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BB/CBB UK - Rewatch discussions

I finished up BB1. My first initial thought is that it’s clear who BBAU looked to for inspiration. Similar set design, similar visual display and reusing tasks such as the get to know you task, chicken wire duplicates and baby Juanita.

I will say honestly I think BBAU did their first season better. I may be completely biased but I just feel like BBAU1 has aged better as a final TV product than BBUK1. But in fairness BBAU had an unfair disadvantage airing a year later.

BB1 is very much presented in documentary style with the edited show focusing on the experiment more so than fabricated/exaggeration storylines. Which at the time I guess did work better but if I have to be painfully honest, it just hasn’t aged that well. It’s not bad or anything and is produced terrifically, it’s just a bit hard to get into. But of course it’s 23 years old.

Watching it however was a very enjoyable experience despite me struggling to really get invested. I could feel the essence of what it was like to see this show at the time, being the first of its kind. Very much like BBAU1 you can sense the event television feel through the episodes. It genuinely feels like a televised event rather than a tv show. I did get the same chills from it as I did from watching the Aussie series. The 2000s nostalgia literally bursts out through the screen and I can just feel myself immersed in how big the show was.

The beginning of the series is okay, the early 2000s style of editing and storytelling is still hard to keep engaged with. But it’s when the Nasty Nick stuff happens that the series becomes super interesting. In my opinion the whole situation is overblown just as Johnnie Rotten was in BBAU. But entertaining nonetheless. How Nick was able to bring in paper and get away with cheating is quite telling of just how new the show was and how tight and restricted it became later on. It’s also interesting to see that the ratings for the show almost doubled at this point. Which I’m not surprised with.

The last few weeks were actually quite enjoyable despite me being open about not enjoying later BB weeks with less than 6 or so housemates left. But I actually found some of the moments enjoyable and I did feel engaged with the final 4.

Overall I did like the cast, but I can’t say I connected with anyone specifically. Nor do I have a clear runaway favourite who I was rooting for to win. Craig’s victory is a very much Ho hum ending and also a clear forgone conclusion. But a satisfactory result IMO even if he is a carbon copy of the standard first winner of a RTV series. But I honestly would have been happy with any of the finalists to win.

It’s a good series, it’s just hard to rewatch after the current development of RTV as a whole. But if you take time to try and mentally transport yourself to the year 2000 where Big Brother is completely new, then the immersive experience is one to behold.

For years I’ve always thought to myself I just wish there was a secret volt of 10 or so BBAU series to watch that I’d never seen before. Australian survivor offered that somewhat to me which carried me forward to the world of Survivor. But the answer to my prayers has been right under my nose this whole time. BBUK is literally what I’ve been looking for and I don’t know why I haven’t done this already. It’s a huge watch that I’ve put off for the good part of a decade.

Since I’m almost 24 and edging closer to my mid twenties, BBUK seems like the best way to fuel my existential crisis with some much loved 2000s nostalgia. Now is the time and I’m really excited to continue my way through.

I did start BB2, it’s starting to feel very much like the BB I grew up knowing.

Housemate thoughts will be on it’s way later.

Edit: oh and may I add, Davina is fabulous. She is so great at presenting and doing a job correctly, whilst also fully enjoying it.
 
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I think that's a fair summary for a rewatch - think you'll find BB2 much more polished and moving more towards entertainment, but without losing the raw feel of the first series.

And yes, launching late certainly benefitted BBAU. Indeed BBUK was the first to use a weekly eviction format with all previous versions, and the first US series, being 100 days and having nominations and evictions on alternate weeks.
 
Yeah you could certainly tell there was a lot of finding it’s feet, the perception of ‘this is a game show’ but what Nick did being seen as so controversial and serious a rule break compared to later seasons where nominations were discussed even though it was much more tightly monitored.

Also things they improved on like when they had to recast the nominations because the diary room soundproofing was off that one week towards the end, (BB6 having the lounge and Diary Room completely separated from each other during nominations which I’ve just finished watching);

having the housemates allowed to stand a foot or so outside the exit doors and wave the evictee across to Davina and the friends and family (you’ll see this change in BB2 (there’s a hard external wall that’s been added of solar panels and the housemates mustn’t set foot outside the doorway to be able to peer around that corner) and well as between BB3/CBB2 (first year of the Elstree house) and BB4 in terms of the stairwell.

