'Big Brother', the King of Reality Shows, Reopens its Doors on Telecinco

A total of 513 contestants in its 30 editions featuring both anonymous individuals and celebrities. Or approximately 2,934 days and over 70,000 hours of 'live life'. These are the figures of a format that has made television history and, far from being exhausted, aims to return with more strength to its original essence. The Spanish version of 'Big Brother' returns tomorrow on Telecinco (10:50 PM) 25 years after the premiere of 'Big Brother' in the Netherlands with its 19th edition, where the house in Guadalix de la Sierra will open its doors to receive ordinary people.

Since Mediaset and production company Zeppelin announced they were starting the casting for 'GH', more than 100,000 people have registered to be part of the selection process, which also included a main phase in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao. Additionally, the program featured a 17-meter-long trailer with glass walls that traveled over 2,300 kilometers across the country, making stops in smaller municipalities. Nevertheless, the casting will remain open until the very day of the premiere this Thursday when some candidates will be informed of their entry into the house with the phrase: "You're in."

Starting this week, Jorge Javier Vázquez will take command of the popular reality show during the Thursday and Tuesday galas. Ion Aramendi will debut with 'GH' debates on Sundays. Vázquez had previously succeeded Mercedes Milá in front of the anonymous version, "the usual one," after doing so in 2017 with 'GH Revolution', the last edition produced by Telecinco following a sexual abuse scandal involving a contestant. The network decided to keep the show on hold until a judicial sentence was reached that ultimately sentenced José María López to 15 months in prison and held the production company civilly liable for showing the video to the young woman.

A little over a year after that sentence, during which Zeppelin approved a protocol with measures for situations of sexual abuse, the format is reborn with a completely renovated house featuring new spaces over a total area of more than 1,200 square meters. Inside, there will be around 70 cameras, 250 spotlights, and 118 ambient microphones. Moreover, the Spanish version will make it to Times Square (New York) to announce the program's return to Telecinco, with a final surprise for fans to be revealed during this Thursday's gala, which will also feature a musical performance by Ana Guerra.

However, fans of the reality show received their first surprise during the presentation of 'Big Brother' at FesTVal in Vitoria. Jorge Javier himself announced that one of those present at that press conference would be the first contestant. At that moment, Maica, a 25-year-old hostess from Cartagena (Murcia), who was unaware she had been chosen to enter the house in Guadalix de la Sierra, stepped forward. "This is my dream," she said with tears in her eyes before an audience and accredited press.

It has been just over seven years since 'Big Brother' featured anonymous participants. The format's return exceeded expectations for both network and production company officials. There was an eagerness to return to live life. "I was struck by how many young people have written to me on Instagram asking to join the show. And that gives you an idea of ​​the continuity and endurance of the format," Jorge Javier Vázquez confessed this Monday in an interview.

'Big Brother' landed in Spain on April 23rd, 2000 as a sociological experiment where no one knew what would happen. It became a phenomenon that changed how television was made. Its final gala, where Ismael Beiro was proclaimed winner, was watched by more than 9 million viewers and had a 70.8% share. Worldwide, 'Big Brother', the original format created by John de Mol, has accumulated 70 international adaptations, more than 550 editions, and around 36,000 broadcasts featuring up to 8,500 contestants living together in various houses.