Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #417528 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-29
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Now that the TV sensation of summer 2000 is over, take a look at the bits the camera didn't show you in Big Brother: The Unseen Story. As the ten contestants took to the task of out-popularising each other, the nation settled down to a nightly diet of flirtation, intrigue and kitchen sink crises. Aside from the fact that Big Brother ushered in a genuinely new concept in TV entertainment, broke countless taboos and raised many serious issues amongst the frippery, its major success was in managing to coax engrossing and coherent television out of a bunch of misfits with no experience of live performance. The defining moment remains the pantomime drama of Nasty Nick's kangaroo court de-frocking (for gamesmanship no less), but what really captured the imagination was the interaction of the characters and their shifting tensions and allegiances over the weeks cooped up in east London. Jean Ritchie's Big Brother: The Unseen Story charts the entire series, from concept through to Craig's triumph, taking us inside the minds of the participants and revealing the dynamics behind their sexual and power struggles. And Darren's true feelings for Marjorie. With exclusive access to the diaries of the contestants, it's your turn to play big brother. --Gala Brand

Synopsis
In the TV series "Big Brother", nine contestants who have never met before are challenged to stay in a house, cut off from any contact with the outside world, for 70 days. Their every move is recorded around the clock by 24 cameras. At stake is a large cash prize. The contestants are free to leave at any time, but, if they do, they walk away empty-handed. At regular intervals contestants nominate two members of the group for eviction, with viewers making the final decision as to who is to leave. This show has been a huge hit abroad: in Holland, the live cam Website had 52 million hits over the 70 days; in Germany it spawned a hit single. In the UK, on weekday nights a 30-minute programme shows what has happened in the house the previous day and a live Web cam link is to be set up. On Saturday nights a live studio programme features interviews with the family and friends of the contestants. During this show, contestants who have been evicted are reunited with their family. With exclusive access to the diaries of the contestants, as well as unseen material that didn't make it to the TV screen, this companion book traces the unseen story as the nine contestants forge relationships with each other and try to avoid eviction.

Customer Reviews

we've been watching. . .
How to make a boring summer in this country much, much better. Watch Big Brother! then, when the summer goes read this book. It was a toss between the book, which was slightly cheaper, and the video. Ummm. Which shall I choose? Well, I clicked up the book and hurried to the buy items button, pressed it, and waited. It arrived and I couldn't put it down! It goes into all of the gritty detail behind nine or ten weeks of compelling viewing. The show was great, made better by the flurry of merchandising made because of the show. This book isn't just a mear week by week analysis, this book tell's you what happened before the show, what happened after it and everything you didn't see. I loved reading the selection process and how they put the house together, with the problems they had. Anna should have won though, that's why I haven't given it a five out of five. P.S I saw the video, and I'm glad I chose the book.

A good read
This is a very well written and easy-to-read book. If you watched the Big Brother series and want to re-live the key moments, this is the book for you. Reading how the characters developed, and the complications this caused for the production team, is fascinating.

great fun to read
i loved the tv show and could not wait to read the book. i read it practically non stop. i particularly loved the chance to read anna's witty comments. what would the show have been without her ? what's wrong with this country - she was the real winner !!! it was also great to have the chance to read everyone's comments after they had left. i felt that i understood a bit more about where Darren was coming from. Excellent read - good old light entertainment, with a psychological edge.