BIG BROTHER GAME IS UP!!!

M-Net’s biggest reality television show, Big Brother, has returned this year for another run. The show was launched this Sunday at the Grand Palm.

Twenty-six contestants from thirteen African countries are competing for the US$200 000 prize, and this year, Big Brother Amplified has yet another twist. Two candidates were picked from each country and it is still not clear how “Biggie’’ intends for the housemates to play the game. The two contestants chosen to represent Botswana are Game “Zeus” Bantsi and Peo “Miss P” Sebotho. Bantsi is a hip hop star and also holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Management and Marketing) degree. He described himself as “ambitious, creative, focused, curious, spiritual, driven and passionate” and said that he entered the show because “I want to market myself as an artist, and also get away from the noise of the city and establish a deeper connection with myself.”

Sebotho, a freelancer with a BA Mass Communication degree in Journalism, Public Relations and film and television, described herself as “a loving, caring and cultured Motswana lady”. She entered Big Brother Amplified to share her personality and create a name for herself in the media industry.
In an interview with Time Out, Multichoice Botswana PR representative, Tshepo Maphanyane, revealed that the two contestants chosen to represent Botswana were picked from amongst thousands who had auditioned for the show and were picked because they were seen to be the two strongest characters. “Our two candidates auditioned, just like everyone else, and after a lot of intense screening they emerged successful. I am interested to find out how the house will treat them,” said Maphanyane.
This year’s Big Brother looks as if it will be interesting, as a lot of celebrities from different countries were picked and placed alongside those who are not in the public eye. The 2011 housemates, as compared to those of previous years, are also much younger, and this excited some of the revellers who had attended the launch.
“I think this is going to be very interesting, if not exciting. Most of the housemates are not only young, but they look very fun loving, funky and stylish; they actually have personality,” noted stylist and media personality, Mpho Laing, further observing that mixing celebrities and ordinary folks may be a way of Big Brother “finally (having) realised that the show needed to pick up the hype, so they added celebrities; people who already have a fan base. I am definitely looking forward to watching this one.”
Last year’s Big Brother housemate, Kaone ‘K1’ Ramontshonyane was impressed with Botswana’s choices.  “All we can do is wait to see how they will represent us once the real pressures start kicking in. I think this Big Brother just might be way better than our episode, the ladies from the different countries are beautiful, with my good morals and cultured nature I don’t know how far I would have gone,” chuckled K1.