A brief history of the Big Brother Show – How it started, first country it appeared, Why it is called Big Brother & more (With Photos) | Page 2 of 3

History of Big Brother : Millions of us have tuned in since to watch the sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-depressing spectacle of strangers going at each other's throats in a house full of cameras. The concept is so simple, yet so effective, that it's amazing nobody ever thought of it sooner. Only somebody did think of it, back in 1949 - half a century before the first Big Brother was aired. The sinister premise for the show was actually a classic novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. Penned by English author George Orwell, the book offered a vision of a bleak future where citizens were under constant state surveillance, and where the government has absolute power.

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Meanwhile, the long-running show, which continues with Celebrity Big Brother tonight, is all about cramming people in a house under the watchful eye of a cruel, all-seeing overlord, with cameras rolling 24/7 in every room.

[caption id="attachment_211854" align="alignnone" width="458"] George Orwell was behind hit novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, and the book's Big Brother character[/caption] In the TV show, and its celebrity offshoot, Big Brother is an unseen, godlike figure, who controls the housemate's lives and emotions by doling out privileges or inflicting punishments. Just like in the book, if someone ever sets a foot wrong, Big Brother knows about it, and at the same time he's the only person they can ever speak to who isn't a fellow housemate.

Like citizens in Orwell's book, Big Brother housemates are encouraged to turn on each other, and are constantly in competition - in this case, to keep their place on the show.And just as the book envisioned a world where everyone was under constant surveillance, there's no way TV contestants can ever escape the cameras in the Big Brother house either.

[caption id="attachment_211856" align="aligncenter" width="466"] Nineteen Eighty-Four even spawned a movie, 1984, based on the classic novel[/caption] Of course, the book and the TV show aren't exactly the same. For one, the book has a far bleaker ending than the show, which finishes with a lucky winner being crowned. But plenty of other aspects of the show, such as people "disappearing" (getting evicted) if they don't make the cut, are clearly inspired by the dark novel. And the sinister Big Brother in both the show and the book really couldn't be any more similar.

The TV show puts housemates under the watchful eye of Big Brother, the godlike overlord who controls the show But, thankfully for the housemates, the TV show isn't all bad. Previously, we revealed how this year's Big Brother Naija contestants were set for a stay in a five-star pad, complete with luxury suites and a designer kitchen. CLICK HERE to follow our Channel for juicy updates & free giveaways. TRENDING NOW A tragic story of a family that had three massive lions as pets – Don’t open if you’re too emotional (With Real Pictures) The 13 most feared criminals in the world right now – #3 is Nigerian and this will make you shiver (With Pictures) 12 celebrities you forgot had passed away – #3 died at his peak (With Photos) 11 Nigerian Child Stars of the 1990s’ and 2000s’ you won’t recognise today – #7 is a cheerful giver & #5 recently married (With Photos) 12 of the oldest spinsters in Nollywood reveal why they haven’t married, GENEVIEVE’s reason is quite funny 8 Nigerian celebrities who gave birth at a young age – #7 was 14yrs when she had her 1st child (Full pics of their kids) 12 Rich celebs who don’t help their poor siblings (With Pictures)