Big Brother UK 2018 - Finale - Goodbye Channel 5

For the final time, at least on Five anyway, welcome citizens of Big Brother world

The end is finally here on Five, and all they can give us is 75 minutes. Yes, only 75 minutes. Screw you Frow and Five, you will sink like a stone once you are relieved of the show that has brought you your highest ratings.

Shall we get started? Straight away a montage plays of all 18 years of the show. Surely this doesn't mean THE end, although Netflix does feel like the final hope as the terrestrial channels won't touch it.

Cut to Emma, and she is already very emotional and who can blame her. I know a lot of people give her a hard time on this show, but this is genuine raw emotion from her. I dare anyone to say she is not a genuine fan, and I am pleased she made it right to the end of this era as given how far Frow and Five have dragged this show into the gutter, I would not have blamed her if she had quit.

Definitely one thing I won't miss in a million years is that whoop whoop which found its way into this era of the show. Back to this final show, and Emma makes her way along the set saying who knows what the future holds for the show, and someone I know on Twitter shouts 'NETFLIX' to which Emma laughs and points at. She then throws some shade at certain people in regards to the time of the show (Five and Frow)

3rd and 4th place

And finishing in 4th place is CIAN, and 3rd place and bronze medal goes to ZOE. Emma announces they will be leaving together. That was a genuine surprise about Cian finishing fourth, but Zoe should never have got this far let alone finish 3rd. Anyways it's a bit unfair they have to share each others interviews and best bits, bear in mind it's the scheduling and the number of craps certain people higher up give about this show. Hence this rushed feeling for the show.

Bit of controversy in Zoe's interview as something got lost in translation and people interpreted it her being able to Facetime her son, to which she has denied. Not much of note for their interviews, as much of it was Zoe talking about bobble hats, periods and giggling a lot. Emma then drops the bombshell on them that it is the last series (at least on this channel). Thanks Emma, just make us feel a bit more sad why don't you.

A step closer to crowning the final Five champion, but first time for some series highlights and I will put it on record that I have enjoyed this series, granted there were a few little bumps near the end and we know who is going to win, as he has had a really big push since his chum got kicked out, other than that....If only the show was allowed to be like this series, obviously apart from knowing who is going to win, but NO Five HAD to interfere to try and appeal to the demographic that only like the constant fighting which basically sunk the show in the end

It's all there from Ellis's removal, Anamememelia and her mememe tirades, and all the way through to Lewis's removal and the final 4 being revealed. Overall a really good final package for the final series of this era. The ex housemates are then rolled out, and as always Lewis G still doesn't know how to put a shirt on. Hussain wants Akeem to win, as does Isabella. Kenaley, Zoe, Sian, Kay and Anamememelia are skipped over, and Emma goes straight to Tomasz. Can't skip over their favourite housemate could they. Seriously though to be fair it's that thing called time and scheduling yet again.

Here we go, can't think who is going to win this.....

Final 2

And voila, CAMERON wins and Akeem is runner up. Obviously Akeem is coming out first, before Cameron gets yet another moment. If he hasn't had enough already inside and outside the house, if you have seen his videos and Twitter. Not going to link them as they are not very nice. 

In my opinion, Akeem put 1000% into this show and he did get a lot of heat from housemates and social media alike for being 'fake. For me he was just being himself. I particularly loved it when his dog went in, that would have set me off no end if I was in there and Mitts (RIP) had gone in, hell even new arrival Lenny.

For the final time Emma goes to the house, and here comes Cameron. Thought this would be the last time we would hear Marcus, but he does make one last appearance on the final ever BOTS. Before Emma calls the final break, Cameron's dad makes his way on screen and is heard saying 'Do you know what you have done'. Let's just say I am disappointed with the result, and a flat moment to end the Five era on. But hey ho, the history books will show Cameron has won.

Obviously most of the focus of Cameron's interview was his coming out, and his supposed journey all the way through this series. Think I will skip over it as most of his coming out and his journey has already been covered, and of course he is told about this being the last series on this channel.

All that remains is Emma saying all her thank you's to presenters past and present, the crew and every single housemates. The crowd start chanting for Emma, and like at the start she starts crying as she says it is time for the house to find a new home, to which someone else I know on Twitter screams NETFLIX. The final montage starts playing and in one more throwback to the past, we get the echoey voices throughout the house. 

