endearing, but as I said in my post, I can see how it can become annoying.

I think we'd like to take you up on your Series 1 offer. Email to follow.