Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BB9 Launch Press Pack FINAL 2
BB9 Launch Press Pack FINAL 2
PRESS PACK
THIS PRESS PACK IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01AM TUESDAY 27TH MAY, 2008
CONTENTS:
Introduction 2
Interview with presenter Davina McCall 3
Interview with BBLB hosts George Lamb and Zezi Ifore
6
Programming Information 9
Sponsored By
BIG BROTHER IS BACK
Starts Thursday 5th June, 9pm on Channel 4
The wait is nearly over – Big Brother is back, and a new bunch of
housemates are about to begin the biggest game show of them all. From
the moment they are revealed to the public on Thursday 5th June, their
every move will be captured by cameras as they become the newest
inhabitants of the most famous house in Britain.
Davina McCall returns to present the launch show and eviction shows
direct from the house, and George Lamb and Zezi Ifore will take over the
spin-off show Big Brother’s Little Brother. Big Brother’s Big Mouth will be
home to many big mouths as they take on the presenting role each week,
with every aspect of Big Brother hotly debated by the studio audience.
So what does Big Brother have in store for this year? The sun might be
shining but Big Brother 9 will be no summer holiday. If housemates think
they can idle away the summer in the garden, they will be sorely
mistaken. If they think they can break the rules and get away with it,
they’re going to learn there are consequences. After all, this is a game
show – only one can win, and they’ll have to play hard to win. But they
should never forget that Big Brother is in charge, and that their fate lies in
the hands of the real power brokers in this game – the viewers.
David Williams, C4 Editor for Big Brother says: “It wouldn’t be summer
without the big daddy of all reality shows and this year looks set to be
more gripping than ever. There’s a brand new house, Davina is back to
grill the evictees on Friday nights, George and Zezi are joining BBLB, and a
brand new group of housemates are ready to walk through that door and
into our lives”.
Sharon Powers, Creative Director of Big Brother says: “We’ve got a really
exciting group of housemates ready to go into the Big Brother house. But
they need to remember that the Big Brother rules are there for a reason –
Big Brother will not tolerate rule breaks and will be tougher than ever on
housemates. It’s going to be really exciting to see how they rise to the
challenge of life in the house. For the housemates, and the viewers, it’s
going to be a summer to remember.”
2
Soon a new group of housemates will enter the public consciousness. Let
the games begin…
3
DAVINA McCALL INTERVIEW
If all or part of this interview is used it must contain the following
credit:
‘Big Brother, C4 & E4’
And if anyone needed proof that her exercise videos actually work, the
mother-of-three is in incredible shape – her slim frame making every dress
a possible contender for launch night. She’s fit and ready for Big Brother in
every other sense too. With the traditional Celebrity Big Brother format
taking a break this year, Davina’s not been onscreen presenting BB since
last year. But now she’s back, energised and ready for action – channelling
Katie Holmes’s fashion sense, hoping for another winner as good as Brian,
and contemplating a nipple piercing…
Wow, look at all these clothes. It’s like a dress-up box for grown-
ups in here.
I’m quite lucky now because I’ve got a stylist called AJ (Knight) who I’ve
been working with for five years and AJ’s been through two pregnancies
with me and post-pregnancy bodies, so dealing with all of that she really
knows me and my body. She’s my Gok Wan. She knows me inside out,
back to front. She’s absolutely awesome at picking out clothes for me, so
today I turn up, I’ve not done one iota of shopping and she’s got two rails
of clothing that I just love. My favourite style icon of the moment would be
Katie Holmes I think, I love what she’s wearing so I sort of said to AJ, think
Katie Holmes, channel Katie Holmes.
Some people fail to see that it’s an entertainment programme and it’s not
trying to be anything other than that. It’s supposed to be fun and silly and
4
a bit raucous. People don’t ask Ant and Dec why they present Saturday
Night Takeaway or I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of Here. They’re
entertainment. It’s just as silly and they do naughty things. It’s just a
programme.
5
Do you find it funny that Russell’s now a film star?
Oh god, I love it! I spoke to Russell two days ago and we were just
laughing about it. It’s amazing. He’s gone global. I love it, so proud of him.
He’s come a really, really long way. Brace yourselves America!
How do you feel when people look like they’re going to be one
thing in the launch night video, then turn out to be something
else once they are in the house? Last year, Carole went in saying
“I am gonna shake it something rotten and they will be shaking
s***less. If people want an argument, here’s the f***ing
argument!” then it felt like she just cleaned the house for 13
weeks.