And that's it, THE END at least for now hopefully. A not so fond farewell to Five in my opinion

Final thoughts

And these are the FINAL thoughts for now as far as the UK version. In fact here is something I wrote earlier on the Digital Spy forum and then posted to Twitter, which sums everything up

To be sung like Bring Me Sunshine

Brought us sunshine and lots of smiles

Brought us laughter and many tears

In this world of BB

They brought so much happiness

So much joy to be had with the episodes that followed

Made us happy through the years

Also brought us many tears

The show must go on

If it has to go online

Bring us fun, bring us sunshine, bring us hope

Thank you Emma, Rylan too

Thank you Marcus, Davina too

In this world of BB

We will never give up hope

Bring the show back

Don't be long

Bring us hope

Hopefully bring on Netflix in the future, but please just let the show have time to rest and restructure.

That being said, I just want to thank everyone who's taken the time to read my posts and left likes, comments, shares and retweets, and for one more time in 2018 and indeed for one last time for now for the UK version, keep those RT's, likes, shares and comments coming.

If you missed Big Brother Radio's show, that can be located right here and also BB on Blast's penultimate UK show can be found right here

2023 edit, check out BB on Blast's interview with 2018 winner Cameron right here

And even though this particular blog will be closed until February, please show the other links on the right some love and check them out for any news about USA and Canada and also if the UK version gets a home. Here's to hoping eh? Well one can dream. Personally I do think it will be back, and probably on Netflix.

And so, my viewers, that is it for 2018 and a very good year for the franchise I have to say. USA was much better this year, along with Canada and the UK. The UK version will be missed by yours truly, but Big Brother from The Batcave will get back to you. A nice little break now, as we move towards the holiday season with great speed, a nice rest and recharge to enjoy all that and then it's all systems go for 2019.

So until February and Celebrity Big Brother USA, stay frosty, keep on rocking and #savebbuk....

Big Brother UK 2018 - Episode 44 - A time for remembering

And for the penultimate time in the Five era, welcome Big Brother chums and it's all systems go as Sian and Brooke leave in a double eviction, and there's a Last Supper and speeches to be had along with some awards presented by some familiar faces. Don't worry they are not actually going in the house, just appearing on the plasma

That being said, let's get this final highlights episode underway as we pick up the action on the eve of Sian and Brooke's departure, and there's lots of talk about the incoming eviction.

Have to say I am so happy we have had a relatively happy final week, as opposed to the usual miserable final week when ex housemates with a grudge got flung back in there and/or Big Brother would deliberately stir the pot and make them thoroughly miserable before they leave.

Saying that, I will be so happy when the show is finally concluded on this channel and it's far away from Five as humanely possible, and on a channel which will give it time to breathe and more importantly try to restore a lot of things Five took away when they got their grubby hands on it.

Back on topic, and in regards to that task Brooke alluded to in her interview with Emma. Well here it is, and it's basically pass the parcel which she wins and wins the right to exchange her coins for real cash, which obviously she received during her interview.

Fast forward now to Brooke and Sian's departures, won't go into too much detail as they have been covered pretty much in the previous post. Needless to say, there are tears all round especially from Zoe. Wish Zoe had gone on Friday, as she's just been so dam miserable, and that Sian had stayed. But that is the way the icecube crumbles, so to speak.

Big Brother breaks out the champagne for the finalists, and for the last time in this era say 'well done finalists'. Remember though they don't actually know it is the final series, as they have been in lockdown so wouldn't have found out. 

And so onto the final Saturday we go, and we are down to four....

Zoe very lucky to still be there, but that is just my opinion. Lots of happiness in the house understandably, but a lot of sadness from the real fans as the end is near.

Next up, the final 4 are shown their audition VT's which raises a lot of laughs and a lot of cringing in there. Oh boy, Cameron is really sugaring himself, hoping his less pleasant videos on Youtube do not get shown. Won't provide links to those videos as they are pretty unpleasant, and all the more reason why he shouldn't win.

Back to this episode as I am rambling too much at the moment, and it's time for the Big Brother awards as voted for by the viewers.....

