Big Brother is the Dutch & Belgian cooperation version of the international reality television franchise Big Brother produced by Endemol. The show aired in Netherlands on RTL5 and in the Flemish Region on VIER/Play4 and has had a total of three seasons. The first season of the show aired in 2021. A fourth season will air in 2024.[1]
| Big Brother | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
| Genre | Reality competition |
| Based on | Big Brother by John de Mol Jr. |
| Presented by | Geraldine Kemper Tatyana Beloy Peter Van de Veire |
| Country of origin | Netherlands Belgium |
| Original language | Dutch |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 211 |
| Production | |
| Production company | Endemol |
| Original release | |
| Network |
|
| Release | 4 January 2021 – present |
| Related | |
| Big Brother | |
It was the comeback of Big Brother in the Netherlands after a 14 years absence and in Belgium after a 13 years absence.[2][3]
Format
editThe format of Big Brother has the same format as the international Big Brother franchise. A group of strangers lives together in an isolated home. They have to work together to succeed in tasks but next to that they also have to nominate each other. The nominated housemates are up for eviction by the audience. Ultimately, the last housemate who leaves the house is the winner. The program was reintroduced in as the ultimate social experiment.
The series introduced concept changes to the previous Dutch and Belgian versions, some inspired by the American and Canadian versions:
- the housemaster: a housemate who had more privileges compared to other housemates and had immunity for the nominations in season 1.
- the jackpot: the money prize was built or reduced by winning challenges.
- the voting of the audience: while in previous editions the audience had to vote for the exit of one of the nominated housemates, the viewer now had to vote for the housemate they wanted to keep in the house. Voting was free for this series while in previous editions the viewer had to phone a paid number or send text messages.
- the influence of the audience: in this series the audience had an influence at the Big Brother house and its housemates. They could vote for rewards, such as choosing which housemate would become caretaker, but in the second season they could also vote for punishments.
- the power of immunity: added since season 2, housemates could win immunity by winning challenges.
- the power of nomination: added since season 3, housemates who won the power of nomination game, were the only ones able to nominate other housemates.
The house
editA new house was built in Amsterdam. It was built next to the Johan Cruyff Arena at a parking lot of Endemol Shine Nederland in a few months. It was a 300 m2 House and had 125 cameras installed (100 indoor cameras and 25 outdoor cameras) and 39 speakers.[4] All cameras were remote controlled compared to the hidden walkways with camera men in the previous editions.
For the second season, the house was completely restyled. A bigger entrance was built at the garden. The gameroom was extended and a shop added. A bathtub was added in the places of one of the showers.[5] The house was again redecorated for the third season. An outdoor game are, a wall and secret room were added. Next to the house, a showbuilding was built.[6] A new entrance and cocoon room were added for the fourth season in 2024. The secret room was made bigger.[7] The show building now also had room for audience members who could be present during the Live broadcasts and exits for the first time after the COVID 19 epidemic.
History
editIn 1999, Veronica launched Big Brother in the Netherlands. It was an idea of John de Mol Jr.. It was a huge success and the concept was sold international. In the Netherlands there were six regular seasons and two celebrity editions, until it disappeared from screen in 2006. In Belgium, the first series was launched in 2000 which became one of the most successful series international. It was followed with another five regular seasons, two celebrity seasons and an all-stars season until it was cancelled in 2007.
