Big Brother Rules

There are nine basic rules regarding life inside the Big Brother House. They are set out in their simplest terms below followed by edited details regarding each rule. In agreeing to take part in Big Brother, the housemates are agreeing to abide by the rules.

• There is no contact with the outside world.
• The housemates are filmed 24 hours a day and must wear personal microphones at all times.
• The Diary Room is the only place in the House where Big Brother will acknowledge the housemates. Visits to the Diary Room are a vital part of the Big Brother experience and are therefore compulsory.
• Each week the housemates will be required to go to the Diary Room and nominate two people; they must give frank and honest reasons for their nominations. Big Brother will deal firmly with housemates who try to give reasons that are deemed unacceptable.
• The housemates are not permitted to discuss their nominations, or try to influence anyone else's nominations.
• If any housemate decides to leave the House voluntarily, they must give their reasons in the Diary Room and allow sufficient time for Big Brother to organise their departure.
• If any housemate breaks the rules they may be asked to leave the House.
• The contestants may not intimidate, threaten or act violently towards any other housemate.
• All tasks, unless otherwise stated, are compulsory.

1. NO CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD

While the contestants are in the House they will have no contact with the outside world. Big Brother will never discuss with participants how they're shown on television, how they are represented in other forms of media or anything else that has happened in the outside world.

The housemates are not permitted to make any attempts to communicate personal messages with members of the outside world by means of written messages, symbols or personalised clothing. They cannot make any attempt to communicate personal messages to the outside world when they know that Big Brother is broadcasting live.

2 FILMING & PERSONAL MICROPHONES

It is strictly against the Rules for any housemate to interfere for any reason with the camera or sound equipment installed in the House and garden.

It is compulsory to wear a personal microphone at all times except for when you are asleep in bed or taking a bath or shower.

Housemates will be asked to change the microphone batteries twice each day. Radio microphones can be taken off while sleeping but they must be placed in the spaces provided by the beds. There are microphones positioned above the beds.

3 THE DIARY ROOM

A room is provided for the housemates to share their experiences with Big Brother. This is an important part of the programme, and therefore compulsory for all contestants to go to the Diary Room when requested by Big Brother.

The Diary Room is a place where housemates make their private nominations, vent their frustrations, share their concerns and feelings safe in the knowledge that other housemates will not overhear them. Big Brother will never share any information you give in the Diary Room to other housemates and housemates should feel free to talk privately to Big Brother at any time, night or day.

Images of live conversations in the Diary Room will not be streamed on the Internet or E4 unless the Diary Room is being used as the integral part of a task.

4 THE NOMINATION & EVICTION PROCESS

The people who enter the Big Brother House do so completely voluntarily. However, for security reasons the front door is remotely locked. There is an opening device by the door in case of emergency. Occupants leave the House in three ways. They may be evicted, they can leave of their own free will, or they may be required to leave by the producers. Once an occupant leaves, for whatever reason, they forfeit any claim to the prize money.

Nominations

The normal way for housemates to leave the House will be through the nomination and eviction process.

Every week, in the Diary Room, each housemate must nominate 2 fellow contestants for eviction in the Diary Room, giving full and frank reasons to the camera. If any housemate is deemed to be holding back a valid reason for nominating a fellow housemate, a formal warning will be issued.

In the case of a repeat offence a written warning will be issued. And finally, any attempt to use this tactic for a third time will result in ejection from the Big Brother House. This rule is non-negotiable and to clarify: the rule is three strikes and you are out.

Nominations will normally take place on a Monday but times and days of nomination may be changed without notice.

Eviction

Public voting will take place using phone lines, interactive television and SMS messaging.

Big Brother will announce exactly when the housemate should leave the House. Before any housemate leaves the House, Big Brother will speak to them in the Diary Room to give them further information about their departure.

5 DISCUSSION OF NOMINATIONS

Participants may not discuss their nominations with each other either before or after they have taken place. Big Brother will take any attempt to break these rules very seriously as it is a key principle of Big Brother that the housemates' nominations must be their own choice and must not be influenced by the other housemates.

6 VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE

No one will be held in the Big Brother House against his or her will. If they wish to leave, the housemates must report to the Diary Room, giving their full and frank reasons for leaving. If an occupant leaves the House, that is the end. Once outside you cannot go back.

7& 8 NON-VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE

Big Brother may ask any housemate to leave the House if they behave inappropriately while in the House. Inappropriate behaviour would include, for example:

• Behaving in a way that could cause offence to either their fellow inhabitants or members of the viewing public,
• Violent or abusive behaviour or trying to intimidate any other housemate (physically or verbally).

If a housemate behaves in this way, and refuses the requests of Big Brother to modify their behaviour, they will be required to leave the House immediately.

9 TASKS

At various points during their stay, the group will be given tasks that must be completed within a set time. Sometimes completing the task will require individual work; on other occasions the task will require group work and co-operation.

The supply of food, alcohol and other luxuries in the House will be dependant on the housemates' performance in compulsory weekly tasks.

The weekly task will generally take place on a Saturday evening and will be broadcast live on Channel 4. The weekly task will determine the shopping budget for the group for the next week; a pass will win the housemates a substantial shopping budget, failing the task will mean that they will have to live on more basic rations.

In addition to the weekly tasks Big Brother may also set other challenges, some of which are compulsory, and some of which are optional. The completion of these may not necessarily win the group a prize or reward.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HOUSE AND GARDEN

It is the housemates' responsibility to look after the House and garden and all the contents. If vegetables and livestock are provided they must be cared for; Instructions will be provided.

Items within the House should be kept clean and in working order. It will be up to the discretion of Big Brother whether or not to replace items that are broken or damaged.

If any items are lost over the wall of the garden (such as a ball) it will be entirely at the discretion of Big Brother whether or not to return the item.

This year Big Brother has provided housemates with a swimming pool; there are separate guidelines for this but housemates should behave in a responsible manner when using the pool.

WHAT CANNOT BE TAKEN IN THE HOUSE?

Items not allowed in:

• Drugs and narcotics
• Personal medication except in consultation with Big Brother
• Weapons
• Watches
• Money, cheque books or credit/debit cards
• Mobile phones
• Palm Pilots or electronic organisers
• Agendas or diaries
• Books
• Pen or any similar writing implement
• Paper / writing pad
• Musical instruments
• Playing cards or games or any description
• Any item requiring electrical or battery power (even if they are powered by solar energy or other sources).
• Exercise equipment or weights

OTHER MATTERS

At any stage the Producers reserve the right to change or adapt these rules without prior notice if they feel it will help the programme or for any reason.