Categories and winners:

Best Supporting Role - Zoe's dressing gown

Best Original Score - Tomasz

Most Dramatic Performance - Kenaley

Sexiest Performance - Tomasz

Big Brother Genius - Akeem

An ominous reminder from Marcus before the last part of this penultimate episode, 'it's very nearly all over'

On to the FINAL Last Supper, a nice blast from the past. *sigh* Only now it's sinking in it's the end for the show again, as the final 4 make their final speeches. I do hope once the final is concluded we will see the lights go out one last time with the ghostly voices. I remember fondly when we had the live feed back in the day, and some of us forumers would watch the winner go out on the live feed and look at the empty house before they turned the cameras off, knowing the long road had begun to either January or the summer. Bit odd I know, but back in those days we were so invested with live feed, something which has sadly lacked in this era as apparently it's too expensive.

And so ends the penultimate ever episode on Five, one more to go and that is of course the finale where either Cameron, Akeem, Cian or Zoe will be crowned winner

Final thoughts

What's left to be said, except a great big thank you to everyone who has read, liked, shared, commented and retweeted my posts. Has been an absolute blast writing up these for everyone to look back, and after the finale recap is written up, then that's it for 2018. But never fear, the Batcave will be back open for business when USA and Canada return in 2019. As for the finale, hoping Akeem will win, but to be frank it's going to take a miracle to stop Cameron winning in my opinion. Good luck Akeem, let's hope common sense wins out and the relentless pushing for Cameron comes to nothing.

Big Brother Radio will be on the air after the finale has concluded, and come and join in the fun if you wish right here.

If you missed BB on Blast's penultimate podcast for UK, click right here and if you listen right to the end, listen to the final email that's read out

Don't forget to check out the other links on the right, as we prepare for the last waltz on Five with the UK version and we count down to 2019 for Canada and USA

Rambled on so much in this post, and will say now with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye....Thank you so much Big Brother. We've had laughter, we've had tears, and downright outrage with some of the people who have won the show in this era. Five tried so hard to ruin the show most of us love, but they couldn't break our spirits in the end and we will not go quietly into the night while there is breath left in the old girl known as Big Brother.

To all housemates, good or bad in the Five era, presenters and crew from 2011 to 2018, here's to you all. 

Hopefully onwards and upwards to Netflix, here's to hoping eh? Until the final time we meet, at least on Five, stay frosty, keep on rocking and #savebbuk....

Big Brother UK 2018 - Episode 43 - And then there were four...

Good day citizens, and welcome to the last ever double eviction in the Five era. Every housemate for themselves as nobody is safe. It's time to rumble, folks. Who went, YOU decided.

For the penultimate time, whoop whoop. That's one thing I won't miss after the finale has concluded, hopefully the slate will be wiped clean if the show is picked up on Netflix.

Emma welcomes us in, and gives us the rundown of the last few days before she runs through the numbers for who is left. The mob outside being as welcoming as ever by booing every housemate left in there, another thing I won't miss. Some of these people only turn up to boo, surely there must be more to their lives than booing someone. Hey ho after the finale, they will have to go elsewhere and I think the X Factor will be picking up some of those waifs and strays.

Anyways, it's time for the next and penultimate round of highlights as the clock ticks down to two of them coming out

We pick up the action with the lights coming on for the new day, and various shots of housemates waking up, making tea, showering and so on. Just the usual morning routine all round really. Cian says he will leave with his head held high if he does leave. Another joeky argument between Cameron, the new golden boy, and Akeem about food. 

One of Zoe's bobble hats has been wrecked after it has been in the washing machine. She has plenty more in her possession, so not much cause for concern. Brooke says where the airtime goes, Akeem follows. At least he's done things in there, Brooke, unlike you.

Sian says she would be happy to get to the final, and has a certain dress she wants to wear if she survives this eviction. Wouldn't be disappointed if she got to the final, and I will say I have been a little harsh on her as she has been somewhat drowned out by the louder personalities in there. She's done very well to get this far.

Wendy the washing machine

Speaking of Sian, she is given a secret task to collect some of the dirty laundry, but will need a partner in 'grime'. She is instructed to recruit Brooke, without Brooke getting suspicious. Mission successful, now for the second part. Wendy wants Zoe and Cameron's dirty robes, and Akeem's Christmas T-shirt along with some of Cian's dirty underwear. If they are successful, then Brooke and Sian will get a kebab each as a reward. Nobody must find out and they are given 30 minutes to accomplish this task.