20 years after the launch of Big Brother, EndemolShine revealed in September 2019 they wanted to bring the series back to the Netherlands.[8] In July 2020 broadcoaster RTL5 announced Big Brother would return in the Netherlands after a 14 years absence and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Big Brother franchise. Some weeks later it was announced it would be a cooperation with the Flemish part of Belgium were the series would be broadcoasted by VIER/Play4.[9] The first season was for three years in preparation. The concept was based at the American and Canadian versions that were still very successful. This meant housemates could speak freely about nominations and that housemates had to play the game more tactical. Producer Jeroen Compeer called it the beginning of a new Big Brother era.[10] Following misbehavior in other international series, this series made a guideline which future housemates had to read and sign. This guideline featured rules about expected behavior, including a thumbs up from both housemates who would become intimate to make sure both give permission and are full of consciousness. Other measures involved no alcohol before 7pm.[11]
The launch of the first season had very high ratings. It had more than 1.3 million viewers in the Netherlands and over 500,000 viewers in Belgium.[12][13] The reboot was responsible for being SBS Belgium's best January ever. The season had good rating, online and lineair. In the first three weeks the season had an average of 447.859 viewers in Flanders. Online it had 2.708.173 views. The livestream was watched in the first weeks a 1.017.899 times.[14] A new medium that had to be considered was social media. During the first season, the housemates were confronted with social media. This could be posts at social media by themselves before their time in the house but also reactions of viewers. Shortly after showing some messages of viewers, three housemates left the house voluntarily. Later during the season, there was so much commotion at social media about housemate Jerrel Baumann, producers decided to put all social media of the series for a few days in black.[15] The winner of the first season was Jill Goede. There was controversy because the voting websites crashed during the final vote. The winner was declared by a bailiff consulting the last intermediate score.[16] The final was watched by 488.000 viewers in the Netherlands and 401.062 viewers in Belgium.[17][18]VIER/Play4 was satisfied with the first season. It had an average of 377.000 television viewers, 9,5 million views at the website and 3,5 million views for the livestream in Flanders.[19] It had an average of 507.000 viewers in the Netherlands. The voice of Big Brother was one of the most successful ingedrients this season. When the season ended, it was revealed Jeroen Compaer was the voice behind Big Brother.[20] He was selected through a casting to find a voice that would appeal to both Dutch and Belgian viewers. While the idea in the beginning was to make Big Brother a friendly psychopath, this idea changed throughout the season. However it stayed important for Big Brother not displaying any emotion.[21]
A second season followed in 2022. Following the criticism during the first season, the producers changed a lot to make the second season more exciting by creating week themes, more challenges for the housemates and making the influence of the viewers bigger. Thomas Nagels, housemate of the first season, joined the creative team with his experience of living in the house himself.[22] The ratings of the launch dropped considerably with 586.000 viewers in the Netherlands at both RTL4 & RTL5, a drop of 56%, and 376.510 viewers at the Belgian Play4.[23] The season made headlines when Big Brother gave warnings following racistic, discriminating and sexistic remarks and behaviour.[24][25] The first couple, Dimitri Rodaro and Vera Dijkstra got a lot of attention.[26] By the end of February it was announced the series would end two weeks sooner than the expected finale. Producers stated it was always planned this way and was a way to have another twist for the housemates.[27] The housemates weren't informed about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine since no housemates had family or relatives involved.[28] In one of the last weeks, a plane flew over the house with a banner supporting housemate Nawel Seghairi, who had been nominated for six weeks in a row.[29] Actress and writer Leen Dendievel pointed to Seghairi's nominations at International Women's Day to show its importance, saying Seghairi is a strong woman who is always nominated by male housemates who can't handle such women.[30] Viewers complained when Kristof Timmermans won a golden key to the final, more than two weeks for the final. It had many consequences for the other housemates meaning popular housemates had to leave the house. Viewers said the ticket for Timmermans was fixed by producers, stating the producers wanted two Belgian and two Dutch housemates, one male and one female of each nationality, for the final week. Spokesman Salomon of Play4 denied Timmermans was protected.[31] The season was won by Salar Abassi Abraasi. The final had 295.000 viewers in the Netherland and 208.449 viewers in Belgium.[32]
The series returned for a third season in January 2023. The concept of the program was rethought, focussing on the housemates playing individual and adding the power of nomination of international series and the Big Brother coins.[33] The season had to played much more individual.[34] Outcaster from the first weeks Jason Glas became very popular with the audience. They arranged a plane with banner for him.[35] Because the game was played much more individual, there were more tensions then the previous seasons. The livestream was even stopped one time.[36] However the housemates had lots of sympathy. Hosts Kemper and Beloy said there were never more Valentine cards and gifts than for the housemates of that season.[37] Viewers complained when the evicted housemate Danny Volkers was able to return to the house and compete back in the game.[38] Bart Vandenbroek won the season. He was the first Belgian winner following two winners from the Netherlands.[39]
Before the start of the fourth season presenters Beloy and Kemper they made a call for tolerance after hateful posts on social media during last season and housemates who had a hard time reading them.[40] Many changes of the third season were kept but new rules were added. The housemates had to work, sleep and nominate in duos for the first time.[41] The launch had more viewers than the previous season, reaching 483.000 viewers in the Netherlands.[42]
Series details and viewership
edit| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | Days | Housemates | Winner | Runner(s)-up | Prize money | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | Network | ||||||||
| 1 | 82 | 23 April 2021 | 16 July 2021 |  RTL5  VIER/Play4 | 100 | 19 | Jill Goede | Nick Kraft & Liese Luwel | €70,405.50 | |
| 2 | 72 | 3 January 2022 | 26 March 2022 | 86 | 16 | Salar Abassi Abraasi | Grace Rodrigues & Kristof Timmermans | €69,815 | ||
| 3 | 72 | 9 January 2023 | 1 April 2023 | 86 | 16 | Bart Vandenbroek | Jason Glas & Jolien Bosch | €73,388 | ||
| 4 | 78 | 15 January 2024 | 13 April 2024 | 93 | 18 | Glenn Van Himst | Alice Kappenburg & Randy Yonce | €56,266 | ||
Presentation
edit| Season |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Big Brother 2021 | Geraldine Kemper | Peter Van de Veire |
| Big Brother 2022 | ||
| Big Brother 2023 | Tatyana Beloy | |
| Big Brother 2024 |
Broadcasting
editThe show was broadcoasted in the Netherlands at RTL 5 and the premiere also at RTL 4. The show was broadcast on Vier (later rebranded as Play4) in Flanders.
