Albanian reality competition and TV series
Big Brother VIP
, also known as
Big Brother VIP Albania
, is a
reality game show
of the Albanian adaptation of
Big Brother Albania
, both based on the Dutch
reality competition
franchise
Big Brother
and created by producer
John de Mol
.
[1]
The Albanian edition of
Celebrity Big Brother
, it began airing on 5 October 2021 on
Top Channel
.
[2]
The series follows a number of celebrity contestants, known as housemates, who are isolated from the outside world for an extended period of time in a custom built house. Each week, one of the housemates is evicted by a public vote, with the last housemate remaining winning a cash prize of €100,000.
The programme was initially presented by
Arbana Osmani
for the first two seasons. Osmani declined to return as presenter on the third season, and the role was taken up by
Ledion Lico
.
[3]
Unlike the original version, the live shows or live eviction shows were seen every Tuesday and Friday (season 1) or every Tuesday and Saturday (since season 2) on Top Channel. Also in the same channel, from Monday to Saturday on afternoon was seen the daily summary, for one hour. Like the original version, every Sunday was covered in a spin-off series with the name
Big Brother VIP ? Fans' Club
. After the final of each season, was broadcast the reunion show,
Post Big Brother VIP
. Since season 2, was introduced the
Big Brother
radio show, with the name
Big Brother Radio
and was broadcast on Top Albania Radio and on
My Music
. The viewers can watch for the whole season live from the house in two live
pay-per-view
channels, with the name
Big Brother VIP 1
and
Big Brother VIP 2
, which are available on Albanian
TV platform
DigitAlb
.
Due to satisfactory ratings of the first season, Top Channel announced a
second season
of
Big Brother VIP
, which began on 24 December 2022.
[4]
The show was renewed for a
third season
in May 2023 and began airing on 13 January 2024 on Top Channel.
[5]
History
[
edit
]
In September 2017, it was rumored that
Top Channel
had decided to start the celebrity version after the success of the original version.
[6]
The celebrity version of the show was expected to start during the 2017?2018 television season.
[7]
The show was confirmed for its first season in early January 2018 with a trailer along with the renewals of
The Voice Kids
.
[8]
The first trailer of the show premiered on 29 January 2018 and read "
...It's hard, being a VIP! They deserve to relax! And where is the VIP resort?! Big Brother Vip ... coming soon only on Top Channel.
"
[9]
In 2019,
Top Channel
announced that
Big Brother
would come back for the 2019?2020 television season in Albania, but they didn't say if will be an original or a celebrity version.
[10]
[11]
However, plans for production were never officially released until 2021, where on 17 May 2021, Top Channel announced that the season would air later in the year, after a four-year hiatus from the original version. They also announced that applications were open to all Albanian celebrities.
[12]
On 12 August 2021, Top Channel confirmed that the season would air in October 2021.
[13]
Top Channel released in August 2021, a trailer and read "We have been told that you miss him." and at the end of the trailer we hear
Arbana Osmani
telling "Returns soon on Top Channel.".
[14]
On 30 September 2021, Top Channel announced that the show will begin airing on 5 October 2021.
[2]
The show was originally scheduled to last 100 days, with the finale on 11 January 2022. However, due to satisfactory ratings, the show was extended by over one month, making it 137 days long and with the finale on 18 February 2022.
[15]
Due to satisfactory ratings of the
first season
, it was announced a
second season
of
Big Brother VIP
, by the executive producers, Lori Hoxha and Sara Hoxha.
[16]
On 24 December 2022, the second season began airing.
[17]
[18]
On 25 March 2023,
Arbana Osmani
announced that the show was originally scheduled to last 100 days, with the finale on 1 April 2023. However, due to satisfactory ratings, the show was extended by over one month, making it 134 days long and with the finale on 6 May 2023.
[19]
In May 2023, the executive producer, Sara Hoxha announced on her
Instagram account
, that the
third season
of the show will begin on Top Channel.
[20]
On 30 November 2023, it was announced that the show will return, with the third season, in 2024.
[21]
One day later, Top Channel aired a teaser trailer during the ninth episode of the
ninth season
of
Dancing with the Stars
, officially confirming that the series would return for a new season in January 2024 on Top Channel.