If you have time CBB1 (ran 8 days in March 2001 before BB2 started in May with the done up look) is worth checking out/skimming through, if only for Vanessa Feltz’ having a moment, I think she was entertaining and she has popped up in many BBLB/Big Mouth eps since as a guest.

As for me, I’m back on CBB4, around Day 6 or so, things are starting to get a bit of friction ahead of the first nominations, I’ll do another update soon. ;)
 
I didn't mind the weekly wave at the door- the crowd were far enough away not to be a factor and if they got a glimpse of family (can't recall if they families of the other nominees were allowed to stand by the gate) then so be it.

Nasty Nick undoubtedly kick started the show - ratings doubled overnight when that episode aired (and it didn't finish till after midnight) but perhaps saw subsequent series - even the latest - take the no discussing nominations rule a bit too seriously.
 
Housemates thoughts:

Sada: I initially liked her from the early episodes, she seemed likeable and easy to just simply root for since she initially seemed inoffensive. But as the first fortnight progressed she became quite irritating. She appeared as the main catalyst for the male vs female divide, and then she wanted to walk after learning she was nominated. I didn’t get any enjoyment out of her and I feel like the narrative was better off without her. She claimed that her entire edit made her seem like a “dippie hippie” (or at least the 2000 view of a hippie” but to me, she was just obnoxious.

Andrew: I almost have no thoughts on him. He was interested in Melanie (more than she was it appeared, to me anyway) and that was his entire storyline. Caroline had more to offer than him in my opinion, and as it seemed 68% of the public shared that view.

Caroline: She was someone I did like, but she would also be just as much as unlikeable at times as well. Aside from being close friends with the girls her main impact on the season is her cackling laugh. She was likeable in the second week when she had survived eviction twice, which seemed to be the confidence boost she needed. But it was her argument with Craig where she called him lazy for not being as helpful with the task that seemed to be her main undoing. And in the argument I wasn’t on her side since Craig evidently did more during the task even with an injury. She had a chance to survive against Thomas but she actively blew it up IMO.

Nick: Definitely the most memorable and notable housemate from the series. If Craig isn’t the first person that comes mind when thinking of this series then it would 100% be Nick. A man who entered the game with an agenda, and as it seems is the only man amongst hundreds who followed him years after. He had a clear cut goal to win regardless if he wants to fully admit it or not. He was in there for his self admitted competitiveness and honestly, I did not hate it. If you had asked me years ago I would have said he was evil and was a horrible housemate. Now, it’s just meh. The situation itself is so overblown IMO and isn’t even that big of a deal. But of course this was the year 2000 and as it was with the Australian version as well nominations seemed to be this really horrible thing that the housemates thought about too deeply. But of course overtime the “nastiness” of nominations diffused as each season progressed.

Nick himself was actually likeable to me, he didn’t possess any qualities that I didn’t like. The lying about his wife dying is a bit over the top and would absolutely not fly today. But I did find it interesting watching him completely have the housemates wrapped around his finger for the first month, and at the same time to see the audience completely clock on to it from the start. I thought it was so fascinating watching someone play the game in the house and go undetected for a while whilst the outside world was despising him without him knowing. That is the healthy mix of strategic and original Big Brother that I did enjoy seeing. But ultimately he broke the rules very obviously and his removal was justified. I’m excited to see how he is on ultimate big brother, but I would imagine ten years later the whole situation won’t hit the same as it did previously.
 
Nichola: I really liked her and found her to be one of the more enjoyable members of this cast. She stuck out to me as someone who appeared interesting and had stories to tell but just never showed up in the edit enough to reach that potential. She was massively overlooked due to bigger characters getting more of a storyline. She was heavily involved with Sada and Caroline but we never really heard her thoughts on the friendship until they had both left. She apparently had a flirty type of friendship with Darren which was never made apparent until her eviction. I think she was evicted mainly due to going head to head against Craig, had she not or if there were 3 nominees a week she could have skated by a little longer I think.