| Season | Broadcaster | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RTL 5 | Highlights shows (9:30 pm) | Live show (9:30 pm) | Weekly overview (6:00 pm) | |||
| VIER/Play4 | Highlights shows (9:30 pm) | Live show (9:30 pm) | Weekly overview (9:50 pm) | ||||
| 2 | RTL 5 | Highlights shows (8:30 pm) | Live show (8:00 pm) | ||||
| Play4 | Highlights shows (7:35 pm) | Live show (8:00 pm) | |||||
| 3 | RTL 5 | Highlights shows (8:30 pm) | Live show (8:00 pm) | ||||
| Play4 | Highlights shows (10:00 pm) | Live show (8:00 pm) | |||||
Live stream
editThe live stream was on a special channel 247 at Telenet and Vier.be (later changed to Play4.be) in Flanders. In the Netherlands it had two live streams at Videoland.
Notable contestants
editLiese Luwel from season 1 was the contestant who stayed for the longest time in the Big Brother house. She entered during the launch and got to the final. The other two seasons were shortened in time, making her the only housemate staying for 99 days in the house.[43] Nawel Seghairi of the second season was the contestant who received the most nominations. She was nominated eight times in a row by mostly male housemates.[44] Danny Volker of season 3 was the first housemate to return to the house and compete again after being evicted.[45] Ashley De Graaf was the second housemate to return after being evicted in the fourth season. She returned only a few hours after being evicted when another housemate who was nominated voluntarily left the house.[46]
Season 1 winner Jill Goede created her own clothing line and appeared in other television programs.[47] Season 1 runner-up Nick Kraft enjoyed bigger success with his alterego Ronny Retro and even played at Tomorrowland.[48]
The relationship that developed during the second season between Dimitri Rodaro and Vera Dijkstra did not last, ending after a few months.[49][50] Season 1 winner Jill Goede and season 2 contestant Leroy de Rouw had a relationship and a child together.[51][52]
References
edit- ^ "'Big brother' komt terug, en u kan zich nu al inschrijven". Het Nieuwsblad. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Big Brother keert terug op tv". RTL Boulevard. 7 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "Big Brother komt terug op tv". AD (in Dutch). 7 June 2020.
- ^ "300 vierkante meter, 125 camera's, een sauna en een hottub: welkom in het 'Big Brother'-house". Humo (in Dutch). 15 December 2020.
- ^ "Zo ziet het nieuwe huis van 'Big brother' eruit". Het Nieuwsblad. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Zo ziet het nieuwe 'Big brother'-huis eruit". Het Nieuwsblad. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Veel luxe, een jacuzzi en 70s-interieur: bekijk hier het nieuwe 'Big brother'-huis". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch).
- ^ "'Big Brother komt weer terug op televisie'". RTLBoulevard (in Dutch). 10 September 2019.
- ^ "'Big Brother' keert terug, is dat wel verantwoord? "Hopelijk worden de kandidaten nu extra begeleid",". HLN (in Dutch). 24 July 2020.
- ^ "We staan aan het begin van een nieuw Big Brother-tijdperk". Broadcoaster Magazine (in Dutch). 18 December 2020.
- ^ "Duim omhoog voor de seks: nieuwe regel in 'Big brother' moet problemen vermijden". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 4 January 2020.
- ^ "Ruim 1,3 miljoen kijkers voor aftrap nieuwe reeks 'Big Brother'". NU (in Dutch). 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Er is veel veranderd en er is niets veranderd in 'Big Brother'". HUMO (in Dutch). 5 January 2021.
- ^ "SBS Belgium troeft concurrentie af in januari en is met 19.1% sterkste stijger". SBS Belgium (in Dutch). 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Sociale media van 'Big Brother' op zwart na overvloed aan haatreacties". DeMorgen (in Dutch). 13 February 2021.
- ^ "'Big Brother'-kijkers boos over stemming: 'Al lang duidelijk dat Jill moest winnen'". Flair (in Dutch). 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Finale Big Brother valt buiten lijst met best bekeken programma's". NU (in Dutch). 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Ook de finale van 'Big Brother' blijkt niet bepaald een kijkcijferknaller". HUMO (in Dutch). 9 April 2021.
