I have been a devoted fan of Big Brother since its second series – I missed the majority of the first outing, wrongly thinking it would be pants – and I can honestly say, I think this series of BB on Channel 5 is more Big Brother than any other…

Once I get hold of rhyme, it’s a prisoner.

However, back to the point I’m trying to make, and of course, the whole concept of Big Brother was based on George Orwell’s novel – which he published in 1949 – entitled 1984…

And though all the show’s series have of course retained the fundamental elements of the concept, this year has really brought into to play the mind games and thought control aspects that have been lacking somewhat previously.

For instance, part of the task yesterday had housemates listening to what bitchy remarks had been made about them by their fellow housemates in You Snooze You Lose – which you can see a clip of here – and by having the teams ‘winning’ control of various rooms in the house, they’re creating a hierarchy which will see one group of people with more dominance over the others…

It’s absolutely brilliant.

Other tasks have forced housemates to choose which they’re going to serve; their own interests or those of their group, such as the Confusing Cuisine task, while the Lab Rats task saw Room 101-esque antics as the Scientists had to inflict pain – or at least, they thought they were – on the Lab Rats.

Just in case you haven’t read Orwell’s 1984, the novel focuses on Big Brother who is the dictator who rules totalitarian state, Oceania, where the ruling Party exerts total power and control for its own sake over the inhabitants.

Winston Smith, the main protagonist, is a low-ranking member of the ruling Party in London, and everywhere Winston goes, even his own home, the Party watches him through telescreens.

Ultimately, having been sent to Room 101, Winston’s fear of rats causes him to betray the woman he loves by asking his tormentor – O’Brien (and I say “O Brian” a lot when watching Mr Dowling doing his thang. Coincidence? I think not)– to let the rodents eat her face rather than his.

Winston is then released, but his spirit is broken and he’s accepted the Party entirely and has learned to love Big Brother…

Sound familiar? Especially with the Turf Wars task having divided the house and put friends on opposing teams, so that when push comes to shove, we’ll find out what matters more to them all; winning or their friendships.

Utterly epic. I really must congratulate the Task Team this year because everything they’ve produced so far is really far more in-depth than they’re perhaps credited for, because cleverly, they’ve managed to keep it all very entertaining while under the surface, real psychological issues make up their tasks.

Bravo guys!

Do you think this year’s BB is more like the 1984 concept or do you think all the series have been much of a muchness?