Big Brother fans slam 'brutal' format change just minutes into live launch show

Big Brother returned for its latest series on Sunday night - but viewers were shocked by one major format change. The ITV2 reality show is back for its third series, and hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best were on hand to welcome a whole host of new housemates onto the show.

Rather mysteriously, each housemate was handed an eyeball prop that had come down via a tube after they got out of a taxi and made their way up onto the stage in front of screaming fans. This came after the presenters issued the bombshell revelation that there would be an eviction on the very first night.

This is very unusual for the competition, and the show historically tends to only start evictions in the second week of the series. Viewers were quick to flood social media with their opinion as they reacted to the shock shakeup after being encouraged to download the app to have their say.

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One wrote on X: "A housemate evicted on night one? Why do they do stupid twists like that on the first night as if that’s what viewers want? ffs!" Another said: "I just switched into ITV2 and the first thing I hear is an eviction tonight...wtf" and a third said: "The eye roll s***and an eviction on the first night... Can we just have a classy normal live launch itv.."

A fourth added: "Opening night eviction..brutal" A fifth fan predicted: "I’m thinking maybe the eyes are openable and you put a piece of paper In them with the name of who you want to evict. The balls are then put in a bingo cage type thing?

Viewers were first introduced to Gani, a 38-year-old pizza shop owner, who spoke of his love of Dua Lipa upon entering the house. He said: "I’d like to be known by millions. I see this as an opportunity not only for my personal growth, but also to help build the future of my personal brand. And on a personal level, being without a phone will be an impressive psychological experiment — one that I believe will teach me even more about myself. "

Next up came farmer Cameron, 22, who said: "I think I’ll be quite different than the housemates as I suspect there isn’t another sort of country bumpkin-esque figure and I'm quite looking forward to meeting new people. I think I'll hopefully bring a bit of leadership to the house."

Nancy, a 22-year-old from Scotland was up next, and she said: "I don't want to sound too cliché but I was feeling very lost in my life because I had just graduated from university. I'm looking forward to discovering myself even more and seeing how I can connect with people that are different to me. And just seeing who I am as a person and finding out more about myself, connecting with others and making friends. "

Since 2000, strangers from all over the country have descended on the Big Brother house to compete to be crowned the winner of the show. Housemates not only have to survive being locked in a house together, but they must complete tasks and try not to get evicted from the house. ITV has promised viewers new twists and turns, as well as elaborate challenges and live evictions.

Following each episode, there is a spin-off show, Big Brother: Late & Live. This show gives viewers exclusive content from the house, along with fiery debates and hot takes from a celebrity guest panel. This year will also feature an extra week of the show, bringing it up to seven in total.

This year's edition of Celebrity Big Brother also saw a romance spark on the show. Pop star Jojo Siwa became close friends with Love Islander Chris Hughes, which eventually developed into a relationship. The two are still together and rumoured to be thinking about marriage.

Will Best said he'd be upset if the pair ever broke up. "If Jojo and Chris don't last, I genuinely don't know what I'll do." Later, he added that he was excited to celebrate 25 years of Big Brother and thought audiences would be too.

"Bring on the housemates, bring on seven weeks, and bring on a happy 25th anniversary to Big Brother! I think [audiences will] be happy about the extra week.

"Last series could easily have gone on longer, so this will be a nice touch. But the exciting thing is, we never really know what’s going to be new. Fans are already buzzing from the trailer and the Big Brother eye reveal."

Big Brother continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX

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