Few people dispute that Big Brother
is amongst the most influential TV programmes of recent times: it gave rise to the phenomenon of ‘reality’ TV, capturing the minutiae of real lives on screen in a way that documentaries seldom can. BB has become a national forum for the voices, prejudices, passions and affections of ordinary people, though its voluble critics believe it shapes rather than reflects the rise of a new form of celebrity culture that puts a premium on exposure over talent. What is not in dispute is that the programme’s enduring appeal has raised it above the level of mere entertainment – it has been instrumental in the development of the internet as an audiovisual medium. More importantly, it has had an impact on the perceptions of class, race and sexuality of an entire viewing generation. It continues to demonstrate the extraordinary open-mindedness of today’s TV audience, who have voted for winners of every possible racial and sexual hue.
In This Chapter
- Introduction
- Craig Phillips by Meredith Etherington-Smith
- The Big Brother Confessional by Terry Eagleton
- Brian Dowling by Meredith Etherington-Smith
- Transcending Entertainment by Gautam Malkani
- Kate Lawler by Meredith Etherington-Smith
- The Ghosts In Our Machines by Andrew O’Hagan
- Cameron Stout by Meredith Etherington-Smith
- Nadia Almada by Meredith Etherington-Smith
- Anthony Hutton by Meredith Etherington-Smith
- Pete Bennett by Meredith Etherington-Smith
- Brian Belo by Meredith Etherington-Smith
- Gallery
Chapter Gallery
