http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4790795.stm

Found this review of BB7 on the BBC archive and it makes an interesting read. Nearly everything the show is criticised for now,it was being criticised for back then too

Aww! That made me feel all warm and nostalgic. It's worth a read for the hilarious final paragraph.

Are they having a laugh? BB7 was one of the best run.

"Maybe next year's outing should go back to basics, and allow its characters rather than the convoluted plot to take centre-stage."

Anyone who's seen BB8, the HWH fixes and the desperate manipulations to keep Charley from being evicted, is entitled to a small chuckle after reading that.

Not a big surprise as it was coming off that very controversial comeback twist that damaged BB's reputation.

I also notice that comments about clever editing and brainwashing people were also common back then.
I can't help but think if they really had the ability to brainwash people, wouldn't they put it to a better use than deciding the winner of a reality TV show?

every series has been criticized(bb7 had a large amount of twists compared to previous series at the time.) Love looking at these old articles though, they make me feel nostalgic...

It's all about retrospect. Every series gets slated whilst airing but they regain their status as time goes on generally. I remember BB5 and BB6 (as a lurker) getting destroyed on here. But now they are regarded classic.

I do feel CBB13 actually got a good reaction whilst airing which is rare and is still considered by many as up there as one of the best.

BB7 was when the show got extended to 13 weeks necessitating the extra housemates.

It was a bad move.

I agree with PEJ in that series 3, 5, 7 and 11 were particularly well produced.

Not for me it wasn't. The bullying of Shabaz cast a dark shadow over the rest of the series for me.

I thought series 5 and 6 were the best.

The difference may be that then they had the basis of a self sustaining story built into the BB7 casting, but then threw a PC Fairy tale with no truth behind it, and a who is coming back story, on top, in as well . They ended up ending one set of stories abruptly. starting some duller ones, adding an incredible romance, and finally bringing back the original HM - to finish the stories they had collapsed months before . Therafter , its debateable which series had potential stories that could have lasted, or were just cast to quickly evict the more unusual contestants, and provide extras to play in the daily stories written by producers.