Big Brother is returning to ITV2 on Sunday and I was lucky enough to be invited for an exclusive tour of the nation’s most iconic house, before it’s real guests arrive to fight it out for the grand prize.
As a huge fan of the show, getting to see the revamped home where the fresh batch of contestants will be spending the next six weeks felt like winning a golden ticket.
As per instructions, I entered via the Diary Room and got to see a sneak peek of the brand new chair, which is being kept top secret until Saturday – and in my opinion, it’s the best one yet.
I sat down and found myself face to face with Big Brother, who is actually just a blinding light and a small camera for those who are in there talking to him, which is more intimidating than you’d imagine.
It was a very surreal moment to chat to the main guy himself, who asked me what kind of contestant I’d be and if I was excited to see the brand new house.
Big Brother is returning to ITV2 on Sunday and I was lucky enough to be invited for an exclusive tour of the nation’s most iconic house, before it’s real guests arrive to fight it out for the grand prize
As a huge fan of the show, getting to see the revamped home where the fresh batch of contestants will be spending the next six weeks felt like winning a golden ticket
As per instructions, I entered via the diary room and got to see a sneak peek of the brand new chair, which is being kept top secret until Saturday – and in my opinion, it’s the best one yet (living room pictured)
Before letting me head inside, he asked me if I would be up for a secret mission and of course I agreed.
Immersing myself in the full experience, I was tasked to say something in the voice of iconic narrator Marcus Bentley every time I enter a room, for example, throwing myself onto one of the huge beds, I had to loudly exclaim: ‘It’s 4:45pm, and Maddy is asleep’.
This was hysterical and so much fun at first, but I definitely failed after the first few rooms, getting way too excited about being let loose in the Big Brother house and forgetting to keep it up.
Exiting the diary room and walking into the main hallway was like stepping inside of a neon rainbow or a flashing fairground ride – this year, the decorators have really gone all out with the vibrant colours.
There’s nowhere you can go without being met with giant paint splatters or blinking lights and I wouldn’t be surprised if it leaves some housemates with a banging headache.
The Big Brother house is actually inside a giant warehouse studio with loads of cameras and lights, but one of the crew members explained that contestants will never see this side of it or know that how how busy it gets with constant stuff happening – to them, it really is just a house.
Once I entered the living room, I was delighted to run into hosts AJ Odudu, 36, and Will Best, 39, who were also having a look around ahead the new place ahead of Sunday’s launch show.
They were bursting with energy and couldn’t wait to get going with the new series, despite admitting they were both injured just a few days before.
I sat down and found myself face to face with Big Brother, who is actually just a blinding light and a small camera for those who are in there talking to him, which is more intimidating than you’d imagine
Exiting the diary room and walking into the main hallway was like stepping inside of a neon rainbow or a flashing fairground ride – this year, the decorators have really gone all out with the vibrant colours
The living room and kitchen space followed a theme of red, blue, and yellow, with an assortment of funky decor from patterned vases to giant potted plants
While the splattered paint theme has divided fans, I have to say I think it worked and I loved the huge marble-effect dining table and array of jazzy pictures on the walls
To get to the cosy upstairs room, housemates will have to climb up another very bright set of light-up stairs
The bedroom was probably my favourite room as it boasted a gorgeous pink and purple theme and it was slightly more toned down than the rest of the house
I made sure to test out the very comfy beds, but one was a little nicer than the rest and was positioned on an elevated platform, which could come into play later in the series
I have a feeling it may be where people can go to escape some of the craziness of the main house – and its decor
Immersing myself in the full experience, I was tasked to say something in the voice of iconic narrator Marcus Bentley every time I enter a room
The living room and kitchen space followed a theme of red, blue, and yellow, with an assortment of funky decor from patterned vases to giant potted plants.
While the splattered paint theme has divided fans, I have to say I think it worked and I loved the huge marble-effect dining table and array of jazzy pictures on the walls.
One of the first things I noticed was that the kitchen and living room were actually kind of open plan and are a lot closer together than they seem on screen, meaning there really aren’t many places to escape each other.
Except of course, the cosy room up the stairs that overlooks the living room and kitchen, where the ‘upstairs gang’ frequented last year amid the house divide.
But, to get there, housemates will have to climb up another very bright set of light-up stairs.