Tom: In my opinion he is the most uninteresting person this season. From the beginning he openly says he’s not as loud as the others and he doesn’t really appear into the storyline of the series until he finally clicks to Nasty Nick. He is the one to actually make Craig aware of what’s going on with Nick showing papers to people with names written on them. But apart from that his only main contribution was kissing Melanie, for some reason. He was definitely good looking though, but not much of interest to me. But then I learn he MARRIED and had a BABY with CLAIRE?! What?

Claire: Speaking of Claire she was probably my favourite housemate of the series? If I had to actually choose one. She was only there for two weeks but I felt she had left the biggest impact on me personally as a viewer. Maybe because this was a bit of older cast and she was closer to my age and maybe a bit more similar to who I hang out with. So that’s probably why I liked her. But I just thought she had a fun energy to her despite going in late. Her friendship with Craig was fun to watch and I feel like she brought some much needed positive energy to the back half of the season. But did she just not mention she had a boyfriend? He didn’t appear until her eviction interview and never once was it made clear on the show that she was partnered. And then she marries Tom and has a child with him? It almost seems like the post season had more drama than the actual season itself. Also so weird to think that her baby brother that was born whilst she was in the house is my age now.

Melanie: I guess she’s almost like the Jemma figure of this season. A conventionally attractive young woman who got along with mostly everyone and was mostly inoffensive thought out the first half. She was not so much involved with the male and female divide and actively engaged with the males of the house. Andrew specifically, but it came across to me that he was more interested than she was. But she doesn’t really stick out as a character aside from her relationships with the boys. She was kind of just the very likeable and easy going housemate, and was then slut shamed by the public when she kissed Tom. And look, I’ve read she’s had stuff to say about her edit and as did her family, but at the end of it she did kiss both boys lol. I don’t think she deserved to be slut shamed and receive as much negative press as she did, but she doesn’t have much ground to stand on as to calling out the show for painting false narratives. The show didn’t really give her flirting a narrative, they just showed what happened. Or at least that’s how I’ve perceived it.
 
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Darren: If I had to honestly pick one finalist that I would have voted for, I think I’d settle on him. He was so likeable! He had a bit of a flamboyant side to him and pretty much every single scene of him was a positive one. His fear of the chickens then eventually developed to a love for them, especially Marjorie, was hilariously fun to watch and reminded me of Sara-Marie with the chickens. He was always having fun and just simply getting along with everyone. I did think the three finalists were all on the quieter side whilst also likeable, but to me he was probably more involved in the edit as more of a stand out personality which warrants a win to me. I’d imagine the British public were just racist since his votes to evict were quite high and his vote to win was only 13% when comparing to Anna and Craig.

Anna: She was fine, really just fine. Super likeable and would have definitely been a satisfying winner. She was close with mostly everyone and got involved in all tasks and fun, but aside from her being a lesbian ex nun, I don’t know much about her that made her stick out. She was just overall likeable. She had a brief down moment where she wanted to walk but ended up staying, but that’s really it as far as narrative goes. She was only ever nominated once so there wasn’t much stress for her to be under I guess. She hinted multiple times at how boring it was at times and how excited she was to go home, but even at the same time she was truly enjoying herself. I’m surprised she came so close to winning against Craig. To get 49% when up against the bookies favourite from day dot is impressive. A lot of people must have liked her. And if she had won I’d be just as happy as I would have been for the other two.

Craig: Whilst I do tend to find his archetype really boring, uninteresting and predictable, I actually did enjoy him. He just was literally a nice guy, he wasn’t on a high horse or anything, he was just likeable and nice. Anytime he had something to say, it was completely warranted. He was in there having fun and doing his own thing. In the beginning he was said to be lazy and slept a lot which resulted in the argument with Caroline. Then he is the one to really nail down on Nasty Nick. And it is that moment that I think won him the series. He was poised to do well simply from his archetype, but it was this moment where he was the shining hero reigning against the villain. From that point it should have been clear to everyone who was going to win. It’s even fitting that Nick gave him the money on stage at the finale.

