17 November 2023 , 20:00
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ITV rebooted Big Brother after five years off-screen, but a former show star says the hotly anticipated return got off to a sluggish "slow start".
Dragging the iconic show into the modern era after its initial launch all the way back in 2000 on Channel 4, this year's Big Brother saw another round of civilians take part in the legendary social experiment TV programme. Now one previous housemate tells The Mirror his thoughts on ITV's efforts after being crowned the youngest-ever winner.
Cameron Cole was just a teenager when he won Big Brother all the way back in 2018. He watched as his favourite TV show 'wrapped for good' after his big win, returning to life away from the spotlight as he became a full-time student in London, moving miles away from his home in Norwich. While largely positive about ITV's reboot of his beloved Big Brother, Cameron tells us his thoughts as he criticises some of its brand-new format.
Big Brother was axed after its last series on Channel 5 in 2018 (ITV)From a packed train station in the capital, Cameron tells The Mirror: "My overall thoughts of this series, I've really enjoyed it. I think it got off to a slow start in the first couple of weeks. I think the casting has been fantastic, although I'd like to see more older housemates in any upcoming seasons, I think the age range could be better."
Now in his early 20s, continuing his studies Goldsmiths University and living with his boyfriend after famously coming out as gay in the Big Brother House, Cameron slammed viewers for voting out "big characters" during this year's series. He added: "I wish the British public wouldn't vote out all the big characters as early on as they seem to do, but that's been a common theme since the Channel 4 and Channel 5 days.
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"They seem to evict bigger characters over quieter ones. I think this year's tasks have been really well put together, although I do think there's a few too many tasks, I'd like to see less tasks and more, kind of, letting housemates be bored, let them talk to see a bit more of that side of things, or at least have tasks that have real meaning and real importance, rather than just for parties and rewards."
Weighing in on brand-new hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best, Cameron says they've got "better and better" but he wasn't a fan of how the presenters carried out some elements of the show. "I think AJ and Will have really grown into the series, as it's gone on they've got better and better with every episode and every eviction."
He added: "I would have liked the eviction interviews to be on the normal main show, not on Late and Live. I'd like to see more segments on Late and Live, perhaps utilising Big Brother past, ex-housemates from the Channel 4 days. I think including more of them will give you more insightfulness on the panel, even if its celebrities that have done Big Brother before, just getting some people that have been in there."
Cameron was crowned the youngest ever winner (James Shaw/REX/Shutterstock)It's the same criticism as Mirror columnist and Big Brother legend Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace who was calling for more previous show stars to be on ITV spin-off Late and Live. Cameron added: "For a first season on a new channel I think it's been really successful, I've been gripped, I've been wanting to watch every single episode, it's great to have the live feed back, albeit I wish it was a little bit longer, but yeah I think it's been a really good series, slightly slow but once it's got going it's been great. I'm looking forward to the series next year.
"It's great to have Big Brother back on our screens, it feels different to Channel 5, it feels new and fresh, but it needs to be. Big Brother needs to be different in 2023, I think they've got that right balance and hopefully that'll continue, hopefully with a longer series next time, stick them in for eight weeks."