I recently watched two of ITV’s most popular reality shows for the first time in years, and it looks like they have a common problem.

Looking at the list of past winners of both Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, it seems like almost a decade has passed since I last watched either show.

I may have adjusted it from time to time I’m a Celebritymainly for Ant and Dec, but my interest has waned. Controversial contestants like Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage It only served to deter me further.

As for Big Brother, I completely missed its run on Channel 5 and, like many people I’ve spoken to this year, overlooked when the new series would start.

But in my new position as a TV and Film reporter, I couldn’t ignore these shows this year. I found myself watching Big Brother every night (even when I wasn’t working) and now it’s the same thing I’m a Celebrity.

It certainly helps that both shows this year chose their participants wisely. Big Brother housemates were very diverse without being obvious troublemakers.

On the face of it, it was easy for everyone to pick their favorite. The same can be said for the forest so far this year, according to reports Mirror.

But the real issue, and where most fans are calling for change, lies in each series’ utility. These shows are a great concept that provides a platform for fans to engage in discussions about what they just watched. The popularity of such platforms is evident from the numerous YouTube channels dedicated to analyzing football matches every weekend.

Examples include Big Brother’s Little Brother, Big Brother’s Bit On The Side and now Big Brother Late and Live, which airs immediately after the main show on ITV2. Secondly, the main show even shares the same presenters with Will Best and AJ Odudu.

This poses a problem. Regardless of their performance in the main series, the supporting series needs to offer something different. This is especially evident on eviction nights, where there is little difference between the two broadcasts.

I’m a Celebrity‘s companion show on ITV has also gone through several iterations. Originally known as Get Me Out of Here Now, it was followed by Extra Camp and then an online-only version called Daily Drop.

It has been revamped as Unpacked, now hosted by Joel Dommett, Sam Thompson and Kemi Rodgers. Although it’s still early days, this trio already has an advantage over their Big Brother counterparts.

Dynamic duo Ant and Dec are known for their intriguing cameos in the opening episode, where they delve into the events of the main show before quickly leaving. Late and Live can easily take a similar approach.

Will Best, who has already graced this Unpacked series, is a master at outmaneuvering his co-hosts.

One key advantage enjoyed by both programs is the inclusion of additional footage and exclusive clips. Considering that each series packs an entire day into just one hour of TV viewing, a lot is inevitably left unseen.

But companion programs offer viewers these extra snippets. Late and Live stand out in this area, while Unpacked tends to recycle a lot of old clips.

Fans expressed their opinions on this issue on social media. One fan expressed enjoyment in the exclusive content on Unpacked and praised Sam Thompson for his insightful contributions: “I must say I loved these exclusive clips from Unpacked as well as Sam Thompson’s props, I really appreciate him on this show. I started out really understanding what people are going through and telling those kinds of truths.”

Another fan suggested that the focus should be on new material rather than rehashing previously aired scenes. They stated: “I wish they would stop playing the clips we saw on Unpacked. I know they do that to talk about specific moments, but Late and Live don’t. L and L at least give more specials, but both after shows are flawed in different ways.”

Both programs have shortcomings. The dialogue in Unpacked often stumbles in its attempts to engage viewers. Audience members are invited to send voice notes via Whatsapp, but unfortunately most tend to ramble on without making a point or are difficult to hear due to the volume of their television in the background.

Late and Live has a lively audience that constantly contributes to the discussion. This is understandably challenging for a company based in Australia. I’m a Celebrity Compared to Big Brother’s London location, perhaps input from guests and former contestants is enough?

It looks like both reality shows still have some distance left. Although success I’m a Celebrity It seems to be largely down to Ant and Dec’s involvement. However, if both series aim to continue and maintain fan engagement in the years to come, the key may lie in perfecting the supporting show.

I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with Big Brother returning to ITV2 in 2025