His friendship with Claire was fun, his friendship with Anna and Darren were also great. He was just genuinely a nice guy who did actually deserve to win. Like I say, I don’t care what they do with the money but he actually gave all $70,000 to his friend with Down syndrome for a life saving operation. He didn’t even milk it to make himself look good at all, he said it once and explained it and that’s all he said about it. He was and probably still is a humble man who just is a nice person. That moment at the finale did make me tear a little. So even though his win was predictable I think it was very much satisfying and a happy ending to the series which really helps highlight the positive aspects of it.
 
Just back on BB1, it was funny a lot of those 'showmance' developments only happened in that window between the eviction announcement and the actual eviction iirc. Darren also really benefitted from his storyline with getting over his fear of the chickens. They later started having some issues with them in BB4 and had to bring the vets in, take them out for a while etc so they scrapped it in BB5 (I Think Teen BB still had them though iirc cause it was filmed so close to the end of BB4?).

Also to note was how they never had a hottub as feature of the house until like week 6.

BB2 - Helen was good value, she had that naivety/bubbly kinda factor and played off Brian well.
 
Was that two hour window unique to BBUK or did some of the early European versions also do it? It worked really well certainly at Bow where the house was away from the crowd (who weren't on site till later anyhow) and was kind of nice they got time in the house to prepare to leave.
 
CBB4 (Up to around Day 7 Big Mouth episode now)

Only just passed nominations, but a lot has shifted and this eviction will be pretty interesting, I have some thoughts so time for a quick update!
  • BBLB: It was funny the Fame Academy director explaining how Downloads now are beginning to have an impact on the music charts to a surprised Dermot (I'm like yeah Dermot, wait until streaming comes in lol), but I remember when they started out as separate charts then started integrating into the official numbers in those early days of ITunes etc and then maintaing still a separate nature similutatenously. This was also the time when polyphonic ringtones were huge and also having some effect on the charts (Crazy Frog anyone?). I feel a BBLB campaign coming on...
  • Yep, they are looking for some girls to audition to form Kandy Floss for real and possibly try and get the song on a website for download or something.
  • George and Rula are having some conversations (and George to BB in the Diary Room) about being taken aback by the way some of the younger girls (namely Jodie and Chantelle) carry on talking about sex and things. Although Pete has copped some nominations in this area too and Dennis has been becoming increasingly more flirtatious and open on the topic of late - a comment to Chantelle and Jodie about doing it or receiving a BJ here, talking himself up and bantering with Faria about Black men being well endowed there.
  • Theres a bit of a heated further discussion about the fur between Jodie, Pete and George in the lounge whilst the shopping list is being done. Jodie gets a bit on the defensive and dosen't seem to be backing herself up effectively in that one when Pete and George start calling her out for inferring that Eskimos who wear fur are primitive or something along those lines which sounds like an ignorant comparison statement I think to them. Pete later mentions to BB in his nomination how Jodie isn't taking into account the makeup testing done with animals etc.
  • Later theres another standoff with Jodie, Pete and Michael in the kitchen when Michael seems to be offended about Jodie's reaction to the rank yourselves in order of fame task, and Jodie's refusal to 'take his advice and just shut up and listen' and keeps interrupting her. both Michael and Pete seem to think Jodie is playing the victim and positioning herself in the best view for the cameras on purpose.
  • Nominations are run, Its Jodie in clear front, and a tie between George and Pete.

  • Theres an interesting discussion angle both within the house and on BBLB and BigMouth; George as an MP being on Celebrity BB - is it an issue him being away from his local area for up to a few weeks (some of his fans on the Little chair segment seemed to think so)? Is it a good look for an older politician with a 'serious job' to do a show like Big Brother vs a singer/actor (the MP on BBLB mentioned Boris Johnson at that time having appeared on TV in a separate kindof show and that MP said he wouldnt want to do BB, but maybe Strictly Come Dancing?). It reminds me a little bit of our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd going on Rove a lot at the time to appeal and appear 'with it' to a younger/less politically inclined demographic. Or more recently Gladys Berejiklian and Anthony Albanese apearing on commercial radio on Kyle & Jackie O (who are seen as extremely lowbrow media by some of the GP).

