Ive been a fan of the show since the very first episode, I have stuck with it through the ups and downs, love it, scream at it sometimes but have to watch it. Here is my personal take on the new series about to start and the changes.


Brian Dowling Axed? - I may seem to be a minority with this (Though I think many will tune in on launch wondering what happened) but I dont think Brian was the problem. I also think C5 have treated him very badly. If new bosses were responsible the question is do they actually realise he won the show twice? If this is about popularity surely thats a pretty good gage. I will admit I was worried when he first took over, he was a little nervous but by last year he was to me a very confident presenter. The last series of CBB was the best ive seen in years, so im not sure what he was doing wrong. A new face is usually used when someone does something REALLY bad or when ratings take a nose dive. Changing presenter is very risky, it sometimes works but sometimes it fails. If they really chose Emma Willis to take over because she is female and a mum not only is that really sad, it is grounds for unfair dismissal. He was quite dry in his style of presenting but people knew his humor before he took over. Is this really all about shampoo adds?

Emma Willis the new face of BB? - My first thoughts on hearing about her promotion was OMG what? Ill be honest with you (And it seems every one loves her here) so far I havent been that impressed. Ive not regularly watched BOTS since Russel Brand left. I find many of the presenters they have used to be bland. I only watched a few episodes with Emma and cant say she was that charismatic but maybe things have changed? Im hearing C5 wanted a 'new Davina' again thats really bad news because this was never about cookie cutter personalities and this is exactly the reason many of the later BB contestants bored people, they just seemed like cheap imitations of others. Emma's hair is suddenly classic Davina and shes in a black dress for promo shots - I hope that people are not this stupid right?

Emma has always said she is a big fan of the show (good) and she is also very 'enthusiastic' when presenting. Hmmm I know this was one of Davina's qualities but it can also be very annoying. Ive seen so many hyper squeeling TV presenters that just come across as false. It could boost the show but if people are as picky as they were with Davina and Brian's presenting skills I just think many who are saying she will do a better job are the same that will turn on her once the show starts...

Now ive just watched the full version of the trailer for Secrets and Lies and to be honest Emma came across well and actually looked like she could fill the boots. If she has a good onscreen presence and can grill ex housemates properly then great. I just hope she is the right choice and was picked for the right reasons not to just dupe the sheep like masses into thinking she is Davina or because chavs will relate to her ability to pop babies out and carry a mic. Whatever you think the proof will be in the pudding.

Secrets Lies and Custard Pies! - When the show jumped channels I was hearing about big and much needed change in to the format. Although I love the show, at times it feels like it needs a bit more. Although some changes happened there was not enough, its still pretty much the same show and the same house. Im assuming that each housemate will enter with a secret and a lie, and that BB will have secrets rooms and tell them lies - ok so whats new? I hope it is more than just that please!

Eco House? - So they are saying the house has been gutted, major changes have taken place (no pics yet) and the house is now an 'eco house' and housemates will have to grow their own food. For those of us who are not 13 year olds, this is not a new idea like the media is making out but an old one. People have talked about bringing this all back and the simplicity and experiment of the original few houses but at the same time I hope this is not just more hot air! Watching the lucky housemates whine they have nothing to do or being made to do silly tasks I could not care less about is something I would like to see less of. Interesting people in real situations who are not just there to pull duck face poses and wait for their magazine deals to roll in.

Rylan to present BOTS - Ok this seems like a good choice though I do not know how good he will be at presenting yet and this is not an easy show to present. All I will say though is Rylan beware, this show has a bad track record with presenters. If recent changes are anything to go by it does not look good for former winners of the show. Rylan better watch his back!

BIG Changes - Honest! - Please do not disappoint BB. I dont know how many years ive heard these claims and they were all hype, certain stories appear over and over but never happen. This sounds like they have actually listened to what people have said and are going to change the format and rework the house - but ive been fooled before!

I only skimmed the OP, so I'm only going to make two points.

