At First-Ever Virtual Press Conference, Organisers Unveil Plans For BBNaija Season 5

Though the novel Coronavirus pandemic has affected all facets of life across the world, Nigeria inclusive, notwithstanding this, however, the popular Nigeria’s favourite reality show, Big Brother Naija, will go ahead and the organisers have perfected all arrangements to ensure that it is hitch free.

When the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early March 2020 in Nigeria, with the attendant lockdown and social distancing effects, many wondered if BBNaija will grace their TV screens this year.

Well, with a lot of work and effort from the organizers, BBNaija is back for a fifth season. On Thursday, July 2, MultiChoice Nigeria with this season’s headline sponsor, Betway and Gold sponsor, Guinness, organized a virtual press briefing for media partners that had the Chief Customer Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, Executive Head of Content MultiChoice Nigeria, Busola Tejumola, Channel Director, Africa Magic, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Media Personality and show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu in attendance.

In case you live under a rock and haven’t heard what’s going on, let’s be the first to tell you – season five of Big Brother Naija is almost here!

Season five of Nigeria’s favourite reality show, Big Brother Naija will be going live on Sunday, July 19, 2020. Big Brother Naija is an audience favourite. The show is loved and avidly followed by viewers across Africa as it showcases urban Nigerian culture.

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, organisers of BBNaija, MultiChoice Nigeria, have taken some necessary precautions in line with the guidelines set by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for the fifth season of the show. Besides doing things like ensuring the production crew works in (socially distanced) shifts, MultiChoice is putting the potential housemates through a rigorous health screening process. These potential housemates will, in addition to other medical tests, undergo a COVID-19 test before entering Biggie’s house.

To further ensure the safety of BBNaija participants, these potential housemates are currently in quarantine ahead of the show’spremiere on Sunday, July 19. In a media briefing ahead of the show, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu also shared his experience from when he auditioned for the Big Brother Nigeria show in 2006. According to him, he was 23 years old, and it was the most comprehensive health test he had ever done.

MultiChoice Nigeria says that they are committed to keeping all BBNaija season five participants safe and healthy, which is why there will be no live audience at the Sunday Night Eviction Shows. There will also be no unexpected celebrity visits to the House.

Over 30,000 Nigerians Auditioned for the Show!

In the month of May, MultiChoice Nigeria, the organisers of the Big Brother Naija show announced that despite COVID-19, season five of the show would be happening. Fans were ecstatic!

Due to the restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this season held online auditions with a record 30,000+ Nigerians participating! According to MultiChoice Nigeria, this is the highest number of auditions they have ever received in the history of the show.

Let’s face it. We all know that Big Brother Naija is the biggest reality TV show in Africa. It’s so big that the show has got viewers rooting for participating housemates from different ends of the African continent and beyond. And of course, it’s literally the only TV show that can brag about producing a new class of celebrities every year. Looking at ex-housemates like Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Bisola, Cee-C, Tobi Bakre, Mercy Eke and Mike Edwards, you’d agree that Big Brother Naija has done well in taking relatively unknown people, placing them in the spotlight and thereby transforming their lives.

It’s also not surprising that over 30,000 Nigerians would audition for a chance to be a Big Brother Naija Season 5Housemate to enjoy the possibilities that come with living in Biggie’s house for three months (or even a few weeks!).

Latest information reveals that shortlists of housemates has already been selected and are individually under quarantine. They will continue to undergo testing to ensure that they are all healthy and COVID-19 free before the show launches.

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How The Organizers Plan To Protect Housemates From COVID-19 Ahead Of New Season

The major concern was on the precautions taken to ensure the safety of housemates going into the house as well as the production crew. Addressing these concerns, Channel Director, Africa Magic, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu reassured the press that the organizers are working in tandem with the NCDC and following strictly the guidelines laid down to ensure the highest level of safety.

She reiterated that it is in the show’s format for housemates to go through extensive health checks before proceeding into the house, but that is even elevated at this time due to the present circumstances.

According to Wangi, “the Big Brother show lends itself to a certain level of quarantine, seamlessly integrating into the COVID-19 guidelines.”

BBNaija Alum and current show host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu whilst reliving his time on the show revealed he had to go through a series of medical tests before he was allowed into the Big Brother house back in 2006.

Meanwhile, potential housemates are currently in quarantine ahead of the July 19 premiere. They will be monitored whilst in quarantine until they are deemed fit health-wise. Anyone that shows signs of ill health, will as expected not be a part of the show.

The Big Brother House according to the organizers has also been disinfected and won’t be accessible to anyone till July 19, when the housemates make their way into the house heralding the start of the show.

While a lot of precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of housemates and crew ahead of the show, the excitement and entertainment of the show will not be dampened.

The audience is sure to get everything they love about the BBNaija show and much more.

The Big Brother franchise first aired in Nigeria in 2006, as Big Brother Nigeria, with a $100,000 cash prize which Katung Aduwak won. After being off air for 10 years, the show returned as Big Brother Naija, in January 2017, and that kick-started the monumental status the show now holds.

Millions of audiences across Nigeria now expectantly look forward to new seasons of the thrilling Big Brother Naija show. Past winners of the show include Katung Aduwak (2006), Michael Efe Ejeba (2017), Miracle Igbokwe (2018) and Mercy Eke (2019).

With the success of the last season of the show, BBNaija Pepper Dem in 2019, expectations were high for what to expect in 2020. The Pepper Dem housemates brought the most drama, tension, love triangles, and excitement to our TV screens.