    Or is it good for someone like him to be on to provide some good exposure on political discussions to perhaps uneducated/younger voters? (There was an interesting bit during on the recent episodes he was telling Rula a story about the current state of Saddam Hussein). I dont recall in his intro package but exactly what level of importance to politics was George at the time? Was He like the leader of the opposition party? (Like if we put Peter Dutton in there right now, the deputy leader/someone would have to step up on his affairs in parliament for however long, even if its just a few weeks).
  • Anyhow, the new shopping task is a 'BB Science' one where George is the Lab Master and the rest are testing out some experiment hypothesis such as does eating spinach make you stronger (Faria has to eat all this spinach and cart around a trolley full of it all day) or Can you learn a language in your sleep, Preston also got an eating challenge one of chocolate liqueurs and being drunk.
  • Pete and Rula have a bit of words about risking failing the task as Pete doesn't want to wear the flat shoes of the lab uniform and asks BB if he can accessorise with heels. He ends up being allowed to wear heels.


  • It also comes to a head a bit when the majority of the house turns on Jodie thinking she is 'leading Chantelle astray'. Jodie and Chantelle go off to the lounge to hang out but this is seen by George, Michael and the others as segregating themselves from them.
  • Jodie and Chantelle try and encourage Preston in the task but Michael who is helping him takes it the wrong way whilst they go off to the diary room. Earlier in trying to bring back Jodie and Chantelle from the lounge he tries 'giving advice' to chantelle on 'being a celebrity' like with Jodie and its misinterpreted by the group that Jodie mocking him trying to tell Chantelle to shut up so he can talk as telling Chantelle to tell him to f off.
  • When Jodie and Chantelle return from the diary room, Dennis tries to put his 2c in warning Chantelle on going off with Jodie to be careful, and Maggot also chimes in. Rula is also trying to work out how to confront her with George as George finds Michael sobbing outside over the whole thing. George tells Jodie that she's taking Chantelle under her wicked spell and has upset Michael, and its a bit of a Pile on Jodie trying to defend herself. Chantelle also goes outside to talk things out with Michael.
  • So yeah, I agree that it seemed like Jodie was throwing herself a bit of a pity party in the first few days (and I haven't got the full picture until I look up more which I'll do after this season) but my opinion of her has evolved these past 2 episodes, I think they are being a bit unfair and ganging up on her a bit now and I'm team Jodie/Chantelle on this one, some of the older housemates are behaving a bit whack atm about all this imo.
  • A bit of a double standard too, like Dennis brought up his lack of knowledge about the Diary Room by saying its designed for only 1 person, when Jodie rightly said that she's been in there with several other housemates, it only seems to be a problem to them when its her and Chantelle.
  • Also that George and Pete are putting Michael on a pedestal and wanting him to go far in this game to restore his image for the way he's dealt with his past trauma (and atm seems to be a pretty emotionally unstable person on this endeavour, He went on a bit of a babbling tangent punctuated by silences and some crying in his nominations and had to compose himself before returning to the group);
  • Whilst they're not buying (and in Pete's case scoffing and mocking) Jodie relating some personal struggles (like her dad being ill before she came in, being booed on entry a bit; and I think a caller on Big Mouth mentioned she lost a close friend recently too as well as her depiction in the press etc) as not being genuine, or to play the sympathy vote for the cameras and she should listen to Michael as this shining example of making a comeback and dealing with his public perception or something, or shut up and stop playing the victim.
  • I'd like to see her stay, Im not sure if she might not still go anyway, it seems mixed response with guests like Jade Goody and Terri Dwyer on Big Mouth seemed to not really being on her side and bringing it on herself a bit, whilst some of the audience members and call in's thinking she's being a bit hard done by. We Shall see, but like with Craig last season, it's had me a little bit invested and animated talking to the screen! haha.

    Onto the next set of episodes!
 
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At the time George Galloway was in Labour (the governing party of the time) but just a backbench MP and made his name as a vocal critic of the invasion of Iraq. He left to set up his own party a few years later.
 
Brekkie said:
Was that two hour window unique to BBUK or did some of the early European versions also do it? It worked really well certainly at Bow where the house was away from the crowd (who weren't on site till later anyhow) and was kind of nice they got time in the house to prepare to leave.
Click to expand...

