Big Brother VIP Kosova is a Kosovan reality game show based on the Dutch reality competition franchise Big Brother.[1] The show follows a number of celebrity contestants, known as housemates, who are isolated from the outside world for an extended period of time in a custom built house. Each week, one of the housemates is evicted by a public vote, with the last housemate named the winner. Like Big Brother VIP Albania, it includes ethnic Albanians from the Balkans and the Diaspora.
Big Brother VIP Kosova started airing on Klan Kosova on 5 December 2022.[2] The show is hosted by Alaudin Hamiti and Jonida Vokshi.[3] In honor of the format's 25th anniversary, Banijay Entertainment awarded Big Brother VIP Kosova the Highest Performance Award, distinguishing it as the best-performing edition among all international versions.[4]
On 17 March 2023, renowned Albanian rapper Arkimed Lushaj, known as Stresi, was announced as the winner of the first season.[5][6] On 3 February 2024, former professional football player and model Lumbardh Salihu was announced as the winner of the second season.[7]
Due to satisfactory ratings of the first season, Klan Kosova announced a second season of Big Brother VIP Kosova, which began airing on 20 October 2023.[8] The show was renewed for a third season and began airing on 18 October 2024 on Klan Kosova.[9]
Format
Big Brother VIP Kosova is a reality game show where a group of celebrity contestants, known as housemates, live in isolation inside a specially designed "house," cut off from the outside world. The housemates are under constant video surveillance, and they are prohibited from accessing television, the internet, print media, or any other form of external communication.
Throughout the competition, the housemates are confined within the house with no contact with the outside world. Viewers often play a role in the game by voting for their favorite housemates, with the most popular contestants earning immunity from eviction. Additionally, housemates themselves vote for a fellow contestant they consider deserving of immunity.
At least once a week, housemates secretly nominate two of their peers to face a public vote for eviction. The two or more housemates with the most nominations are put up for elimination, and the public decides who stays and who goes through text message or phone vote. The housemate with the most votes for eviction is eliminated from the house.
Housemates can also choose to voluntarily leave the game at any time if they find the experience too difficult to endure. When a housemate withdraws, a replacement is typically introduced to take their place.
In the final week of the season, the remaining housemates face one last challenge: the viewers vote for the winner, who receives a grand prize of €200,000 and is crowned the ultimate victor of Big Brother VIP Kosova.[10]
History
In June 2022, it was announced that Big Brother will come for the first time in Kosovo on Klan Kosova and Artmotion, with a celebrity version under the name Big Brother VIP Kosova.[11] The show is broadcast live 24/7 on two pay-per-view channels, Big Brother VIP Kosova 1 and Big Brother VIP Kosova 2, which are available on the Kosovan TV platform Artmotion, as well as on NimiTV and TVALB for the Albanian diaspora in other countries of Europe, United States and Canada.[12][13]
On 27 June 2022, it was announced that Alaudin Hamiti will be the presenter of the live shows.[14] On 14 September 2022, it was announced that Jonida Vokshi will be the second presenter of the live shows, alongside Hamiti.[15] Hamiti and Vokshi, also returned for the second season, as the presenters of the live shows.[16] On 29 September 2024, it was announced that Alaudin Hamiti would return as the host for the third season.[17] On 13 October 2024, Hamiti announced that Jonida Vokshi would also return as host for the third season.[18]
On 18 September 2022, it was announced that Olti Curri will be the opinionist in the live shows, for the first season.[19] On 21 November 2022, it was announced that Afërdita Paqarada will be the second opinionist in the live shows, with Curri.[20] Paqarada was replaced by Anita Haradinaj on 23 January 2023.[21] Anita Haradinaj returned as opinionist in the prime shows, for the second season,[22] and was joined by Bledi Mane, replacing Curri.[23] On 7 October 2024, was posted on the official account of Big Brother VIP Kosova on Facebook, that the new opinionist, for the third season, will be Milaim Zeka.[24] On 14 October 2024, Klan Kosova announced Olta Gixhari, as the second opinionist.[25]
Big Talk Kosova is a spin-off show of Big Brother VIP Kosova. The show premiered on 11 December 2022 on Klan Kosova. The show was announced in November 2022 and has received its own title card and promotional videos.[26] In the first season, the show was broadcast every Sunday at 03:30 pm and since the second season, is broadcasting every Sunday at 06:00 pm. The series features debates and conversations about the latest goings inside and outside the house with a studio audience and celebrity panel, and with the first eliminated housemate who are usually invited to the studio after leaving.
On 18 November 2022, it was announced that Elita Rudi will present the first season.[27] Mbresa Hajrullahu was the new host for the second season, replacing Rudi.[28] On 13 October 2024, it was announced that Diellza Daka would be the host for the third season, replacing Hajrullahu.[29]
