A former Big Brother housemate has lifted the lid on the show\u2019s behind-the-scenes rules for smoking and vaping – and the details are more surprising than your average reality show twist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily Benson, who appeared on Big Brother 2024, recently featured on a podcast hosted by Love Island alumni Jessie Wynter and Will Young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the interview, she revealed that contestants are allowed unlimited access to vapes, but only if they\u2019re willing to pay for them out of their own \u201callowance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if a housemate needs nicotine, it\u2019s quietly charged against their compensation. Benson told the hosts: \u201cYou can get as many vapes as you want – but it goes off your allowance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She explained that housemates receive daily pay, but must request additional cigarettes or vape products from \u201cBig Brother,\u201d at which point producers ask, \u201c\u2018What flavour do you want? What kind of vape?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added: \u201cIf you run out, you might be like, \u2018Can I have it now?\u2019 And they\u2019d be like, \u2018But someone\u2019s got to go to the shop, you might not get it until tomorrow.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These revelations echo what fans already suspected, that smoking and vaping are now managed very tightly on reality TV. Industry commentary suggests producers aim to limit on-camera nicotine use to avoid glamourising it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the case of Big Brother, reports say any consumption must take place in a designated smoking area, which is off camera with microphones off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, Big Brother houses featured prominent smoking zones; versions in past years even incorporated smoking areas into set design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the current regime, the behind-the-scenes framework for smoking and vaping seems to have shifted from open design to tight control. But Benson\u2019s comments suggest producers still keep a close hand on who pays for what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This isn\u2019t the first time nicotine use has caused a stir in the ITV-era Big Brother house (The long-running reality show first aired on Channel 4 in 2000, then Channel 5, before ITV revived it in 2023.) Earlier this year, fellow 2024 contestant Emma revealed on Instagram that she and another housemate had been secretly vaping under the duvet, breaking the rules entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During a post-show Q&A, Emma admitted she\u2019d \u201cfound\u201d an extra vape in her locker and decided to smuggle it into the house. \u201cWhen I was in bed at night, I used to put the covers over my head and vape,\u201d she confessed. \u201cOne night I\u2019m in bed, Sarah\u2019s next to me, and I\u2019ve got the covers over my head. I had a vape, and she\u2019s gone, \u2018Oooh, it smells like vapes in here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emma said she tried to discreetly hand the vape over to her friend to cover her tracks, adding, \u201cApparently Marcello was doing the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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