Big Brother legend Hughie Maughan has said that influencers are 'far from wealthy' and should be allowed to go on the reality TV show.
The series will return to UK television in 2023. A new cast of carefully selected housemates, from all walks of life, will take up residence in the world’s most famous reality TV home for up to six weeks, with cameras capturing their every move, and the nation following every twist and turn.
Hughie, who is from Dublin, was on series 17 of the Channel 5 show when he was just 21-years-old and he thanked Big Brother for changing his life. He believes that the show should be open to everyone, despite comments being made on social media about not allowing influencers.
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He told Dublin Live: “I’m so, so happy it’s back. I really hope they bring the celebrity one back too, it was iconic. Big Brother returning is the renaissance of reality TV. It’s fantastic, I watched all of them and enjoyed them.
“Lots of people are hoping that ITV brings BB back to its Channel 4 days, the 2002 days but that’s not possible. The world has changed, society has changed, television has changed.
“People are saying not to let wannabe TikTokers in or anyone with lots of followers on social media. Just because someone has 100k followers doesn’t mean that they’re not real people and they’re not relatable. They’re probably still working in a shop, followers doesn’t mean that you’re wealthy. I’ve done plenty of TV shows and have followers, I’m far from wealthy.”
Hughie believes that the new series might be more PC than Channel 5 and Channel 4. In his opinion, it’ll be very commercialised because it’ll be made for a new audience.
He said: “Contestants will be pretty and glamorous. That’s not the original Big Brother. It’ll be made for a new audience, they’ll be Instagram and TikTok worthy. I think it will be highly successful. The smoking area was a great place on Big Brother. If they don’t have it, it will take away a part of the original show. You have the chats there, talking rubbish.
“TV now is absolutely ridiculous. How people look now on TV is completely perfect make-up, perfect clothes. Everything they say is constructed in some way, a lot of it is set up. What they talk about and the subject matter is down to producers, it never used to be like that. It ruins what it used to be.”
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But Hughie thinks that the return of Big Brother will be a good thing and that people will want to tune in if they see it on social media. Here’s his tips for those wanting to audition.
He said: “My audition was very original. I was very passionate about being a housemate, it wasn’t about being on TV or gaining followers. In 2016, social media was growing, there wasn’t any TikTok but Snapchat and Instagram were blowing up. I remember Kylie Jenner’s filters on Snapchat was a discussion in the house.
“I really wanted the experience, I wanted to see what it was like to be on Big Brother. I showed off that side of me. I told them how I’d react to certain situations from past seasons, I was my own little producer. Be original and be yourself and say why you want to be on the show.
“I spoke about who I was, being a traveller, being gay, my life, my personality, where I grew up. I felt like I'd be a good representor. Speak about who you are. Be fun, be yourself, be vibrant and enjoy the audition experience. Stand out from the crowd and be clever about it.”
When it comes to hosting the show, Hughie wants something fresh. He really hopes that the best person gets the job rather than trying to mimic previous hosts or give it to someone who is already successful in ITV.
“The best host should get the job. I don’t care if they’re black, white, trans, straight, gay, Chinese,” he added. “I’d love to see AJ Odudu, she hosted Bit on the Side with Rylan years ago. She looks like a supermodel. I think she’d give something different, I’d love to see her on a mainstream show.
“I’d love to see Rylan do it either, I think he’s so passionate about the job and he’s watched every series, he knows it all. A lot of people are saying that Davina needs to come back but really they’re just thinking of the original Big Brother and times are different now. Emma was a great host, but I’d love to see a new flavour.”
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