What’s the most memorable Diary Room moment?
If you’re anything like me, you’ll have a catalogue of clips playing in your head, likely ending on that infamous Tiffany Pollard rant from 2016.
I was just 16 when Tiffany joined the series – having been a fan of the reality TV show for years before. So, being invited to tour the newly decorated 2024 BB house felt like a teenage dream realised.
I quickly made my way to the London location where Big Brother is filmed and took a sneak peek behind the scenes.
Led by the crew, we entered the revamped house, and it was immediately apparent that the designers had embraced colour.
The new walkway to the Diary Room is paved with neon (Image: Reach Plc)
Every turn seemed to deliver a burst of joy, with hues of pink adorning the walls (literally, there are huge paint drop splashes on the walls), psychedelic carpets and, my personal highlight, an LED-lined pathway leading directly to the Diary Room – I’m eager to see the housemates storming down this rainbow corridor in a huff.
While the house’s layout mirrors last year’s, the vibrant decor injects more energy into the space – providing a colourful backdrop for the inevitable drama. I’ll admit the bright colours might become tiresome after a few weeks, but I trust the typical British weather will provide a welcome dose of gloom.
We were fortunate enough to tour the house on a rare sunny day, and the garden looked absolutely breathtaking in the sunlight. It’s significantly smaller than the rest of the house – it’s a wonder how the housemates manage to have their secret chats there without getting caught – but it’s as immaculate as it appears on TV.
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TV Reporter Kim stepped into the legendary house ahead of contestants moving in (Image: ITV)
The artificial grass is incredibly green, the hot tub looks very tempting and there are charming little ornaments dotted around; I noticed a gnome, a turtle and a chicken.
Inside the house, the living room where contestants congregate for evictions was roomy, with high ceilings and luxurious sofas. The kitchen was also equipped with all the latest gadgets, although the fridge was still empty, and it had a different atmosphere from the rest of the house.
Instead of pinks, purples and yellows, it was adorned in blue with gold highlights.
The Big Brother house has had a full makeover ahead of its relaunch (Image: ITV)
It was everything I had hoped for, except for one room: The Diary Room. The most talked-about seat in the house always stirs up controversy when Big Brother starts, and the chair design often sparks debate.
Last year, fans were split over the eye icon design. This year, the chair follows the same dripping paint theme seen throughout the house and I wish it didn’t.
The house is awash with neon colours, making the diary room’s lack of subtlety feel like an assault on the senses. While some fans may love it, for me, it doesn’t compare to the iconic diary room chairs we’ve seen in past seasons.
TV Reporter Kim stepped checked out the famed Diary Room chair (Image: ITV)
However, ITV’s reboot of the series is only in its second year, so there’s still time for improvements. The show first aired on Channel 4 in 2000, then moved to Channel 5 from 2011 to 2018, and finally found a home at ITV in October 2023 after a five-year hiatus.
Despite its disappointing design, the chair was comfortable, so I’m sure contestants will be more than happy to settle into it for their legendary chats with Big Brother.
Big Brother continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.