I thought Carole was actually the catalyst for a lot of stuff going on in
there. So even though she didn’t give everybody a fight, we had enough of
that going on with Charley. I think the one who really was different from
her video was Bonnie (BB7) – she was a mouse. She totally lost her voice
in the house I think, and I thought she was going to be outrageous. So yes,
it’s frustrating when somebody doesn’t, but they always counteract it in
some other way, some other trait of theirs will come into play. Like Carole
with her manic cleaning – that was kind of annoying and important to the
house, and became the topic of many a conversation or argument so it
was quite interesting.
Do you watch/read about what they do after they come out of the
house? The falling out of nightclubs, or in the case of Chanelle a
publicity-stunt “sex tape”?
Not really. But I think that somebody like Cameron – I loved Cameron Stout
and I though he was such a worthy winner and he really made me laugh
and I think the real people always win in the end – that Cameron did it
right. He had a job before he went in, he took some time off, he had a
brilliant time, had a fantastic experience and then went back to his job and
that’s the way to do it. I mean Big Brother is the experience of a lifetime, it
can be really, really good fun and you can make friends in there that you
will keep forever but you mustn’t think of it as a stepping stone to
anything. I think the people who haven’t thought of it as a stepping stone
to fame and fortune have done really well out of it.
6
What would you do if your children said they wanted to be in Big
Brother or a similar reality show?
I would like to think that whatever my children choose to do I’d just go
“brilliant! Go and do the best job you possibly can” and then be there to
pick up the pieces if it all goes horribly wrong, because you have to learn
your own lessons. However, in 15 years when Holly’s about to go off and
appear in some reality TV show I’ll probably be tearing my hair out. But
then I’m sure Amanda and Sam’s mum was really worried because they
were such innocent girls and so sweet, and she was probably thinking
“they are going to go in that house, and it’s going to be horrible and the
press will be vile” but look how great they did! As a parent, your children
may just surprise you, and you may just be very, very proud of them.
Brian’s mum must be so proud of him, he was such a lovely winner.
7
So have you decided yet on an outfit for launch night?
Not decided yet, but I’m so excited about launch night. I’m also excited
about stupid things like how are the housemates going to come out? Are
they going to be on a top floor coming out above the audience? Will they
walk down stairs? Is the house going to be bigger? Is the house going to
be smaller? Are they going to have a pool? All of these things I know
nothing about and those are the things I want to know about it.
8
INTERVIEW WITH NEW BIG BROTHER’S LITTLE
BROTHER PRESENTERS GEORGE LAMB AND ZEZI
IFORE
If all or part of this interview is used it must contain the following
credit:
‘Big Brother, C4 & E4’
But with the departure of host Dermot O’Leary, a position opened up for
some new blood to step up and take the reigns. And it’s not one but two
presenters who are poised to take over this summer: step forward the all-
new Little Brother and Little Sister double act, George Lamb and Zezi Ifore.
George and Zezi are already part of the C4/E4 family, both presenting on
E4 Music and daily morning music and entertainment show Freshly
Squeezed. George also presents on T4 and has his own weekday show on
BBC 6Music. Before Zezi started presenting she was the editor of cult
fashion magazine Super Super and worked in music A&R. So what have
the two newbies got to bring to the table of BBLB? And will Dermot regret
telling them to call him anytime?
Well done on getting the gig you two. Are you excited about
taking over BBLB?
Zezi: Extremely so, very excited. One might say ecstatic.
George: Ooof! (then starts talking in third person) George releases audible
sounds of excitement and glee… Of course, it’s one of the biggest TV
franchises in the history of television and what a wonderful thing to be
part of it.
Z: Get him with his soundbite! Soundbite Sam. ‘One of the biggest TV
franchises’ – I’m going to learn that one!
Dermot used to do some pretty bizarre things, like last year when
he dressed up in a white latex bodysuit, and he has done a lot of
silly dancing over the years. What are you going to do to keep the
tradition of silliness in the name of BBLB alive?
G: Well obviously we’re going to work within the parameters that it’s a
switch-over show to Big Brother, so we can never go too far from it but in
order to make it our own show and in order to not mimic what Dermot did
9
– because you’re only going to make a rod for your own back by doing that
– we have to take ownership of the show. So I think it’s going to be a
different show and I think it’s going to be driven far more by humour and…
Z: Hijinks!
G: Well…. rather than slapstick comedy it might be a little subtler and one
would hope a little cooler than before.
Do you know much yet about how it’s going to work then?
G: Yep. I’m not going to dress up in a lot of latex that’s the main thing.
Z: I think it will be more opinionated, that’s what people want to hear.
Telling it like it is, keeping it real!
G: I definitely want to hear what I’ve got to say.
Can you tell us about any new segments within the show?
G: Ooh can’t tell you anything about that!
Z: Watch and see.
10
You’ve both worked on E4 Music and Freshly Squeezed but not
actually worked alongside each other before?
G: Never worked together.
