Big Brother House Gets Orwellian Makeover Ahead of ITV Return

ITV's Big Brother returns with its biggest launch yet, unveiling an Orwellian makeover that leans into the show’s long-running gaze of surveillance. The house, shown to reporters days before Sunday’s premiere, greets entrants with the scent of fresh paint and a sea of eyeballs filling every shelf, table, and corner of the entrance corridor.

Design choices aim to heighten surveillance and a sense of claustrophobic visibility. The house is awash in bright lights, with sunglasses banned indoors, and the eyeball motif repeats across surfaces from shelves to the entrance. Production notes estimate at least 90 cameras will monitor housemates around the clock as the program marks its 25th year. A dining table covered with 25 eyeballs nods to the anniversary and the show’s tradition of watching over every move.

Inside, the kitchen retains the usual modern conveniences, but the timing of meals will hinge on weekly shopping tasks. The sleeping quarters use teal and pink tones and feature three double beds, signaling that some housemates will have to share closely. The bathroom departs from the pristine white marble seen in recent seasons, instead embracing bold primary colors that could feel jarring in the small hours.

Outside, the garden offers a brief respite and a chance for fresh air, though outdoor space remains under constant observation as cameras track activity around the hot tub and outdoor seating. The snug—a back room for whispered gossip—returns with the risk of punishment for discussing nominations. The Diary Room comes back with a rounded, firmer seat, and the eyes remain a constant presence as twists unfold.

Fans will watch to see which housemate greets hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best after seven weeks, and who will emerge from the experience with the £100,000 prize. The series is described as potentially the most twist-filled run yet, leveraging the familiar elements of nominations, shopping tasks, and public interest while delivering a bold new visual statement centered on the human gaze.

ITV has signaled that this edition could be the longest run since the show was revived in 2023, with housemates spending up to seven weeks locked away from the outside world. The premiere is scheduled for Sunday at 9 p.m. on ITV2 and ITVX, with anticipation high as the network leans into a 25th-year celebration.

Beyond the production design, the program’s broader arc remains focused on discovering which contestant will join past winners Jordan Sangha and Ali Bromley in the show’s winners’ club. As the crowd tunes in, producers aim to balance familiar competition dynamics with fresh, twist-led storylines, hoping to captivate longtime fans and a newer audience alike.

The return to form comes as the reality landscape continues to evolve, with audiences increasingly drawn to the immediacy of live feeds, interactive tasks, and the social footprint created by contestants’ time inside the house. Big Brother’s new look, characterized by the omnipresent eyes and bright, saturated environments, underscores the show’s ongoing effort to redefine the relationship between contestants and spectators while preserving the core elements that have kept the format in the public eye for decades.