Zoe is wondering where her gown has gone, little does she know it's not a million miles away. Meanwhile, Wendy gets Brooke and Sian into a singalong, while they tuck into their kebabs and cans of cider, and tests them with a 'quick someone's coming'. Nice to see Wendy back one last time, this gimmick has been quite amusing this year.

Zoe now keeps popping back in and out of the storeroom as she gets increasingly suspicious about where her gown has gone.

Fast forward now to spin the bottle, yes that original game that always ends well. Lots of predicting ensues to see who will finish 6th to 1st. Unsurprisingly the bottle ends up on Cameron in terms of the winner. Nothing sinister, as there is no way to tamper with a bottle. A lot of people are hoping Cameron won't win, won't go into details as in why as we'd be here forever.

Zoe does a lengthy monologue which includes saying she doesn't want to go. You can't stay in there forever, Zoe, you have to come out of there sometime.

Back to Emma, and next up is the finalists friends and family apart from Akeem's as they are on holiday. Fast forward time again.....

Eviction #1

After a talk with Rylan in the BOTS studio, it's off to the house and finishing in 6th place is BROOKE. A real marmite character as some liked her and others didn't, and what we find out is that she did a little task and her big coins got turned to real cash which comes to a total of £1,732. This task will be shown somewhat in the last ever round of highlights in the next episode.

Eviction #2

Back to the house, and lots of screaming can be heard from the mob outside. Shut them up please!!!!

The housemates are told to stand up, each one will be called out as safe or indeed evicted. Cian is safe, Zoe is safe, Cameron is safe....Finishing in 5th place is SIAN, and Akeem is safe.

A smattering of boos for Sian from some of the idiots outside....Seriously what has she done, she's been so inoffensive in there

Emma points out how happy Sian is about being evicted. So what? It's her moment,.let her enjoy it no matter how brief it is. She and Brooke at least get a moment on BOTS to enjoy themselves instead of a rushed interview on finale night and become an after thought. Sian wants Cameron to win, no great shock.

And that's it for the final ever double eviction on Five, onwards and upwards to Episode 44 and the last full highlights show before the shortened finale. Yes shortened, Five can't even give the show a proper send off. That's what Frow and Five think of this show, they will probably break out the bubbly once the curtain has dropped.

Final thoughts

So the final four will be Akeem, Cameron, Cian and Zoe. Not the ideal final 4, swap Zoe with Sian and that would my final 4. Zoe has been nothing but a grump these last few days, who on earth is voting for her. Seriously. Nothing against her personally, but she is so dam false.

Anyways, thanks for reading this post. The end is in sight, and only two more posts to come after tonight and then its goodbye to the UK version at least for now. Have a feeling it will be back, but on what channel or service, Endemol will decide.

This blog will return in 2019 for Canada and the two USA series, and check out the links on the right to keep up to date with information regarding the UK show's future and any breaking details about the upcoming USA and Canada series.

BB on Blast have dropped a new podcast, and can be listened to right here and if you missed the interview with BB Canada's boss lady as in Arisa, click right here

Big Brother Radio will be on the air straight after the finale, and they can be found right here. Who knows you may hear a familiar voice as in yours truly, stay tuned.

In the meantime, follow me on Twitter at richiew4ever

Until next time, stay frosty, keep on rocking and #savebbuk....

Big Brother UK 2018 - Episode 42 - Kim, Josie and Nikki too

The end gets ever closer on Five, as the final full week is almost at an end and this episode sees the return of some old faces as they make their final returns to the house

Big Brother in a crabby mood as the lights go on, and who can blame them. Constant rule breaks, and some removals thrown in for good measure in this series.

If only Big Brother had some of this personality in previous years, then maybe the housemates would not have walked all over them. One can only imagine what if......

If only our show had someone like the voice of Big Brother Australia who took no prisoners, that would have been great to see them squirming. Pointless fact, did you know in Big Brother Australia the housemates even got told off for not sitting on the Diary Room straight and calling Big Brother 'mate'.