[22]
On 29 December 2023, Top Channel released a thirty seconds teaser featuring some eyes and read "
Everyone Housemates except for one
" and then features, the new host Ledion Lico, who says "
And these others, who are they?
" and at the end we hear "
Find out from 13 January only on Top Channel
".
[23]
On 9 January 2024, it was announced that the new Director will be Ergys Lubonja.
[24]
Format
[
edit
]
Big Brother VIP
is a
game show
in which a group of celebrity contestants, referred to as housemates, live in isolation from the outside world in a custom built "house", constantly under video surveillance. Access to television, the Internet, print media, and time is prohibited. In addition, the housemates live in complete confinement; they have no access to the outside world. Sometimes the viewers votes for their favorite housemates, and the housemates with the most votes had immunity. Also sometimes the housemates votes for their favorite housemate of house, and the housemate with the most votes had immunity. At least once a week, the housemates secretly nominate two housemates they wish to face a public vote to evict. The two or more housemates with the most votes face the public vote. The viewing public decides which of them gets evicted through text message votes or phone calls. The nominee with the most votes is evicted and leaves the house. Should their stay inside the house become difficult for them to bear, a housemate is allowed to voluntarily leave at any time during the game. In the event of a withdrawal from the house, a replacement housemate usually enters in their place. In the final week of each season, the viewers vote for which of the remaining people in the house should win the prize money of €100,000 and be crowned the winner of
Big Brother VIP
.
During their time in the house, housemates are given weekly tasks to perform. The housemates wager a portion of their weekly shopping budget on the task, and either win double their wagered fund or lose the wagered fund depending on their performance in the task. The housemates are required to work as a group to complete their tasks, with the format of the tasks varying based on the number of remaining housemates. The housemates are forbidden from discussing nominations, and doing so could result in punishment. The format of the series is mainly seen as a social experiment, and requires housemates to interact with others who may have differing ideals, beliefs, and prejudices. Housemates are also required to make visits to the diary room during their stay in the house, where they are able to share their thoughts and feelings on their fellow housemates and the game.
A new twist to change the format of the game was featured, this was the Pandora's Box. The twist sees a housemate being tempted by the box, and can choose to either open the box or leave it. Should a Housemate choose to open Pandora's Box, both good and bad consequences could be unleashed into the house, which impacts every Housemate in-game including the person who opens it. Another twist was the Power of Veto, like in the
American
format, a housemate can win the Power of Veto. The winner of the Veto competition wins the right to either revoke the nomination of one of the nominated housemates or leave them as is.
Cast
[
edit
]
Several presenters were rumored to be hosting the show once Top Channel announced the show.
Arbana Osmani
, who also has hosted the
original version
, was rumored to be the host of the show. The host of the
eighth season
of the original version
Ledion Lico
, was also rumored to be the host. Another host from Top Channel was rumored as the host of the show,
Luana Vjollca
.
[25]
On 17 August 2021, Arbana Osmani announced on her
Instagram
account that she will be the presenter of the show.
[26]
Like in the original version, also in the celebrity version would have two Opinionists in the live shows. On 4 October 2021, it was announced that Arber Hajdari and Balina Bodinaku would be the two Opinionists.
[27]
[28]
Before the premiere of the
second season
, it was announced that Arber Hajdari would be return as the opinionist.
[29]
During the launch show, of the second season, it was announced that Zhaklin Lekatari would be the new opinionist.
[30]
It was rumored that maybe Osmani will not be the presenter for the third season.
[31]
Later, it was rumored that Bora Zemani, who hosts also on Top Channel the show
Dancing with the Stars
, will be hosting the third season of
Big Brother VIP
.
[32]
It was also rumored that Ledion Lico will host the season.
[33]
In November 2023, Osmani on her social network Instagram has posted a photo as she is seen in the premises of Top Channel getting ready, but it was not announced if she will host the third season.
[34]
On 29 December 2023, Top Channel announced that the host of the third season will be Ledion Lico.
[35]
On 8 January 2023, Top Channel announced that Hajdari will be returning for his third season as an opinionist.
[36]
It was also announced that the new opinionist will be Ori Nebijaj.
