Big Brother House Public Opening Under Fire

The Big Brother house opens to the public this weekend as a National Trust property in a move that critics have described as “just wrong”.

The 500 tickets for the two-day event were snapped up by Trust members within an hour of going on sale.

“It’s a radical idea but we wanted to look at what a younger, more urban generation of Trust members would be interested in seeing,” said Ivo Dawnay, from the National Trust.

“Big Brother is really a part of British heritage now, so the house is an ideal showcase. It’s fascinating. I think people are going to love looking around it.”

Those lucky enough to get tickets will get to see the famous diary room, bedroom, kitchen and garden where housemates spend their time.

The property is situated off a Tesco roundabout in Borehamwood, north of London, on a TV studio site.

It is a world away from the kind of location you would normally find a National Trust property.

“I’m not going to burn my Trust member card or man the barricades, but this is ridiculous,” said former MP Ann Widdecombe.

“I can see what they are trying to do, they don’t want it to be just about old people traipsing around stately homes. But there were better options than this. It’s just wrong.”

Katy Smith, executive producer of the reality show, said the link-up with the National Trust was a great idea.

“It’s a house that everyone knows about and hardly anyone gets to see. It’s part of British culture. I think this initiative is a fantastic collaboration.”

There have been 14 series of UK Big Brother since it began in 2000, as well as 11 celebrity versions of the show.

Big Brother House Public Opening Under Fire