I think the two-hour window was unique to the UK, but at least in some countries housemates used to get more time to say their goodbyes. If I remember correctly, Germany gave them at least the ad break to say goodbye.
 
I finished BBUK2 and I think it is possibly one of my favourite early 2000s RTV seasons I've ever watched. Off the bat it is miles better than BB1. It just feels so ahead of it's time in comparison to it's predecessor. It definitly feels more like a season in the mid 2000s than the early 2000s, it has aged fantastically well given it is 22 years old now. It is very much more refined than BB1 and was an easy watch all way through. There weren't really any slow points and that is much thanks to it's cast. Whilst a bit top heavy they still delivered great content and intriguing storylines. Casting more younger people was a definite benefit compared to having all 30 year olds like previously.

It felt very similar to BBAU1, it just felt so entertaining to watch. And the best part was it also had the 2000s nostalgia exploding through the screen like BB1 did. It had several classic BB tasks that I loved watching (such as the getting to know each other task and the dancing task) and felt eventful and modern even with the simple format. It's also interesting that they used the voting in intruders twist that Australia used and tweaked the next year. But to me the result of which intruder was going in was very clear cut.

My main issue with the season however is the lack of nominations spread. As I knew Brian and Helen made the final two I had some evictions spoiled and with Paul repeatedly being saved the evictions eventually felt predictable. The Bubble eviction was the only one that had me really eager to see who went. I just felt that people like Dean and Elizabeth were able to cost to the end due to avoiding nominations. And they were both probably the biggest duds of the season. I knew their winning percentages were going to be low, but I did not expect them to be as low as 2% and 5%. I undertsand that losing big characters allows for the quieter ones to shine, but this time I feel like the series would have benefited if people like Narinder and Bubble lasted longer.

It was a huge step up from BB1 and there wasn't even though much drastically different. I think it just naturally progressed fantastically and the cast is a real reason why I love it. I feel like there were more clear storylines in the edit and I know more about the housemates this time more than BB1. And of course, to top it off the best two characters are at the end in what is probably IMO one of, if not THE strongest final 2 in BB history. I would have preffered Helen to win over Brian but still a well deserved win, even if it is a very predictable one like Craig. Even if I didn't know Brian won it was very clear early on that the public loved him.

Davina once again slayed.

Writing up my housemate thoughts and have started BB3! I started watching BB3 years ago but didn't make it past the first week. Very excited to watch Jade Goody as I have only ever read about her. And also keen to see how the Elstree house began. I know a lot of spoilers going into the season but, it's about the jounry more than the destination I guess!

So far, BB2>BB1
 
Penny: She may quite possibly be the most awkward person I have ever watched on Big Brother. There was just this sense of uneasyness that she exhuded. It came across as very awkward and uncomfortable to watch, almost second-hand embaressment like. I think she was a person who was very unsure of herself and struggled to live with a lot of people in their 20s. Her argument with Stuart sealed her fate, but I knew from just watching her after a few days that she would be fucked if she was nominated. I don't think she could have beaten anyone in a public vote. I would have liked her to last longer however, as I do feel like she left more of a lasting impression on me than some of the others who went further than her.

Stuart: Ew. He is from an archetype that I hate being cast on these shows, they NEVER do well and just feel like a wasted spot to me. He was incredibly unlikeable, even before his woeful argument with Amma. Watching him not listen to literally everyone tell him that that Amma wasn't ready to speak to him and he just relentlessly carried out explaining himself and dismissed any future discussions from occuring despite whether or not she was ready. I cringed and had to physically look away during his scenes and I literally jumped up for joy when Davina called his name. I was even more pleased to see that he scored 86% of the vote to evict. At this stage of my watch, he is the current record holder. I know he doesn't keep that title, but I wish he did. I hope there is no other housemates like him in future seasons or I will seriously vomit. THANK YOU GREAT BRITISH PUBLIC FOR GETTING RID OF HIM SO EARLY!