Cameron is confused as to what is going on, he's about to find out much to his delight. Although some may not agree with what is about to happen as in when Nikki gets in there and speaks to them.

I remember from Celebrity Hijack when a fan took the reins even if it was only brief, myself personally I would have loved to have done a house tour or had a go talking to the housemates

And so the hijacks begin starting with.....

Kim Woodburn

Her bad tempered voice echoes around the house, and she summons them to the dining area to bark out orders to get them cleaning the house from top to bottom. I just don't get the adulation for Kim, as she was a bad tempered so and so in her series. Answers on a postcard please. A short while later, she wonders where Akeem is and summons him to the Diary Room. She starts screaming at him for his lack of effort in cleaning the house. Akeem is thankfully very patient with her highness. Cameron, of course, earns her praise. No shock there.

Brooke next in the Diary Room where she is asked how she thinks she is doing. Kim tells her that she didn't get a letter from her husband when she was in there, and then tells Brooke she is a good girl and to keep up the good work.

And now it's.....

Josie Gibson

One of the worst winners ever, as she was handed the win on a silver plate in a very disastrous 4 out eviction where all of her main competition was dispatched in one night, leaving her with very little competition for the last 3 days. How did she repay those people who voted her to win? She scarpered from Ultimate Big Brother when the celebs called out her showmance with John James. Back from the tangent, she asks Cian about his chances of winning. Cian is gushing about how hilarious Josie is. Should have seen her in her series, Cian, she was far from hilarious. 

Josie then proceeds to pair up the housemates who know each other the least, she picks:

Sian and Zoe

Brooke and Akeem

Cian and Cameron

All to win a bottle of bubbly. Let me guess they will pass and get the bubbly. Oh look at that, the answer is affirmative.

And the final hijack is....

Nikki Grahame

The perennial returnee who actually goes into the house, and proceeds to tell them all about how they are being perceived on the outside. Don't encourage her, Akeem, please. There's only a few days left, but I suppose it is too much to ask Nikki to follow simple instructions, and she herself says stuff it and proceeds to run her mouth. 

She then does the rounds individually telling even more outside stuff, and says how she is honoured about Cameron saying she is his favourite ever, even though he didn't. Eventually Big Brother pipes up saying they are back in charge and tells Nikki to say her goodbyes. Thank goodness, she has revealed more than enough. Off you go, Nikki, and see you around if Big Brother finds a new home. Who knows, maybe you will finally get your win if the show comes back, and you can disappear into the sunset.

Before she goes, she thanks Big Brother for changing her life for the better. Ok, fair do's it did given all her appearances on these shores over the years and her stint on Big Brother Canada even though she didn't have a clue about the North American format

See how quick they change their attitude when outside info goes in, I know some will say there is only a few days left but they shouldn't get ANYTHING from the outside until they actually leave.

I'll leave it there for this episode, to be continued in Episode 43 and a double eviction

Final thoughts

What's there to be said, apart from thumbs down for the outside information. People are entitled to like whoever they wish, remember that. Not a big fan of the 3 that actually went back in, Nikki was expected though as she has become a staple of the show. A step closer to the end we go, and in the next episode Wendy the washing machine returns, one of the many good things about this year

Prediction to go - Zoe and Brooke, although it will probably be Sian and Brooke

Thanks for reading this post, and please keep the RT's, likes, comments and shares coming for these last few episodes

BB on Blast will be dropping a new podcast shortly, and if you missed their interview with Arisa click right here

Please show love to the other links on the right as well, where there is shedloads of information for UK, USA and Canada. USA and Canada will be covered in 2019.

Follow me on Twitter at richiew4ever

Until the next time, stay frosty, keep on rocking and #savebbuk

Big Brother UK 2018 - Episode 41 - Nightmare on Elstree

Greetings citizens, and hope everyone had a nice Halloween. 4 days left of the show in the Five era, yes goodbye Five in a few days and hopefully hello Netflix after a little rest and restructuring for the show.

Back to this particular episode and it's a spooktacular episode, although Cameron does overdo things a bit. Not bashing Cameron of course, but the guy is just a miserable so and so whatever happens and this is the guy that's the hot favourite to win now his chum Lewis has been removed.

