Nineteen eighty-four

Big Brother 2008 is now up and running, The Times told me this morning. Sorry, but since when? I’m not one of those closet BB-watchers who prances about claiming to detest the show; I have tuned in to the first episode of each and every series with genuine interest for the past five or so runs. Sadly in recent years that interest has waned after the first few weeks, and so, it seems, has everyone else’s.

Regardless, Big Brother has been a difficult show to avoid. How, then, did I manage to miss it this year round? Granted, I watch far less TV than I used to (thank you, surfthechannel.com), but I haven’t seen any marketing whatsoever for it this time.

I thought last year was overkill – BB was a show best left when 2006’s effort was decidedly average (eg. knowing Mr Tourette’s would win after the first episode). Continuing it this year as well seems mindless. For me, it’s unlikely that any set of housemates thrown into the house – either this year or in (wince) years to come – will be able to top 2004’s, with Nadia Almada as the winner. I think a good proportion of the British public would recognise the “bunny boiler” headlines Michelle and Stuart caused back then, four years ago. Yet I can’t remember any of last year’s contestants. Even their names don’t ring a bell. Maybe I’ve just grown out of reality TV, but Big Brother really seems like it should be a thing of the past now.