Big Brother is a reality TV format which was created in the 90’s by John De Mol, of the production company Endemol. The programme debuted in the Netherlands in 1999, and has since went on the become the most well-known and talked-about reality show in the world. Big Brother has been a primetime smash hit in nearly 70 countries to date, with the number still rising.

The programme centers around a number of contestants, known as ‘housemates’, being locked up in the Big Brother house for a set amount of time, usually three months. During this time, the housemates have no contact with the outside world. The housemates are monitored and filmed 24 hours a day, and the action is televised in a number of different programmes.

The object of the game is to survive regular evictions and be the last housemate standing. At least one housemate will be evicted from the house each week. Every Monday, the housemates are required to nominate two of their peers for that week’s eviction. The two (or more) housemates with the most nominations then face the public vote, which is conducted by telephone. The housemate which recieves the most votes from the public is then evicted from the house in a live show.

Evictions usually take place on Fridays but have been known to take place on other days. Occasionally a ‘double eviction’ will take place in which (you guessed it) two housemates will leave the house, either together or one at a time.

Housemates are free to leave the house at any time of their own free will, but those who do so are not allowed to return afterwards. In exceptional circumstances, those who break the Big Brother rules may be ejected from the house.

A weekly task is set by Big Brother to determine how much the housemates get for their shopping budget. Their shopping budget is used to purchase enough food and necessities from Big Brother to last the following week. If the housemates pass this task, they win a luxury budget (usually £4 per head per day), and if they fail they will receive a basic budget (usually £1 per head per day).

Other, smaller tasks are set occasionally, usually with a special treat, such as a takeaway or a hamper of beauty products, as a prize. This can range from a task involving all the housemates to a mission for one housemate, usually conducted without other housemates’ knowledge (hence, these are known as ‘Secret Missions’).

A number of twists and and surprises are sprung on the housemates throughout the duration of the show. These twists may involve a secret room, a number of new housemates entering the house, or a surprise eviction.

During the final week of the show, no nominations take place, and instead the public vote for who they want to win the show. The housemate which gets the most public votes is crowned the winner.

While the housemates are living in Big Brother’s house, they have to stick so a set of rules, and anyone who breaks these rules is punished. However, there is one rule of Big Brother that’s bigger than the others, and that is: Big Brother reserves the right to change the rules at any time.