It's close to Big Brother time, and boy do they have a day planned for the final 6, so sit back and read this recap of this thriller of an episode

And off we go for the last ever (for now) shopping task, wonder if they will pass....Gut instinct says yes as it's the final full week

Housemates are woken up to the Ghostbusters theme, and may I say an excellent set design and a very apt theme to start the episode. Akeem wakes up to find all the food gone, and thinks they are on basic rations, how little they know about Cian and Cameron hiding it. It is eventually discovered, and now we move on to the main event for the evening....

As usual it's a fixed number of passes sealed in an envelope and they have to collect more sweets than what total is in said envelope, think you get the picture by now. Throughout the day, there will be tasks, obviously scary tasks, and so forth to collect sweets.

First up, it's Sian and Akeem in the Hellstree House. Meals will be served on each bell and sweets must be collected. First bell and it's a pigs head with sweets either side, and then it's real maggots with sweets in the middle. Final course is a real person hiding under the table with their head popping up, they let out a shriek which makes Akeem jump backwards. More sweets are collected as Big Brother throws everything at Sian and Akeem, including a little person in a dolls mask emerging from under the table and someone screaming from one of the many mirrors. Sian is totally unfazed by all this as she continues to gather the sweets.

At the conclusion, Akeem and Sian tell everyone else about what they experience, effectively spoiling the surprise, but as it's the final week we'll let it go as they won't fail this task anyway.

Cameron is summoned to the Diary Room, and they make him jump with a very tame BOO. He says he is unhappy, what else is new. Meanwhile Zoe and Sian are putting on some very tame Cockney accents in the smoking area. Back to Cameron, and Big Brother asks him if it was his mum and dad, when he goes into a monologue about shower water going cold and him hearing older male and female voices. Big Brother tells him to stay safe, and Cameron is chased back to the house by that person in a dolls mask jumping out at him in the passageway between the house and Diary Room.

Brooke, Cameron and Zoe up next, and into the Big Brother cemetery they go. I could never do this part as I am genuinely terrified of cemeteries. That well looks strangely familiar, oh yes it is Rylan's well he uses on eviction night for the The Final Farewell. Anyways someone pops up from the well, and then all around them zombies aka people in make up surround them. Cue lots of screaming as Zoe, Brooke and Cameron try to gather sweets amongst all the screaming and people in make up.

Cameron is refusing to sit down in case of another surprise from Big Brother, and Big Brother unleashes a scream on them making them jump three feet in the air.

Next up it's Dead Set revisited as a horde of zombies pile into the house and garden, obviously not real ones or that would have been end of series and the housemates would be dead themselves. Lots of pass the parcel as they try to stop the undead horde grabbing the sweets, and eventually they lock the zombies out but they have left Cian outside. Cameron is overacting to the hilt, saying he is terrified, bet he's not though. The big chicken. Sian showing him how it should be done as nothing is still unfazing her. A short while later, she suggests flicking Skittles at the zombies should they come back.

In the Diary Room, Akeem has brought in a plastic severed arm in case the zombies come back.

Speculation in the garden that Sian or Akeem will win, how little Cameron knows how much help he is getting from backstage to get him over the finish line

Case in point being the next part, and due to Cameron constantly talking about a ghost in the house, Big Brother conveniently give him and Cian the final part of the task in which they will take a camera through the camera runs. Needless to say, Cameron and his overacting strike again.

As expected, they have passed the final shopping task. Pretty unfailable all round really, but thanks for such a great task to end the shopping tasks. It was much appreciated.

To be continued in Episode 42, where there will be special guests. All will be revealed in the next post as we take another step towards the end

Final thoughts

What can be said that hasn't been said already, an excellent task to end the shopping tasks in terms of this channel. Always nice to see a bit of fun in the final week, and not the usual misery we get in this era of the show when it comes to the final week. Hopefully the 3 guests will not spoil things and make them miserable so close to the end. It's the last final week, let's have them leave happy for a change and not totally miserable.

Thank you for reading this hopefully spooktacular post, and please keep those RT's, likes, shares and comments coming in. We are nearly there, folks, the end is in sight.

If you missed BB on Blast's interview with Arisa, click here and please check out the other links for all your UK, USA and Canada information.

Follow me on Twitter at richiew4ever

Until next time, stay frosty, keep on rocking and #savebbuk