Narinder: I really, really, really loved her. I thought she was so entertaining and a great diary room confessionalist as well. I worried she would go very early due to her abrasive personality, and that she was also a woman who spoke her mind on television in the year 2001.... When she got nominated in week four I knew she was done for but I didn't want it to be true. Her and Brian were so great together and such a bright spot in an already great season. She called out things that pissed her off and spoke nothing but the truth during her eviction interview. I think she was well ahead of her time and would have a much stronger chance in the modern world of Big Brother. I may even look at watching Big Brother Panto just so I can watch her again.

Bubble: A very strong character from the series that I thought would have lasted a bit longer. He isn't exactly someone I can say I liked a lot but I did like that he was his own sort of character/archetype and a very unique figure to the show. He started off with some funny moments and his incredibly dynamic friendship with Brian made for some great viewing. But then suddenly after a few weeks he became very mopey and spent a lot of his time sleeping. I also get that he went in there for his daughter but I grew tired of him talking about missing her, and the whole situation where he threw a passive aggressive adult tantrum when he had to take down his "non-message" off the wall. A lot of the fun he promised early on very quickly evaporated, but I could sense that was because he had began to become emotionally exhausted. I am slightly surprised he didn't survive the eviction as I thought the public would get behind him, but I mean 53% is not a landslide vote. His eviction is very much a turning point in the series where the quieter characters begin to shine.

Amma: Despite the fact that she wasn't very prominant in the edit early on I did like her. She seemed like someone I would have gotten along with on the outside and she was very socially dynamic in the house. Her table dancing past did pique my interest but not much eventuated in the actual edited show. She was very much a part of the peripheral storyline outside of her arguments with Stuart and Paul. And also numerous scenes of her flatulance. She had potential but she didn't seem to reach it, but she also got a bit unlucky being nominated against Paul. I feel like a lot of her is left to be desired.
 
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Josh: He was a likeable figure in the house and intergrated well despite coming in late, but aside from his stroyline with Brian he didn't have that much to offer. Him going in was so clear cut after his initial VT in the launch show. Of course the public voted in the attractive white guy who worked for charity over a POC and an older woman. But he didn't really deliver much on his promise to be entertaining. His body was amazing to look it, thats pretty much it. A lot of his storyline comes from Brian's point of view more than of his own. Other than being attractive and into designer clothes there isn't much to really say. I will admit that I foolishly had ZERO clue he was gay, and when he told the house my jaw hit the floor as I actually thought he was joking.

Paul: Is he the main antagonist/protagnist? Or is he more of an anti-hero? I'm not sure what side I lean on but he was a massive character this season and is almost the main contributing factor to how much of the season plays out. At first he just seemed to me to be this season's Andrew. But a bit cuter with a personality. After a few weeks many housemates stated they struggled to get along with him, and I didn't totally get it until a while later. He had a slight bit of arrogance to him and whenever he spoke opinions he did so in a very matter of fact sort of way. He was very much a lad type of bloke that was slightly on his high horse at times. I did enjoy him and his nomination survival story arc. Although, I feel like with him being nominated so often it resulted in people like Narinder, Bubble and Amma going when I didn't quite want them to yet. I was always hoping that each week they'd give him a break from being nominated due to the fact that he kept getting saved, but it was not to be and instead of my favourites staying, people like Elizabeth and Dean kept scraping by. If it weren't for his ignorant comments at the later stages of the show I would have said he'd have made a great winner, but I think at best he could have been a great runner-up/third. It's a shame he was nominated against Helen as I feel like he did deserve to make the final instead of the two dull people. So as much as he did kind of piss me off I did find him entertaining and is one of the three most notable figures of the series. And I would so have done him in there if I was Helen.

Elizabeth: At first when I saw her I thought okay, maybe she'll be like this kind of girl next door 2000s vibe sort of nice girl that will be likeable. But she didn't really do much or offer anything to me of substance until the second half of the series. She was very blended into the background and didn't do much more than help with the shopping list. When Bubble leaves she starts to emerge as more of an opinionated figure who mostly just spoke diplomatically. I did start to kind of like her as I did with Mirabai in BBAU2, but not enough to be happy that she made it to the final 4. I was very much hoping her and Dean would be nominated at some stage so one of them could go. But she made it to the end and got a very low 2% to win. I assume I will forget most of what I watched of her later on.

