Big Brother 2024 housemates have their social media searched and are forced to keep profiles private… as producers hope to avoid a repeat of Trish Balusa’s racist tweets scandal
Big Brother’s 2024 housemates have been subject to strict social media checks as part of the show’s duty of care protocol.
Viewers were upset during Sunday night’s launch when the show’s social media channels chose not to share the contestants’ handles, and for those who were able to track the profiles down, they found them set to private.
Yet, MailOnline can reveal that the move has been made to protect the housemates’ welfare, in an echo from the show’s protocols last year.
The housemates have undergone a series of background checks including checks of their social media by an independent specialised service.
In addition, their family and friends have been asked not to post any content on their individual social accounts for the duration of their time in the House in a social media blackout.
Big Brother’s 2024 housemates have been subject to strict social media rules as part of the show’s duty of care protocol (L-R Ali, Dean, Martha, Marcello, Izaaz, Thomas, Lily, Rosie, Daze, Segun, Sarah, Khaled, Ryan, Hanah, Nathan and Emma)
While these rules were in place last year, producers came under fire when fans found a series of racist and homophobic tweets shared by contestant Trish Balusa (pictured)
While these rules were in place last year, producers came under fire when fans found a series of racist and homophobic tweets shared by contestant Trish Balusa.
Within hours of the stay-at-home mother being evicted from the Big Brother house, shocking historic tweets referring to minority groups resurfaced featuring homophobic, racist and ableist comments.
A spokesperson for Big Brother said at the time: ‘This weekend, we have been made aware of concerning historical tweets.
‘We are currently looking into why they were not identified by the independent supplier we engage to review the digital footprint of potential Housemates as part of our pre-checks.’
MailOnline has contacted ITV in regards to the outcome of the review.
The posts from 2012 were only discovered following Trish’s exit as during their time in the house all contestants set their social media profiles to private.
Trish, 34, later apologised for the scandal, stating: ‘There are no excuses for the ignorance that I showed and I am deeply disappointed, embarrassed and ashamed that I once made such comments.
Last year it was revealed that Big Brother had stepped up its mental health support since the Channel 5 instalment in 2018.
The 2023 duty of care protocols, repeated this year, state that Housemates must undergo a social media blackout, take part in ‘respect and inclusion training’ and will have access to one-on-one mental health support sessions before, during and after the show.
The respect and inclusion training sets out expectations around use of language and acceptable behaviour in the House.
The 2023 duty of care protocols, repeated this year, state that Housemates must also take part in ‘respect and inclusion training’ and will have access to one-on-one mental health support sessions before, during and after the show (pictured: hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best)
‘An experienced Big Brother welfare team is solely dedicated to the welfare of the Housemates before, during and after the show.
‘The welfare of everyone involved in the making of the programme is of paramount importance and welfare protocols have been carefully considered to deliver robust assessment of suitability to participate, informed consent and support throughout the casting and filming process and beyond.’
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Before filming all Housemates undergo psychological and medical assessments including assessments by an independent doctor, mental health professionals and information reports from each Housemate’s GP.
Housemates are also required to disclose in confidence any medical history or other information that would be relevant to their participation in Big Brother.
ITV also said that the Housemates received information about the experience of taking part in Big Brother including the possible positive and negative implications.
In terms of behaviour on the series, the show’s welfare team and other members of the editorial and production team received training in Mental Health First Aid and ‘respect and inclusion’.
ITV said the team also set out Big Brother’s expectation for appropriate behaviour and language.
Housemates were provided with and talked through the Housemate rules which set out expectations and explain key aspects of life in the Big Brother House.
In addition, whilst in the House mental health professionals are available to Housemates for ongoing support throughout their time in the House.
The Big Brother welfare team also support friends and family with regular contact and updates.
Big Brother has stepped up its mental health support since the Channel 5 instalment in 2018 (pictured: Anthony Hutton and Makosi Musambasi on BB6 in 2005)
After leaving the Big Brother House bespoke training on dealing with social media and press will be given.
A mandatory session with mental health professional immediately after a Housemate leaves the House will also be provided.
After, further support sessions will be provided specific to a Housemate’s individual needs and support will remain in place until the mental health professional(s) have agreed an end date for each individual Housemate.
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Ongoing contact by the head of welfare for a period of 14 months after the series has ended, with additional help provided where needed will also be on offer.
Head of Welfare for Banijay UK, Kym Langer said: ‘The welfare of everyone involved in the making of Big Brother is of paramount importance to us and the welfare protocols for Housemates delivers robust assessment of suitability to participate, informed consent and support throughout the casting and filming process and beyond.
‘The protocols in place for the 2023 series have been carefully considered bringing together the experience of ITV’s compliance and Duty of Care team together with the independent mental health professionals we have engaged and our own in-house production, editorial, casting and support teams.’