Z: But we’ve got plenty of time to make up for those lost years.
What happened?
G: I split up with a girl and stopped practising.
Z: I speak French and Italian. And I love Pat Benatar. And I love Meatloaf.
11
George, you used to manage Lily Allen. When was this and why
switch from behind the scenes to in front of the camera yourself?
G: I managed her for two years (2003/4) while I was managing another
band called Audio Bullys and unfortunately all the A&R men in London
seemed to be deaf for the six months we were hawking around eight of
the 11 tracks that were on that record, Smile included. After about the
tenth knock back we said this isn’t really working and a friend of mine who
runs Remedy Productions asked if I’d like to come in and have a bash at
presenting so I went and did that. My friend Adrian then managed Lily and
they put the stuff on myspace and it went from there.
Z: I was in A&R too…
Finally, can you sum up in three words what you want the all-new
BBLB to be?
Z: Zezi and George!
G: Yep, there you go!
12
PROGRAMMING INFORMATION
Fans can stay glued to events in the Big Brother house throughout the
summer in a variety of ways. The line-up of programmes includes:
Big Brother
The hour-long programmes every night will feature all the action from the
previous 24 hours in the house, including tasks and nominations.
14
Big Brother Diary Room Uncut
On Saturday and Sunday nights, E4 viewers can eavesdrop on housemates
in the most secret and revealing room in the house. In the infamous diary
room chair, the housemates can grumble, gossip, cry and connive without
anyone else in the house hearing or seeing them. Viewers get an extended
look at what the housemates disclose about each other and life in the
house, and also where they reveal the names of the housemates they’d
like to nominate for eviction.
15
REVEALED: THE NEW BIG BROTHER HOUSE
This year’s brand new Big Brother house is the biggest ever. Once
the housemates walk down the new entrance steps, they’ll
encounter a large carpeted living area filled with comfortable sofas
and plush coverings, mixed with angular light-boxes and of course,
the large dining room table.
16
THE BIG BROTHER RULES
Housemates must abide by a strict set of rules during their stay in the
house. Any infringement of these rules will be addressed and acted upon
by Big Brother. Rules include:
Personal Belongings
As in all Big Brother series, housemates have restrictions on what personal
belongings they can bring into the house. They are each allowed to pack
just one suitcase and one small bag. Many of the items they are permitted
to bring in are at the discretion of Big Brother, and all bags will be checked
prior to entering the house and inventories of their contents compiled.
18
FOOD, HOUSEKEEPING & TASKS
Food and drink in the house are supplied only by Big Brother. The
housemates will participate in compulsory tasks to determine their
shopping budget. In addition, the housemates will also be set challenges,
playing for the chance to win special rewards.
Housemates can leave the house in three ways: they may be evicted; they
can leave of their own free will (and may do so at any time); or in
exceptional circumstances they will be asked to leave by Big Brother. At
the end of the series viewers will then vote for the winner.
19
BIG BROTHER WEBSITE
The Big Brother website has had a makeover, and is all new, shiny, and
packed full of the latest videos, news and images from the Big Brother
house.
It will be home to a host of new, big names writing blogs, including the Big
Brother presenters, celebrities, critics, psychologists and other Big Brother
favourites.
Visitors to the site can take part in quizzes, daily polls, games, view
picture galleries, get free downloads, and of course watch the latest
videos of all the house action. Plus there will be details of how to join up
to all the Big Brother social network groups, and bigger and better
housemate profiles than ever before.
Plus this year, everyone gets to voice their opinion on what’s happening in
the house. A “Your Say” section after each news story means users can
react to the house action just after it happens.
And over on E4.com is a new online show. Tom Thurlow will be going
around the country asking people on the street for their opinions on Big
Brother. The E4 site will include Tom’s schedule so viewers can turn up
wherever he is and voice their opinions.
With all this and much more, there really is no excuse to miss out on any
of the Big Brother gossip this summer.
20
Big Brother: The Auditions
Who will make it into the House on Launch Night?*
E4, 10pm, Sunday 01 & Tuesday 03 June, 2008
We lift the lid on the selection process, as the Big Brother producers
travel across the UK and Ireland hunting for housemates, with the
help of some former familiar faces to help spot the hopefuls from
the hopeless.
For those who make it through to the second day of the open
audition process, hopefuls still in the race to become a housemate
face their biggest test so far….a Diary Room with Big Brother. And
for some of the winning wannabes still in the running, the Big
Brother cameras follow them home after their auditions and to find
out what makes them top contenders for a coveted place in the
house.