[37]
Big Brother VIP
Cast
Season
|
Presenter
|
Opinionist
|
1
|
Arbana Osmani
|
Arber Hajdari
|
Balina Bodinaku
|
2
|
Zhaklin Lekatari
|
3
|
Ledion Lico
|
Ori Nebijaj
|
Location
[
edit
]
The house of
Big Brother
is always one of the most discussed topics in Albania before the according season starts. In the
original version
, the location of the house was always in different locations, like
Gerdec
and
Kashar
.
Like in the original version, the housemates live together in the house, where 24 hours a day their every word and every action is recorded by cameras and microphones in all the rooms in the house. For the celebrity version,
Top Channel
made a new big studio in
Tirana
with the name
Studio Nova
for their prime time shows, like
Hell's Kitchen Albania
,
Shiko Kush Luan
and other big shows. The house for the
Big Brother VIP
will also be built there.
[38]
There is also an auditorium where the live audience shows, such as the eviction and finale episodes, were staged.
Series overview
[
edit
]
Companion show
[
edit
]
Big Brother VIP ? Fans' Club
[
edit
]
In the original version of
Big Brother
, was broadcast a spin-off show with the name
Big Brother ? Fans' Club
and also in the celebrity version this show was broadcast with the name
Big Brother VIP ? Fans' Club
.
[39]
The show premiered on 17 October 2021 and broadcast every Sunday at 12:15 pm, with Dojna Mema as the presenter and Iva Tico as the opinionist.
[40]
The show features debates and conversations about the latest goings inside and outside the house with a studio audience and celebrity panel, and with the first eliminated housemate who are usually invited to the studio after leaving. Megi Pojani replaced Mema as the new
Fans' Club
presenter for season 2 and Ardit Cuni was the new opionist.
[41]
On the third season, Enxhi Nasufi will be the presenter.
[42]
On the third season, the two opinionist will be Ronaldo Sharka and Ina Kollcaku, replacing Cuni.
[43]
Post Big Brother VIP
[
edit
]
Like in the original version, one week after the final of the show, was broadcast a reunion show, with the name
Post Big Brother VIP
, where the housemates will gather all together to discuss what happened inside the house. In the original version the show was broadcast only for one episode, but in the celebrity version the show was broadcast for three episodes (season 1) or for two episodes (since season 2). The show was hosted by Arbana Osmani. The two opinionists for season one were Arber Hajdari and Balina Bodinaku. Since season two, Hajdari was joined by Zhaklin Lekatari.
Big Brother Radio
[
edit
]
Big Brother Radio
was introduced on the second season
Big Brother VIP
as the
Big Brother
radio show. The show was hosted by Elona Duro. In the second season, Duro returded as the host and Eni Shehu and Albana Ruci were the new hosts. The show premiered on 13 February 2023 and was broadcast from Mondays to Thursdays and on Saturdays on Top Albania Radio and on
My Music
. The second season premiered on 15 January 2024 and was broadcast every day from Mondays to Sundays. On the show often featured interviews from past housemates and the latest evictee as well as calls from fans.
[44]
Reception
[
edit
]
Big Brother Albania
is known as the most popular
Reality Television Show
in Albania.
Big Brother VIP
also became very popular, few weeks after its premiere. This was reflected on the price businesses had to pay to promote their activity. So, in 2021?2022 television season,
Big Brother VIP
became the most expensive show to advertise. Thus, one second before the reality show starts broadcasting costs 5700 lek, and during the broadcast, 11,000 ALL.
The third among the most expensive are again two shows related to
Big Brother VIP
; the first is
Big Brother VIP Daily Summary
and the second
Big Brother VIP ? Fans' Club
, where every second during the broadcast is paid 4600 ALL.
[45]
The finale broke the records, making it the most watched programme in the Albanian TV history. On the night of 18 February, the grand finale's night, the roads in Albania were empty and few days ago, people reserved to watch it out in the city's bars.
[46]
Eduart Grishaj, the show's director also said that the votes for the winner, were out of any prediction and broke records.
On the opening of finale's show there was shown a video with some stats as following:
Albania's prime minister,
Edi Rama
, posted a video from
Valbona
with Fifi's song "Diell", which was composed inside the
Big Brother VIP's
house.
[47]
This song became the most popular at the month of publishing.
Big Brother VIP
and Donald Veshaj were among the most searched words on
Google
for year 2021.
As of 20 July 2022, the video where Donald Veshaj meets and kisses Bora Zemani, counts up to 2,600,000 views on
YouTube
.