Dean: Again just like Elizabeth he did not offer me much at all. I actually think I liked him less than Elizabeth in all honesty. He was nice guy who just acted as the leader of the group so to speak, and was very much the straight man of the group. But aside from his diplomatic nominations and leading the house tasks there is not much at all to say about him. He is a very underwhelming finalist along with Elizabeth and both of these housemates are reasons why I don't really like the 2 nominee rule. I feel like with having multiple finalists and minimal nominees it makes it easier for people to skate by to the end without ever facing eviction. Whilst yes I do understand that it won't stop the winner from winning but I would prefer for as many deserving finalists to make it to the end as well. If this season was done with the BBUS format he and Elizabeth probably dominate the game and go far just as they did here.
 
Helen: OHHHHHH MYYYYYY GAWDDDDDDDD!!!! I LOVED HER! As I had mentioned in the BBAU rewatch thread this is probably my favourite archetype from reality TV shows, with housemates like Ashalea, Christie and Skye being up there amongst my favourites. And Helen is right up there with them. She was so adorable, so positive, so fun, so hilarious and had this naive innocence to her that screamed genuine. I loved her Helenisms such as "I like blinking I do" and her idiotic moments. She was such a fun presence on the show and super likeable. I am not surprised that she managed to survive eviction multiple times and I absolutly loved how she was shocked to make it far. Her reaction to not being nominated in week 2 absolutly sent me, "I've got another bloody week in here!" whilst completly forgetting that there were two others who had just been nominated. Her rivarly with Narinder, friendship with Amma, the will they/won't they relationship with Paul and of course her just being her were all the more reason to enjoy watching her. She was happy just living in Helen's world and I wanna live there too. Even though I knew she didnt' win I was still dissappointed she didn't. And I'm even more dissapointed the result wasn't closer but well done to her for being the Runner-Up. She was my preffered winner and it's a shame she didn't compete in Ultimate Big Brother or didn't return in some way other than just appearences. She was so great, so so great. She deserved those shoes and bag she got. I wish she got the £70,000 so she could go shopping. I just loved her diary room sessions and how much funny shit came out her mouth. I feel like I haven't said nearly as much as I wanted to about her, but she is so simply likeable for just being her.

Brian: Dare I say that I am underwhelmed by him in all honesty. For someone that I know is a two time winner and one of the most popular housemates of all time I can't say that I enjoyed him that much. Maybe it's because I went in with such high hopes for him but I just don't think he's that amazing to be a two time winner, or a general winner to be completly honest. I found him a bit irritating at the start and this feeling never went away. I did love him and Narinder and Bubble together, but once they left I feel like a lot of his toxic side came out. His whole treatment of Josh grew very old very soon. Was he just nervously attracted to him? Did he feel threatened as the only other gay man of the series? I felt very confused. But in fairness I think I would have felt the same way if I was in there with another gay guy, who was also more debateably attractive than me. Brian probably went in expecting to be the only gay man and thought it would allow him to shine as the main character, but with Josh there he very quickly became threatened and chose to take this out on Josh by being quite nasty to him. He had a lot of funny moments but his OTT behaviour and treatment of Josh felt very Benjamin Norris esc to me. I am dissappointed to not have like him as much as I had hoped, but I did still find him ammusing and I appreciate him as a character to the series. But his win was extremely foreshown, even more than Craig. Whilst Craig was a front runner he had a specific moment that I think set his win in stone, Brian on the other hand seemed to be a crowd favourite from the word go. It doesn't sour my opinion on him or the season, but it's just a bit meh to me. I was team Helen. Maybe I'll like him more on Ultimate Big Brother?
 
Really enjoyed reading through your review. It just shows what an impact the early series had on viewers in that as soon as you mentioned pretty much anything or anyone related to BB2 I can be transported right back to watching it and remember it in detail as if I watched it yesterday.

I do switch between BB2 and BB6 as my favourite, but when it comes to old school BB then BB2 ticks the boxes, whilst BB6 is more about the second era of the show and ramping up the production twists etc. Both though have one thing in common - they built upon the series before yet still had a strong identity of their own.
 
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