Format

Big Brother, the original and best reality format is celebrating its landmark 20th birthday.

On the 16th September 1999 in the Netherlands, nine Housemates moved in a purpose-built house, equipped with 24 cameras and no contact with the outside world to be watched 24/ 7 by Big Brother. A cultural phenomenon was born, and the TV revolution aired its first ever episode that night on Dutch broadcaster Veronica, part of RTL.

Since its launch, Big Brother has taken the world by storm, with 471 series of 28,391 episodes commissioned in 60 markets and airing pan regionally in 80 since its launch. 7,153 housemates from around the globe have spent 35, 143 days in the house and there have been 5, 035 evictions.

Twenty years since its worldwide debut, Big Brother is enjoying one of its best years yet and is constantly being renewed internationally with 22 productions in 18 markets confirmed to air in 2019. This includes Poland where the format was filmed in the first ever non-purpose built house, the Philippines where the 100 day challenge has been extended to a 38 week experience, India where six versions in different regional languages are produced annually, as well as Italy, Spain and the US where the format has been a long-running hit since launching in 2000.

The Netherlands was the first country to create the celebrity version, which broadcast in June 2000. Known internationally as Big Brother VIP, this format continues to travel and is having a successful year with VIP 12 productions airing in 12 markets.