The video where Donald Veshaj kisses singer Beatrix Ramosaj, counts up to 1,500,000 views.
Singer Beatrix Ramosaj was surprised and sent to watch her brother, singer Alban Ramosaj perform in "Festivali i Kenges", the episode reached 1,300,000 views on YouTube, and was considered the best and most emotional surprise in the first edition of Big Brother VIP Albania by fans.
Also, the episode where Fifi faints during the live show counts up to 1,350,000 views.
The official music video of "
Me ty
", the first known song to be written and recorded inside the "house" of
Big Brother VIP
, received a million views on YouTube, 9 hours after its upload.
[48]
Trivia
[
edit
]
- Season 1
- Monika Lubonja & Arjola Demiri were the first players in any
Big Brother
series around the world to refuse to open Pandora's box, a game of choice used in many other
Big Brother
formats.
- Einxhel Shkira breaks the record as the player that has received the most nominations (19) in the history of
Big Brother
.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"
"Pranvere" ne Top Channel; Sezoni i ri me numrin me te madh te programeve te reja"
.
Top Channel
. September 10, 2018.
- ^
a
b
"Konfirmohet data! "Big Brother Vip" nis me 5 Tetor!"
.
Top Channel
. September 30, 2021.
- ^
"ZYRTARE! Ledion Lico 'sposton' Arbana Osmanin, prezantohet si moderator i BBVIP3"
.
zeri.mediadesk.ai
. December 29, 2023.
- ^
"Big Brother VIP Albania/ Te shtunen nis ne Top Channel 'reality show' me audience te jashtezakonshme"
.
Top Channel
. December 19, 2022.
- ^
"Ne presim finalen e "BBVA2", por Sara Hoxha thote se shume shpejt, do te kemi "BBVA3"
"
.
Top Channel
. May 6, 2023.
- ^
"Po vjen 'Big Brother' me personazhe VIP"
.
lajmi.net
. September 20, 2017.
- ^
"Big Brother Vip Albania, ja kur do te nise"
.
Gazeta Shqiptare
. January 29, 2018.
- ^
"Big Brother VIP…se shpejti ne Top Channel"
.
Top Channel Albania
. January 29, 2018.
- ^
"Po vjen "Big Brother Vip Albania"
"
.
lajmi.net
. January 4, 2018.
- ^
"Zbulohet se a do te nise Big Brother Vip Albania"
.
Indeks Online
. May 15, 2018.
- ^
"Feston Top Media! Ditelindja e Tanit shenon nisjen e sezonit te ri televiziv"
.
Top Channel
. October 17, 2019.
- ^
"
"Big Brother Vip" vjen ne Top Channel/ Se shpejti nisin audicionet per banoret e shtepise"
.
Top Channel
. May 17, 2021.
- ^
"
"Nuk ka konkurrente nga Per'puthen"/ Eraldo Rexho: Ja kur nis Big Brother VIP"
.
Top Channel
. August 12, 2021.
- ^
"Se shpejti ne @topchannelalbania ??"
.
instagram
. August 2021. Archived from
the original
on 2021-12-23.
- ^
"Shtyhet finalja e Big Brother, a do te pranojne banoret kete vendim te produksionit?"
.
reporteri.net
. December 30, 2021.
- ^
"Pronarja e Top Channel e konfirmon, do te kete Big Brother Vip 2"
.
epokaere
. 3 February 2022.
- ^
"Ftese ne 5/ Arbana Osmani zbulon kur do te nise Big Brother VIP 2, kengetari tregon cila do jete nje nga banoret"
.
Top Channel
. February 22, 2022.
- ^
"Kur nis Big Brother Vip 2? Lori Hoxha shuan kureshtjen e te gjitheve: Fillon direkt pas…"
.
Top Channel
. June 26, 2022.
- ^
"Zbulohet data e finales se madhe se Big Brother Vip 2"
.
bigbrothervip.top-channel.tv
. March 25, 2023.
- ^
"Sonte finalja e madhe e "BBV2", producentja Sara Hoxha konfirmon edhe "BBV3"!"
.
top-channel.tv
. May 6, 2023.
- ^
"Zyrtare! Ja kur nis "Big Brother Vip 3"
"
.