Scroll down for picture captions. If you would like to use any of these
images in your feature please contact Charles Fearn on 020 7306
8516 or Louise Ellwood on 0207306 8685
21
Top row L-R: The sign to queue but who will make it through: Blonde
ambition: Cors’ I Got
Second Row L-R: Dancing Queen: Glam Shelley (BB7’s Grace
cousin): BB5’s Michelle Bass’ hopeful
Third Row L-R: Rooney’s relations Steve & Natalie: Rapper Wonder: I
will rule the world one day in BB, maybe?
Fourth Row L-R: Working the camera?: Smiles better than the rest?:
Spaceman
Fifth Row L-R: Wrestling to make the grade?: Stripe me down, your
in?: The Wizard
(*As everyone knows Big Brother never confirms nor denies but
you’ll be able to watch the hopefuls on E4 in Big Brother: The
Auditions 10pm Sunday 1 & Tuesday 3 June and then tune in to
watch the big reveal on C4, Big Brother: Launch Night, 9pm)
22
BIG BROTHER AROUND THE WORLD
Each summer, UK Big Brother fans eagerly tune in to Channel 4 and E4 to
see what’s happening in the house in Elstree. But the UK Big Brother is
just one of many, many versions of the programme around the world. You
might think the antics of British housemates are weird, funny or risqué but
the overseas houses have more than their fair share of intrigue, odd
behaviour and tough-talking Big Brothers.
Here are some of best bits from the wonderful world of BB around the
globe:
• On the same day that this year-long series ended, Big Brother: The
Village began. Big Brother: Das Dorf lasted two years and was
originally intended to have an indefinite run, with its residents
housed in an entire village instead of just one house.
• Big Mother was introduced into the fourth series of the Greek Big
Brother when housemates took part in the game with their mothers
with whom they had to co-exist during the contest.
• In the first series of the Polish show Big Brother provoked a mutiny
by the smokers in the house for refusing to supply any more
cigarettes. As punishment Big Brother set a small fire in the
compound. The only non-smoker in the house, 45-year-old Janusz
Dzieciol, was the only housemate to get up and put it out. As reward
for his good behaviour, Big Brother offered Janusz a personal phone
call or a supply of cigarettes for the house. He went with the
cigarettes and, out of gratitude, was never put forward for eviction
by his fellow housemates. He went on to win the series.
• Also from the first Polish series, housemate Sebastian Florek stood
for election three months after leaving the show and was duly
elected as a Labor Union deputy to the Polish Parliament. Florek has
23
since developed a reputation as a feminist since he started fighting
for free contraception in the largely Catholic country.
• In this same series, all tasks were charity related, including getting
housemates to build beds for orphanages.
24
• One evictee of the Australian house brought controversy to the
programme by refusing to speak to the show’s presenter in protest
against the mandatory imprisonment of refugees in Australia.
Instead Merlin Luck taped his mouth shut and held up a banner that
read ‘Free Th Refugees’ (the ‘e’ had fallen off) which he’d made
prior to entering the house.
25
VIRGIN MOBILE SPONSORS BIG BROTHER 9
Virgin Mobile has announced it will sponsor Channel 4’s biggest event of
the summer, Big Brother 9.
Following the success of its involvement in Big Brother 8 and Big Brother
Celebrity Hijack earlier this year, Virgin Mobile will be the lead sponsor for
the second year running. New sponsorship idents are being created for the
new series, primarily featuring Virgin Mobile, but also other Virgin Media
services.
James Kydd, managing director of marketing and brand for Virgin Media
said: "Big Brother is a ratings powerhouse, it is a perfect fit with the Virgin
Mobile brand, and the audience it delivers includes many of our customers
and staff.
Big Brother is still the biggest reality TV phenomenon on the box and
we’re really pleased to be aligned with the show again. When it’s not
being broadcast on Channel 4, we look forward to keeping fans up to date
via our mobile, TV and web portal platforms."
Now in its ninth year, Big Brother has withstood the test of time and due
to its ground-breaking content, is still hugely popular with viewers UK-
wide. In 2007, the show reached more than 80 pc of 18-34 year olds (a
total of 11.5 million 16-34s) and in general averaged around 4 million
viewers per show. Out of the top 20 highest rating shows over the summer
last year for 16-34’s, nine of these shows were Big Brother episodes.
“Big Brother is still immensely popular and resonates with the youth and
popular culture in general today. We’re looking forward to meeting the
housemates and seeing what Big Brother has in store for them soon,” said
James Kydd.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Virgin Mobile
Launched in 1999, Virgin Mobile is the UK’s largest mobile virtual network
operator and uses T-Mobile's network and now employs over 1,700 staff. With 4
million customers, Virgin Mobile is part of Virgin Media and the group is the first to
be able to offer ‘quadruple play’ to customers: mobile and fixed line telephony,
broadband internet and television.
26
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600, online at
virginmobile.co.uk or on the high street at approximately 5,000 outlets.
27