I recently tuned into two of ITV’s most popular reality shows for the first time in years, and it seems they might have a common issue.
Looking at the roster of past winners for both Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, it’s likely been almost a decade since I last watched either programme.
I may have occasionally tuned into , mainly for Ant and Dec, but my interest has dwindled. Controversial contestants like Matt Hancock and only served to deter me further.
As for Big Brother, I entirely missed its run on Channel 5 and was like many people I spoke to this year who simply overlooked when the new series would start.
However, in my new position as a TV and Film reporter, I couldn’t ignore these shows this year. I found myself watching Big Brother every night (even when not working) and it’s now the same with .
Will and AJ take turns to present Late and Live (Image: ITV)
It certainly helps that both shows have selected their participants wisely this year. The Big Brother housemates were diverse without an obvious troublemaker.
On the surface, it was easy for anyone to pick a favourite. The same can be said for the jungle so far this year , reports .
However, the main issue, and where most fans are calling for change, lies in each series’ companion show. These shows are a great concept, providing a platform for fans to engage in discussions about what they’ve just watched. The popularity of such platforms is evident from the numerous YouTube channels dedicated to analysing each weekend’s football matches.
Big Brother’s Little Brother, Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, and now Big Brother Late and Live, which airs immediately after the main show on ITV2, are examples of this. The latter even shares the same presenters as the main show, Will Best and AJ Odudu.
This presents a problem. Regardless of their performance on the main show, the companion series needs to offer something different. This becomes particularly apparent on eviction nights when there’s little distinction between the two broadcasts.
‘s companion show on ITV has also undergone several iterations. Initially known as Get Me Out of Here Now, it was followed by Extra Camp and then an online-only version called Daily Drop.
Ant and Dec always make a welcome but brief appearance on Unpacked (Image: ITV)
It has now been further revamped into Unpacked, hosted by Joel Dommett, Sam Thompson and Kemi Rodgers. Although it’s still early days, this trio already gives it an edge over its Big Brother counterpart.
The dynamic duo Ant and Dec are known for their engaging cameos during the opening segment, where they delve into the main show’s events before swiftly departing. Late and Live could easily adopt a similar approach.
Will Best, who has already graced this series of Unpacked, is adept at bouncing off co-hosts.
One key benefit that both shows have leveraged is the inclusion of additional footage and exclusive clips. Given that each series condenses an entire day into just one hour of TV, much is inevitably left unseen.
However, the companion shows offer viewers those extra snippets. Late and Live excels in this area, whereas Unpacked tends to recycle too many old clips.
Fans have taken to social media to voice their opinions on this matter. One fan expressed their enjoyment of the exclusive content on Unpacked and praised Sam Thompson for his insightful contributions: “I have to say I love these exclusive clips on unpacked and also props to Sam Thompson, really starting to appreciate him so much on this show, he’s really understanding what people go through and saying such truths.”
Another fan suggested that instead of rehashing scenes already aired, the focus should be on new material. They pointed out: “Wish they would stop playing clips we’ve seen on Unpacked. I know they do it to talk about certain moments but Late and Live doesn’t do it. And L and L at least gives more exclusives, but both after shows are flawed in different ways.”
Both programmes have their shortcomings. The dialogue on Unpacked often stumbles by attempts to engage viewers. Audience members are invited to send in voice notes via Whatsapp, but unfortunately, many tend to ramble without making a point or are hard to hear with their television blaring in the background.
Late and Live consistently features a live audience contributing to the discussion. This is understandably challenging for Australia-based compared to Big Brother’s London location, but perhaps the input from guests and former contestants suffices?
It appears both reality shows still have some mileage left. Although, the success of seems heavily reliant on the involvement of Ant and Dec. However, if both series aim to continue for years to come and maintain fan engagement, the key might lie in perfecting the companion show.
I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, Big Brother returns on ITV2 in 2025