- ^
"
"Big Brother VIP Albania 3" shume prane nisjes! Dritat e shtepise me te famshme ne Shqiperi do te ndizen ne janar"
.
- ^
"Zbulohet data kur do te nise "Big Brother VIP 3"! Shtepia me e famshme ne Shqiperi ndez dritat me…"
.
- ^
"Big Brother Vip po vjen! Zbulohet se kush do te jete regjisori i ketij edicioni!"
.
- ^
"Nuk eshte as Ledioni, as Arbana, ja kush do te jete moderatore e Big Brother VIP"
.
Info Media Albania
. May 15, 2018.
- ^
"Arbana Osmani confirms the presentation of 'Big Brother VIP': I was as happy as 13 years ago"
.
dailyxing.com
. August 17, 2021.
- ^
"Arbana Osmani zbulon dy opinionistet e "Big Brother VIP Albania"
"
.
durreslajm.al
. October 4, 2021.
- ^
"Zbulohen dy emrat e opinionistev VIP" dy emrat e opinionisteve te "Big Brother VIP"
"
.
top-channel.tv
. October 5, 2021.
- ^
"BBV ngre siparin/ Kush i bashkohet Arber Hajdarit ne rolin e opinionistit?"
.
top-channel.tv
. December 24, 2022.
- ^
"BB VIP nis me surpriza, ja kush ze vendin e Balina Bodinakut"
.
top-channel.tv
. December 24, 2022.
- ^
"Big Brother VIP 3 mund te mos e prezantoje Arbana Osmani?"
.
- ^
"Bora Zemani moderatore e Big Brother VIP Albania 3? Befason me pergjigjen"
.
- ^
"Ekskluzive: "Big Brother VIP 3" mund te mos e prezantoje Arbana Osmani"
.
- ^
"Arbana Osmani jep nje sinjal se mund te udheheqe perseri Big Brother Albania"
.
- ^
"Zyrtare!! Merr fund dilema/ "Top Channel" konfirmon se kush do e moderoje BBV3!"
.
- ^
"Nis numerimi mbrapsht! Shtepia e "Big Brother VIP" hap dyert ne 13 janar, zbulohen opinionistet"
.
- ^
"Deputetja opinioniste ne "Big Brother", Ori Nebiaj tregon si e pranoi ftesen e TCH: Po shkoj ne Parlamentin qe funksionon…"
.
- ^
"Studio "Nova", shtepia e re e "Big Brother" dhe shume emisioneve te tjera"
.
Top Channel
. September 2, 2019.
- ^
"
'Big Brother VIP Fan Club': The start date and the name of the moderator are revealed!"
.
anabelmagazine.com
. October 11, 2021.
- ^
"Dojna Mema, ne Big Brother VIP? Moderatorja "merr" nje rol te ri"
.
classlifestyle.com
. September 27, 2021.
- ^
"Fan Club Big Brother VIP nis me 8 janar, zbuloni kush do ta moderoje"
.
top-channel.tv
. 6 January 2023.
- ^
"Konfirmohet zyrtarisht moderatorja e edicionit te trete te "Big Brother Vip Fan Club"!"
.
- ^
"Nga "DWTS", zbulohen opinionistet e "Big Brother Fan Club"
"
.
- ^
"Big Brother Radio, nga 13 shkurti ne Top Albania Radio…"
.
topalbaniaradio.com
. 6 February 2023.
- ^
"LISTA/ Reklamat ne televizionet shqiptare, 'Big Brother VIP' thyen cdo rekord"
.
DOSJA.AL
. 2021-10-09
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
"Ethet e "Big Brother VIP"/ Rruget e qyteteve u zbrazen! Lokalet plot per te pare finalen e madhe"
.
top-channel.tv
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
Top News-Rama 'fiksohet' me kengen e Fifit/Artistja reagon e entuziasmuar-Jam pa fjale
, retrieved
2022-07-20
- ^
"Kenga "Me ty" e Luiz Ejllit arrin nje milion klikime ne vetem nente ore pas publikimit"
.
Epoka e Re
(in Albanian). 14 February 2023.
Archived
from the original on 15 February 2023
. Retrieved
5 March
2023
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
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Africa
| | Location of different versions of
Big Brother
.
|
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Americas
| |
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Asia-Pacific
| |
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Europe
| |
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Virtual
| |
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