Grande Fratello

Big Brother Italy began in September, 2000 and has gone on to become a cultural phenonomon in Italy. There have been eight seasons since.

Based on the Original Dutch Version created by Endemol, the show sees a number of different Housemates, divided by gender, social backgrounds and geographical locations locked up together in a House, where the viewing Public can watch them twenty-four hours a day, and vote them out of the House as they choose to.

The Housemates can visit the "Confessional" at any time during the day, either to talk to psychologists if they need to, talk to Big Brother, or to Nominate.

The title is inspired by the George Orwell novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four". The novel tells of a Big Brother, head of the totalitarian state of Oceania that constantly monitors its inhabitants via camera in an attempt to suppress their free will. The tagline of the novel is "Big Brother is watching you", which inspired the show, as it is Big Brother who now has total control over the situation in the House.

The Housemates live in a House 24 hours a day, bugged by numerous cameras and microphones which capture their every move. Every week the Housemates participate in tasks that determine their food budget for that Week, or could even effect that week's Nominations. The overall goal is to survive to be the final surviving Housemate, and claim the prize fund.

easons

Season One, won by Christina Plevani from Iseo, Italy
Season Two, won by Flavio Montrucchio from Torino, Italy
Season Three, won by Floriana Secondi from Lazio, Italy
Season Four, won by Serena Garitta from Genova, Italy
Season Five, won by Jonathan Kashanian from Ramat-Gan, Israel
Season Six, won by Augusto De Megni from Foligno, Italy
Season Seven, won by Milo Coretti from Rome, Italy
Season Eight - won by Mario Ferretti from Montecchio, Italy

The Presenters of the programme are:
Daria Bignardi,
Barbara D'Urso,
Alessia Marcuzzi

Popularity

The programme has broken several records, including exceeding a 50% share of the ratings (with peaks of 60% during Season One). The fifth season recorded a decline in ratings; which has been put down to both the competition from rival reality television shows and the seasons poor and hasty production.In Italy Big Brother is a cultural phenonomon that has grasped the attention of both the audience and the media. The show is seen as a sociological experiment, an icon and symbol of the modern world, and derives its success from these factors.

External links

* [http://www.grandefratello.mediaset.it/ Official Website]