- ^ "'Big Brother' keert volgend jaar terug met "zwaardere en onvoorspelbaardere" reeks". HLN (in Dutch). 25 November 2021.
- ^ "Jeroen (43) vertolkte 100 dagen 'Big Brother': "De bewoners hebben een band met mijn stem opgebouwd"". HLN (in Dutch). 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Het gezicht achter de 'Big brother'-stem: "Het was hard toen drie bewoners vertrokken"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 13 April 2021.
- ^ "Ex-bewoner Thomas (25) bedenkt nu de opdrachten in 'Big brother': "Soms ben ik jaloers op de nieuwe groep, maar heimwee heb ik niet"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Big Brother trapt af als kijkcijferflop: nu al 56 procent minder kijkers". Mediacourant. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "De maat is vol voor Big Brother: de bewoners worden aangesproken op hun gedrag". Cosmopolitan. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Kandidaat in 'Big Brother' krijgt waarschuwing van productie na grensoverschrijdend gedrag". DeMorgen. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Eerste kus in 'Big brother' is een feit: "Nobody knows"". Het Nieuwsblad. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Onverwachte wending in 'Big Brother': experiment duurt minder lang". HLN. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "'Big brother'-bewoners weten níét dat er een oorlog aan de gang is". Het Nieuwsblad. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Vliegtuig met spandoek zorgt voor een verrassing in het 'Big brother'-huis". Het Nieuwsblad. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Leen Dendievel neemt het op voor 'Big Brother'-kandidate: "Daarom bestaat Vrouwendag nog steeds"". GVA. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Minst populair bij kijker en toch als eerste naar 'Big Brother'-finale: Play4 ontkent dat Kristof beschermd wordt". GVA. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "Salar wint Big Brother 2022". Broadcast Magazine. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ^ "Veel twists in nieuwe seizoen Big Brother". RTL Boulevard. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ^ "Big Brother 2023 gaat op déze datum van start met nieuwe 'spelregels' en presentator". Cosmopolitan (in Dutch). 3 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "'Big brother'-fans verrassen Jason met privévliegtuig: "Dat is geweldig!"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "Livestream 'Big Brother' werd even stilgelegd door heftige ruzie". Flair (in Dutch). 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Episode 36. GoPlay. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "Terugkeer 'Big Brother'-bewoner Danny zorgt voor beroering: "Dit is kijkersbedrog"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 6 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Voor het eerst weer een Vlaming: Itegemse militair Bart wint 'Big Brother 2023' en krijgt 73.338 euro". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 1 April 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "'Big Brother'-presentatrices roepen op tot verdraagzaamheid na kritiek op vorige editie: "Gratuit bashen tolereren we niet"". HLN (in Dutch).
- ^ "Geraldine Kemper heeft zin in jubileumseizoen Big Brother: 'Wordt weer anders dan vorig jaar'". Televizier (in Dutch).
- ^ "De TV van gisteren: Start van Big Brother valt goed in de smaak bij kijkers". TV Gids (in Dutch).
- ^ "Finale van 'Big brother' komt eraan: zo schatten overblijvers hun kansen in en dit willen ze met het geld doen". Het Nieuwsblad. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ "Koningin der nominaties Nawel dan toch uit 'Big Brother': "Ben mezelf gebleven, 't is te nemen of te laten"". GVA. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ "Danny maakt rentree in 'Big Brother'-huis, één maand na zijn vertrek: "Is dit een droom?"". GVA (in Dutch). 6 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Verrassing bij 'Big Brother': Nederlandse Ashley doet opnieuw mee". HLN (in Dutch). 22 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Winnares 'Big Brother 2021' Jill Goede lanceert eigen kledinglijn". Newsmonkey (in Dutch). 30 December 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Ronny Retro staat voor het eerst op Tomorrowland: "Ik zweet mezelf kapot, maar wat een feest!"". HLN (in Dutch). 24 July 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Vera en Dimitri uit Big Brother zijn al een tijdje uit elkaar en reageren op hun relatiebreuk". Cosmopolitan (in Dutch). 4 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Vera en Dimitri uit 'Big Brother' uit elkaar: "Jammer, ik dacht oprecht de liefde gevonden te hebben"". HLN (in Dutch). 3 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Winnares 'Big Brother' Jill verloofd met ex-deelnemer Leroy". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 12 June 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Jill en Leroy uit 'Big Brother' openhartig over kinderwens: "Waarom lukt het mij niet om zwanger te worden?"". HLN (in Dutch). 18 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.