Dr Paul Litchfield, a Chief Medical Officer who independently reviews ITV’s duty of care protocols, added: ‘The measures applied to safeguard the mental health of contributors to reality TV shows have evolved considerably over the past five years.
‘ITV has worked with the team at Banijay to share expertise and to ensure that current best practice is applied for the 2023 series of Big Brother.’
Big Brother returned to ITV on Sunday and saw the diverse line up introduce themselves to each other and the nation as they began the battle for the show’s £100K prize
King Charles’ former butler joined an amputee footballer and lesbian psychologist for the original social experiment as 16 strangers entered the iconic house where they will spend the next six weeks.
Hosts AJ Odudu, 36, and Will Best, 39, were also back, despite fears the pair would miss the live launch after it was revealed they were both suffering from separate illnesses.
The first show saw the diverse line up introduce themselves to each other and the nation as they began the battle for the show’s £100K prize.
Big Brother continues at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
BIG BROTHER 2024: MEET THE CONTESTANTS!
EMMA
AGE : 53
FROM: Altrincham, originally Essex
OCCUPATION: Aesthetics Business owner
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? If somebody doesn’t get my humour then they might think ‘she’s really abrupt and to the point and says it how it is’ but that’s my humour.
ROSIE
AGE: 29
FROM: Cornwall (originally Essex)
OCCUPATION: Dental Assistant
DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR MAKING IT TO THE FINAL? No! I think it’s about being your most authentic self. The viewers aren’t dumb – they can sniff out manufactured drama.
NATHAN
AGE: 24
FROM: Dumfries
OCCUPATION: Pork Salesman and King Charles’ former butler
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? Accidentally offending someone – someone taking something I’ve said the wrong way. Not a terrible offence, but if someone takes something I said the wrong way.
SEGUN
AGE: 25
FROM: Watford
OCCUPATION: Charity Videographer
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BRING TO THE HOUSE? I think I’ll bring energy, comedic energy, vitality and a lot of entertainment and being uplifting.
DAZE
AGE: 24
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Climate Activist
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE MONEY IF YOU WON? It’s been a difficult financial period for me – climate activism is quite often something you do in debt. It would be nice to have money to do the work
KHALED
AGE: 23
FROM: Manchester
OCCUPATION: Sales Manager
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I didn’t actually know what Big Brother was. I thought it’s a new opportunity in life. I have no interest in being famous.
MARTHA
AGE: 26
FROM: Scarborough, originally from Margate
OCCUPATION: NHS Administrator
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT BEING A HOUSEMATE? Definitely sitting on the Diary Room chair. That is a bucket list ticked off. Also just experiencing that isolation. I’m going to really enjoy not having my phone. I just love not having that responsibility.
LILY
AGE: 20
FROM: Warrington
OCCUPATION: Chinese Takeaway Server
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? Probably that I’m annoying but I don’t care.
ALI
AGE: 38
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Forensic Psychologist
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT BEING A HOUSEMATE? Just being away and thrown into a totally new environment, completely different to anything I’ve done before, completely different to anything I’ll ever do in the future.
THOMAS
AGE: 20
FROM: Carlisle
OCCUPATION: Amputee Footballer
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? One of my bad traits is that I speak a lot. I do a lot of talking without thinking. In myself I never get offended, you can say anything about me – I’ve already heard it before.
RYAN
AGE: 28
FROM: Stockport
OCCUPATION: Marketing and Events
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I’ve always been a fan of the show – it’s been a bit of a childhood dream to go on it.
HANAH
AGE: 24
FROM: West London
OCCUPATION: HR Consultant
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? I feel like whoever nominates is just a hater, babes! I think it might be my opinions that people nominate me for.
IZAAZ
AGE: 29
FROM: London, originally Swansea
OCCUPATION: Sales Consultant
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BRING TO THE HOUSE? I’ll bring a lot of happiness and kindness. I reckon I’ll be there for a lot of people. I’m not the type of person to fall out with anyone and if I did, I’d make up for it.
SARAH
AGE: 27
FROM: Shrewsbury
OCCUPATION: Spa Account Manager
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE MONEY IF YOU WON? A few different things. One, I’d have my dream wedding. Two, go on a nice holiday. And three, maybe start my own business.
MARCELLO
AGE: 34
FROM: East London
OCCUPATION: Youth Mentor
DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR MAKING IT TO THE FINAL? Not at all. I’m going to show love, I’m going to be myself and that’s all I can do.
DEAN
AGE: 35
FROM: East London
OCCUPATION: Barber
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I’ve been a fan for the longest time. I’ve wanted to do it from the age of 11 and never had the confidence to do it. As I got older, I was still obsessed with the show and as soon as it came back it was ‘this is my time to apply’.
