Coronavirus: Big Brother Germany contestants finally learn about pandemic live on air

One viewer accused show’s host of ‘downplaying’ extent of situation

Big Brother contestants in Germany have finally been told about the coronavirus pandemic live on air.

The 13 individuals left remaining knew about the early cases of the illness, which were first reported in Wuhan, China – but were among some of the only people in the world not to know how widely it had spread since the show began on 10 February.

Contestants in the Cologne compound were shown a video that filled them in on the extent of the situation, which has seen cities across Europe go into quarantine, and received messages from home.

Family members, knowing the situation to be a unique one, kept the videos light-hearted, with one asking them to bring back some toilet roll considering supermarkets had run out due to stockpiling.

One contestant burst into tears upon learning the news, but was assured when a doctor – sat behind a screen – spoke to them at length about the news.

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A viewer said that the doctor as well as the show’s host, Jochen Schropp, were “downplaying” the situation in an attempt to prevent walkouts.

Producers decided to tell the housemates after a backlash on social media deriding the fact they had not been shown news footage.

No new contestants had entered the show since the illness was characterised as a pandemic.

Contestants on Big Brother Brazil have also been left in the dark about the virus since January, while Big Brother Canada housemates have not had any updates since entering the house on 4 March.

In a clip that went viral, contestants in the Canada compound can be heard discussing why there was no audience to cheer out the first person who had been evicted.

In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Big Brother said: “The health and wellbeing of Big Brother Housemates is our priority. All current productions were informed last week that the usual format rules regarding outside news do not apply in this instance, and it was requested that they inform their respective housemates of the evolving situation regarding COVID-19.

“The majority of Housemates have already been briefed and this process will be complete today (17 March).”