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BBUK returns Sun 8 Oct 2023 (and Celeb BB back in 2024)

This is great - Marcus Bentley saying Day 47 from the first series to the last.
A very noticeable change towards the end of the C4 era to just over annunciate everything. I do think they should have replaced him, although I think C5 should have done that in 2011 too. Really though the narration throughout the episode is unnecessary now - if instead they use him just to top and tail the show that could work much better.

Actually given that AJ and Will will be presenting a live show everyday a highlights show airs I'm surprised they're not using them in the narration role for the daily shows as well.
 
I wouldn’t have been mad at the original concept, which was to have a different narrator for each series.
I don't know if Germany changed their narrator each year but they did for many years change their host and theme tune for every series.
 
It looks quite good, even if small. I'll reserve judgement I think - if the HMs arrive by boat it'll be pretty cool.

Would prefer an indoor studio but if they use the stage on the right gor the eviction (although the stage on the left home to the house has the room to accommodate it) then it might work well enough. Possible too with two hosts they'll have one outside the house to meet the evictee and the other in the studio.
 
I think I would have personally preferred a return to a BB2/ CBB2 style exit rather than another big eye to walk through but I’ll reserve my full judgement until it’s finished. I’m really intrigued to see how it all fits together, ie, the garden to the house, the stage to the entrance, and then the outside space to the studio.

I think it has potential to look really good.
 
It looks quite good, even if small. I'll reserve judgement I think - if the HMs arrive by boat it'll be pretty cool.

Would prefer an indoor studio but if they use the stage on the right gor the eviction (although the stage on the left home to the house has the room to accommodate it) then it might work well enough. Possible too with two hosts they'll have one outside the house to meet the evictee and the other in the studio.
I think my biggest issue with it is the limited space they have to work with. It’s not that the audience will be smaller but that I think that space would have been better served expanding the garden which if they did a spring/summer series in the future would need to be expanded.
 
So there's lots to discuss. One point is that the eviction interviews are now happening in the spin-off show, rather than the main episode. I don't mind this, and I saw it coming since it's how Love Island interviews it's contestants. I always found it pointless that they would be interviewed on the main show, and then head straight over to Bit on the Side for a second interview. This is rendered even more pointless by the fact that it's the same presenters presenting both shows. Interviews on the main show always seemed rushed in the later years, so again, I'm not too bothered by them being saved for the spin-off.

With no live launch, I would prefer a return to the BB1/BB2 style show with the housemates entering in the morning and we see their first full day in the house play out in highlights. But I assume it will be the vibe and tone of what we associate with a modern "live launch", just filmed 24hrs previously a la BB Australia. I wonder if we will get an official release of the housemates ahead of time? With a studio audience, we are bound to get a whole host of leaks so I'll be sure to avoid social media that weekend.

As always, I'm trying to keep as open a mind as possible as we head into the new series.
 
I do think the design of that stage may mean no crowd around it - they seem to be filling the space, not looking to maximise space for a crowd.

Indifferent on the launch not bring live - makes it less of an event but it does at least mean the second episode isn't largely a recap of the first.
 
I do think the design of that stage may mean no crowd around it - they seem to be filling the space, not looking to maximise space for a crowd.

Indifferent on the launch not bring live - makes it less of an event but it does at least mean the second episode isn't largely a recap of the first.
Personally I prefer the pre-recorded launches, yes it does make it less of an event but it flows well with the daily show structure of recapping the last 24 hours. And like you say, the second episode won’t be recapping what we already watched.
 
I do think the design of that stage may mean no crowd around it - they seem to be filling the space, not looking to maximise space for a crowd.
If there’s very little or no crowd out there it does seem like wasted space considering how tiny that garden is.
 
Yes, that's true.

The latest pic shows how it all connects to the studio too - looks like the camera run/corridors connect via both stage exits rather than just the one.
 
Davina has also confirmed she would have done it but wasn’t asked… Both snubs really make Marcus’s inclusion in this “refreshed” series that much more infuriating.


ETA: Don’t get me wrong I’m 100% behind having fresh faces fronting the show but the snubs do seem rather hypocritical when it sounds like Marcus was their first and only pick as narrator.
 
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I'm thrilled that they didn't include Rylan in any capacity - I find him extremely annoying. Hopefully they don't invite him on "Late & Live" to be on the panel one night either...
 
I'm thrilled that they didn't include Rylan in any capacity - I find him extremely annoying. Hopefully they don't invite him on "Late & Live" to be on the panel one night either...
The point wasn’t that Rylan or Davina should have been asked back but more that if ITV wanted an honest refresh for the show that it should have been applied across the board.
 
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