From 1984 to the small screen - a brief history of Big Brother
Big Brother (or BB) was first shown in the UK in 2000, although international versions had appeared before this. A series was broadcast every year between 2000 and 2018, originally on Channel 4 and later on Channel 5. Several spinoff series were also launched, including Celebrity Big Brother and Ultimate Big Brother.
Big Brother follows a group of housemates who live in a specially constructed house. It is fitted with 24-hour camera surveillance and microphones to record all of the contestant’s movements and conversations.
| First aired | 2000 |
| Series to date | 19 |
| Narrator | Marcus Brentley |
| Number of episodes | 1481 |
| Number of contestants | 325 |
In previous series, the housemates would nominate two of their fellow housemates for eviction each week and one would then be eliminated from the show after a public vote. During the final, the winning candidate received a cash prize, which varied between £50,000 to £150,000.
Big Brother’s top three biggest controversies - from escapes to cats
Big Brother is no stranger to scandal, here’s a quick look at our top three most memorable (for all of the wrong reasons) moments:
- Nasty Nick’s eviction: In the very first series, contestant Nasty Nick was removed from the show halfway through the series for breaking Big Brother’s voting rules.
- Donny’s escape:
In 2007 the lead singer of Towers of London, Donny Tourette, scaled a wall surrounding a house after less than 48 hours inside.
- George the cat:
In the 2006 edition of Celebrity Big Brother, George Galloway caused a furore when he had to pretend to be a cat for a task.
What are the top BB betting markets - how to make your choice
In 2023, ITV2 announced that Big Brother would be returning with a new format. There hasn’t been any official information on whether there will also be a new series of the celeb version, but Celebrity Big Brother betting could be a possible option in the future.
Coming 2023… | ITV2
While we don’t know exact details on the series yet, we can make a few forecasts about the potential betting markets available:
- The winner of the series: The most common bet punters make is on their favourite Big Brother housemate.
- The finalists: Another common Big Brother bet is wagering on who will make it to the final. Three contestants will survive to the end, but only one will be crowned the winner.
- Next Big Brother eviction: At least one of the contestants will be evicted from the house every week, making this another popular betting option.
- A housemate to receive a warning?
Contestants can receive warnings from Big Brother for breaking the rules of the show, such as swearing
- Will a housemate be ejected?
- Romance to bloom between two housemates?
- Will a housemate escape?
There have been several breaks for freedom over the years, so this could be a more interesting bet than you might think.
When are the betting odds on Big Brother available?
Prior to the new series starting in Autumn 2023, we will expect bookmakers to release betting odds on all Big Brother contestants. As with all
novelty betting, these will change as the show progresses and housemates join or are evicted. Big Brother is famous for adding in new housemates and for giving contestants random tasks, so you never know what might happen!
The popularity of the housemates can also go up and down as they complete different tasks, shortening or lengthening their odds. Keep your eyes peeled for Big Brother betting news which will go into overdrive as the series gets underway.
As yet, we haven’t heard whether there will be a series of Celebrity Big Brother to accompany the main event, but we might see betting odds on Celebrity Big Brother soon too.
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Big Brother is watching you! Facts from the series
While we wait for more details to emerge on the new series, this is a quick look at some key facts and figures from the previous 19 years.
- The first Big Brother winner was Craig Philips, in 2000.
- The number of male and female winners is pretty even.
- There have been 22 series of Celebrity Big Brother, and the most recent winner was Ryan Thomas (best known for appearing in Coronation Street).
- As well as Donny mentioned above, several housemates have broken out of the Big Brother house. This includes Sandy in Series 3, and Josie from the 2010 series.
- The youngest-ever winner was Cameron Cole, who was 19 when he won Series 19. The oldest winner was Jason Burrill, who won Series 17 aged 45.
Our best Big Brother betting tips
If you’re looking to make your first BB bet, have a look at our Betting.co.uk expert hints.
As with any type of betting, shopping around on different Big Brother betting sites will help you to identify the best odds for your chosen wager.
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Possible second chance
Don’t stress if your winning pick is evicted, they may be brought back into the house later on.
Have a look at social media to gauge the public’s reaction to each contestant. This will help you to work out the size of their fan base and how many votes they might receive.
You could also have a look at online polls on Big Brother fan sites. This could give you an idea of how fans are voting.
Betting for Big Brother - expect the unexpected!
It’s been four years since Big Brother left our screens, and excitement around its return is palpable. Making a Big Brother bet will be a great way to join in the action on this highly anticipated series, and to share the experience with like-minded friends and family. But, if Big Brother’s not your thing, then you might want to have a look at our other guides on reality TV betting, including the leading
I'm A Celebrity betting sites.
Big Brother Betting Pros and Cons
- Round the clock coverage of housemates
- A range of markets available with novelty betting sites
- Show usually contains a public vote element
- Odds not available very often
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Big Brother betting FAQs
👁️ Can I bet on Big Brother?
Making bets on Big Brother is an example of novelty betting, which can include staking on UK politics and reality TV (for more information, check out our guides to the top
Love Island betting sites
as well as the best
The Apprentice betting sites
and more). To find out how betting on Big Brother works, the best thing to do is to read through our Betting.co.uk guide.
🏆 What is the best Big Brother bet?
There are a huge number of potential Big Brother betting markets available. In our total Big Brother betting guide, we’ve outlined the most common bet types and also a few of the less well-known wagers possible. Cast your eyes over the complete guide to find the perfect bet ready for the new series.
❓What are the betting odds on Big Brother bets?
The Big Brother betting odds will change periodically, and sometimes dramatically, throughout the series. To find out more about the different factors impacting them, have a read through our review to discover more. You can also have a look at our guide to the top Big Brother betting sites.
