Born in 1999 in the Netherlands, Big Brother made its way to UK screens in 2000.
Big Brother changed the face of British television entirely. Not only was it one of the first TV shows to properly take on online streaming, it also allowed viewer interactivity via vote phone ins. This trend is seen on most live TV shows today like Strictly come dancing and The X Factor.
We now now take these things for granted. Fast forward to today, we stream everything. Netflix. Demand TV. All the time.
Big Brother, in its heyday, was a mirror that reflected our diverse society, whether that be race, sexuality, social class or age. However its lost its way throughout the years and became a games how rather than a social experiment.
The show has also created a new type of celebrity, a reality star who would go on every reality show going. Big Brother has opened doors and started many careers for contestants over the years. And remember, without Big Brother, shows like Love Island, The X Factor or I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here would not exist.
After 19 years, Big Brother, the show that started it all, is no more. Since 10 unsuspecting civilians took one small step into a house, in Bow, in the year 2000, people everywhere took a giant leap at getting a chance to star on reality TV. Big Brother opened up conversations on right or wrong, relationships and behaviour. Love it or loathe it, it's legacy will live on as the show that changed television.