Emma Willis, that she's dressed like Davina is deliberate, I think we all agree on that. However I'm looking at it as a positive, that this series is going back to those days, and is hopefully a wave to the fans, in that we'd notice and get excited.

BOTS, okay Russell on BBBM was irreplacable, but they did have some good stand ins when he left, like James Corden & Matt Horne, and Keith Lemon. I wasn't a total fan of the rotating hosts, but sometimes they were so good I would've been happy for them to be full time. Emma always struck me as too nicey nice to present what is the more "adult" spin off. She would've been better off replacing Dermo full time.

Sorry never been a fan of Brian he's a terrible presenter and very wooden emma has a much better charm to her

That's true. Take out Dermot, Russell Brand and Emma and you basically have a heap of discarded, vilified bodies. And rightly so: it needs a combination of charm, wit, quick thinking, likeability and genuine passion for the show that is not very thick on the ground. I am wary of Rylan, although I can see why they have chosen him: he was quite sweet and enthusiastic on CBB, but would he ever understand, say, where Benedict was coming from? Or for that matter, Aaron?

What!? You could've replaced him with a woodworm-ridden table leg and I would've been well pleased. The guy's a comedy-free zone and an arseh*le to boot.

Brian Dowling was never a confident presenter on BB. He looked as relaxed as a length of 4 by 1. His own particular brand of humour never shone through, either.

I think too Emma being dressed like Davina is a deliberate tactic to draw some of the old fans back to the show. It's a nod to the shows heyday, and their admission that they want Emma to be "their Davina"

ECO House: Sounds very Big Brother 1, Darren, Craig, Nasty Nick, Chickens and Caggy. Oh it's all such a long time ago. It was a simpler more innocent time of Big Brother. The genuine experiment of putting ten strangers in a house together. Since Channel 5 have taken over the show, I think the Big Brother house has been a bit playboy mansion like. The lap of luxury for a bunch of wannabes. I won't lie the first Channel 5 series I stopped watchiing because I just did not care.

Housemates: Please vary up the housemates this year. Nobody wants a bunch of TOWIE/Made IN Chelsea clones. They are not the type of characters people will remember in a years time. Go back to the heyday, everyone still talks about Jade Goody. Nikki Graeme. The housemates of the very first series were fantastic bunch, and the second series that Brian won aswell. Brilliant. They need less wannabes, although getting anyone but wannabes maybe difficult. Who knows.

Theme: Secrets and Lies. All sounds very intriguing. I have heard Secret Story is a theme that has been used in other versions all over the world. I am trying to resist readiing up on this because I want to be surprised this year.

The New Davina: Well I think if a new Davina is what they want, Emma Willis is the gal for the job. She loves the job. She has great charisma, and watching her on other jobs like This Morning she is a natural. I have to disagree with the OP, I thought Brian was dreadful. He kind of reminded me of someone who should be calling bingo numbers, at a club. Not presenting Big Brother. He just didn't suit the show I don't think. The only thing that was not broken on the BB of Channel 4 by the end, was the host. Davina McCall. So I can understand the bosses wanting someone to emulate that kind of energy and style. As I say I think Emma is the woman for the job.

BOTS: Rylan and AJ. No idea who the latter is. But I think again Rylan is part of a freshening up and maybe just keeping the presenting team to a core few. Emma, Rylan and AJ. I found there were loads of presenter on BOTS. I'm glad they've tidied it up a bit.

What is "dressed like Davina" about?


Hmm. I think almost all of the HMs from the first three BBs were very poor. And Jade is possibly the worst HM choice of all time.


For all we can tell at this point, BOTS will have just as many presenters as before. Indeed, there used to be one main presenter (Emma, though Alice took over on weekends). Now it looks like there may be two who aren't alternating in that way.

Who were the "loads"? If you're counting anyone who was the main figure in any sort of segment in the show, there may be just as many (or more) this time.