Abstract
Controversial TV show Big Brother has proved popular in many countries including the UK (van Zoonen, 2006). Adult viewers enjoy several aspects of the show, particularly watching other people's daily lives, interactions and disputes, diary room disclosures, and weekly tasks, and assessing authenticity (Hill, 2002, 2004; Jones, 2003; Nabi, Biely, Morgan & Stitt, 2003; van Zoonen, 2006). Thus far children have been relatively neglected in this research. This article describes questionnaires with 39 British children aged 8 to 11 years, plus interviews with 14 of these children, exploring their viewing habits and perceptions of the show. Over a third of the sample claimed to like Big Brother and to watch it regularly—most with their families. Several said that they thought about, discussed or played games based on Big Brother, indicating that the show is impacting their everyday lives. Young fans particularly liked watching interactions between contestants (including arguments), tasks, and voting out and evictions. It is argued that tasks appeal to children because of their playful character, and that voting out and evictions resonate with, and potentially exacerbate, children's preoccupations with popularity, acceptance, and rejection among their peers.
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