The bedroom was probably my favourite room as it boasted a gorgeous pink and purple theme and it was slightly more toned down than the rest of the house.
I have a feeling it may be where people can go to escape some of the craziness of the main house – and its decor.
I made sure to test out the very comfy beds, but one was a little nicer than the rest and was positioned on an elevated platform, which could come into play later in the series.
The house itself was way bigger than I could have expected with very high ceilings and mirrors on almost every wall, as well as the Big Brother eye always watching.
I also noticed an odd statute of a cat high up on one of the walls and thought it could come mean something or wondered if it was a secret camera.
I excitedly made my way into the bathroom and climbed right into the humongous tub
Although I still can’t image chatting away to people while taking a bath – not to mention the double shower
There’s also another small pink bathroom that’s off camera that viewers don’t see, but it seemingly didn’t get the same decorating job as the main room
The marble-effect dining table was a personal favourite of mine
There was lots of random decor and way bigger than I could have expected with very high ceilings and mirrors on almost every wall
The house is fully stocked for everything the housemates will need upon arrival
We had to take our shoes off for the tour to make sure we didn’t leave a trace
There were a lot of funky vases and decorative pieces scattered around the house
I excitedly made my way into the bathroom and climbed right into the humongous tub, although I still can’t image chatting away to people while taking a bath – not to mention the double shower.
It’s already fully stocked with towels and products all ready for the newbies arrival this weekend.
There’s also another small pink bathroom that’s off camera that viewers don’t see, but it seemingly didn’t get the same decorating job as the main room.
Once I was finally done running around the main house, I headed outside to the garden.
It’s equally as spacious and you can see the buildings next door, which makes it the only place in the house where there’s any glimpse of the outside world.
Jenry fans will be pleased to know there is a hot tub, so there could be another of THOSE steamy kisses coming this year.
However, it’s noticeable that the seating areas are not big enough for all of the housemates, making it so easy for cliques to form on the show.
Before I knew it and after failing at my secret task, we were all ushered into the garden and evicted by Big Brother over the loud speaker.
Despite the swift exit, my visit to the iconic house has only made me more excited to see it in action on screens on Sunday.
It comes after both AJ and Will came down with ailments ahead of the launch night as they prepare to welcome a new crop of housemates for the third time.
However, appearing on Capital Breakfast on Thursday, Will revealed that both he and AJ are suffering with individual illnesses that could spell trouble for the live launch show.
He explained that he has been hit by a ‘stiff neck’ that means he is struggling to move his head and was forced to visit an emergency physiotherapist.
Speaking to presenters Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby, Will explained: ‘Yeah, I’ve got a stiff neck. It’s a bit better today, yesterday was bad, I’ve got an emergency physio in a couple of hours after this.’
Once I was finally done running around the main house, I headed outside to the garden
It’s equally as spacious and you can see the buildings next door, which makes it the only place in the house where there’s any glimpse of the outside world
The dripping paint decor continued outside in the garden
It’s noticeable that the seating areas are not big enough for all of the housemates, making it so easy for cliques to form on the show
Jenry fans will be pleased to know there is a hot tub, so there could be another of THOSE steamy kisses coming this year
Poking fun at the inconvenient timing, he added: ‘It’s always good to just before the biggest show of the year, when you’re going to be live for six weeks, with all kinds of mad stuff, to not be able to move.
‘So I’m sorry Chris I can’t really look at you [laughs], you’re on the wrong side!’
Sian then joked: ‘That’s why we got you a spinny chair, so you can move your whole body,’ causing Will to quip back: ‘I can just present the live show on one of these!’
However, he added that he couldn’t even lean on his co-host for support as AJ has ‘lost her voice’.
Will said: ‘AJ’s lost her voice as well, yeah sorry, I saw her yesterday, we did a podcast record. That’s why she’s not doing radio today!’
He admitted that he was ‘nervous’ about the live launch, but insisted it was down to his love of the show and desire to make sure it all went smoothly.
He explained: ‘Yeah of course I get nervous, because, I love this show so much, so I’m nervous that we’re going to do it justice, the format justice, I’m nervous how the housemates will do.
‘But once we get to Sunday, just before we go live, the nerves sort of disappear. I can’t wait to meet these people.’
Big Brother returns Sunday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
It comes after both AJ and Will came down with ailments ahead of the launch night as they prepare to welcome a new crop of housemates for the third time
