“Big Brother is watching you” is a phrase that predates the reality show itself, originating in George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
With ITV’s latest series set to begin on Sunday, the show’s producers appear to have embraced those surveillance-inspired roots, giving the house a strikingly colourful makeover dominated by watchful eyes.
I was given an early look inside the revamped house, just days before a new group of housemates arrive. The first impressions are unmistakable: the scent of fresh paint and a sea of oversized eyeballs covering almost every available surface.
As with this year’s celebrity edition, the house feels more enclosed than it did in 2024. Bright lights and bold colours dominate the space, leaving housemates with precious little opportunity to escape the spectacle or enjoy genuine privacy.
The upcoming run will be Big Brother’s longest since ITV brought it back in 2023, with contestants expected to spend as many as seven weeks cut off from the outside world.
After several hours exploring the property, one major question remains unanswered: precisely how many housemates will pass through the doors on launch night?
Before Sunday’s Big Brother launch, I was given a first look at the brand-new house after its bold and colourful transformation
A wall of eyes greets visitors throughout the house, with shelves, tables and even the entrance corridor covered from every angle
Previous series have featured 16 contestants, but the changing number of beds and chairs scattered around the house suggests the line-up may be smaller this time when hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best welcome the cast.
The eyes are impossible to miss. They appear on shelves and tables throughout the house, while the entrance corridor has been decorated to ensure housemates are watched from the moment they arrive.
There are already at least 90 cameras monitoring every move—this is Big Brother, after all—but the repeated presence of the eyes creates an even stronger sense of being observed.
Even the dining table features 25 eyeballs, marking the show’s anniversary. How much time the table sees in use, however, will depend on the outcome of the famous weekly shopping tasks.
Producers have strongly suggested that the eyes will play an important role in the launch episode, making the show’s 25th year feel more watchful than ever.
The intense lighting adds to the effect. Sunglasses are banned indoors, which could make the housemates’ first morning particularly harsh when Big Brother’s familiar alarm finally sounds.
The teal-and-pink bedroom contains three double beds, meaning several contestants will have to become comfortable sharing their sleeping space almost immediately.
Could the close quarters provide the ingredients for another unexpected Big Brother romance? We will have to wait and see.
At least 90 cameras will track the housemates’ movements, but the countless decorative eyes make the feeling of surveillance even more intense
ALSO READ: Trump Laid a Sinister Trap for Fox News, Ex-Anchor Says
The kitchen includes all the expected mod cons, but the amount of food available will depend on the housemates’ performance in the weekly shopping tasks
With bright lights throughout the house and sunglasses prohibited indoors, waking up could be an uncomfortable experience for the contestants
The bedroom is decorated in teal and pink and contains three double beds, forcing some housemates to share from the outset
Rather than the white marble often seen in modern bathrooms, this space uses a vivid primary-colour scheme
The garden provides a small break and some fresh air, although cameras still surround the outdoor seating and hot tub
Returning from the celebrity series, the snug offers a spot for private gossip—but discussing nominations could bring punishment
The Diary Room remains a fan favourite, with a rounder, firmer chair this year and the ever-present eyes continuing to watch
After a series expected to be packed with twists, viewers will discover which housemate leaves after seven weeks to claim the £100,000 prize
The bathroom is a long way from the soothing white-marble look that has become common in modern homes. Instead, it is filled with primary colours—an especially unforgiving sight for anyone awake at 3am.
The garden offers a modest escape and a welcome breath of fresh air, but even outside the housemates will not be able to forget their surroundings. Cameras remain trained on the outdoor sofa.
The snug, which returned for the celebrity series, is also back. It gives contestants somewhere to retreat for a whispered conversation, although talking about nominations could put them at risk of punishment.
The hot tub has returned too, raising the question of whether it will become the setting for another memorable romance.
For many Big Brother viewers, the Diary Room is the most anticipated space in the house. This year’s chair is noticeably rounder and firmer, although the decorative eyes remain a constant presence.
Even so, speaking to Big Brother himself was an unforgettable experience—and a surreal one for someone who has followed the programme for 20 years.
After leaving the house, I could appreciate just how difficult it will be for the contestants to spend up to 47 days separated from the outside world.
With producers promising a run filled with twists, viewers will be eager to see which housemate joins former winners Jordan Sangha and Ali Bromley in the show’s coveted winners’ club.
Big Brother returns tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
