Big Brother Naija has had eight seasons across 17 years. The first edition, Big Brother Nigeria, was in 2006 before an 11-year hiatus that ended with the emergence of Big Brother Naija (See Gobbe) in 2017. Since then, the show has aired yearly, creating new classes of influencers, actors, business people, and media personalities. Almost everything it touches turns to gold, and all the ex-housemates lives never remain the same.
As Adekunle Olopade succinctly stated a few days ago on the All-Stars season currently airing, the best thing is that they don’t need CVs anymore, at least in the entertainment industry. When people mention their names, it carries some weight based on what gifts they displayed on the show during their 70 to 90 days in the house. With this sort of impact, it only makes sense that MultiChoice Nigeria, the show’s organisers, will decide to show off some of the biggest and brightest talents from the last six years in an All-Stars season.
When the company announced that this year’s show would feature only ex-housemates, fans were excited. From the moment they held the media announcement on July 14 to the day the show premiered on July 23, 2023, #BBNaijaAllStars gathered 2.1B impressions from 301.6K posts, according to Keyhole. Fans spent the nine days between trending the names of their all-time favourites and trying to predict who would make Biggie’s 20-housemate cut and return to the Biggieverse.
MultiChoice Nigeria spent N3.5 billion producing the show in 2020, N4.3 billion in 2021, and N4.7 billion in 2022. Most expenses cover the cost of production, house design, personnel, logistics, winner prizes, and the talents (housemates), among other spends. However, its biggest point has been in people development, employing over 7,000 people (directly and indirectly) annually, from the planning stage to the end of each season. It has become Nigerian entertainment’s biggest show and investment and Africa’s most loved reality show that keeps the entire continent spellbound for its duration.
Still, MultiChoice’s relationship with the housemates doesn’t just end after their time in the show. The media company keeps tabs on the housemates, monitors their progress, and creates opportunities for them to shine. From ex-stars like Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the show’s current host, to Bisola Aiyeola, Mike Edwards, Mercy Eke, Sir Dee, Maria Chike-Benjamin, Venita Akpofure, Avala, Doyin Davids, Adekunle Olopade, Beauty, and more; they continue to work with their created stars for as long as they are willing.
So, it’s unsurprising that the show’s organisers were excited to bring back some of the fans’ favourite faces over the years for another run in the Biggieverse. On one hand, the talents get a chance to renew their superstar cards and reconnect with their fandoms. On the other hand, MultiChoice gets to show off the lives they’ve successfully changed over the last six years.
It proves that the anti-show comments that belabour the idea that BBNaija doesn’t add value to society are false. Bringing back some of the biggest names the show has ever created and highlighting their abilities and talents over 70 days in the house allows Big Brother to show what he has done and how much the housemates, across six seasons, have grown since their first run in the Biggieverse.
Everyone is a winner this season – the organizers, the housemates (those in the house and outside), and the fans. MultiChoice Nigeria gets to show off subtly, and the housemates internally have become even better-certified superstars. Meanwhile, housemates who didn’t return to the Biggieverse have also enjoyed the buzz, plugging into the conversations via social media comments, interviews, or being a part of the jury system. Names like Vee, Bisola Aiyeola, Laycon, Saskay, Tacha, Mike Edwards, Diana, Teddy-A, Elozonam, and Dorathy, amongst others, come to mind. The fans also benefit by getting what has proven to be a season of premium entertainment, with no dull moments since Day 1.
Every year, Big Brother Naija records increasing audition entries. The numbers are unsurprising as the last BBNaija report in 2021 records that at least 53% of respondents believe that BBNaija is a more reliable route to success than a university degree, while 75% of ex-housemates say the show helped them achieve some of their life goals. Fans and BBNaija commentators can expect the audition numbers to shoot up next year when Big Brother announces the ninth edition and for the opportunity to get a chance in the Biggieverse to become harder. Only the most exceptional people, regardless of backgrounds, will likely make it into another season of premium entertainment.
At the moment, aspiring housemates can continue to get tips from the experts by watching the BBNaija All-Stars season via the 24/7 live channels on DStv ch. 198 and GOtv ch. 49. For more information about the show and programming, visit https://www.dstv.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/big-brother-naija. Moniepoint Nigeria is the headline sponsor for the BBNaija All-Stars Edition, and HFM – a forex and commodities broker, is the associate sponsor.