IK Hosts Big Brother Once Again

Big Brother Hotshots gets underway in a matter of days and IK Osakioduwa is set to host Africa’s biggest reality show for the sixth time in a row.

IK has won the hearts of many fans across Africa for his ability to speak openly and directly with housemates and allow them to be at ease about their most vulnerable moments.

Asuquo Eton met up with IK, who revealed what viewers can expect from the new season.

When you hear Big Brother what comes to mind?

Well, the first thing is the word “dedication”. You have to understand that I don’t see the show as how everyone else sees it. To me, it’s more than just a source of entertainment. I have the rare privilege of seeing the team behind the scenes that run the show.

I’ve got to tell you, the amount of dedication it takes to run the Big Brother is second to no other show I know.

What would you say to this year’s contestants?

The same advice I give to the contestants every year. Try your best to be yourself. That way, people get to know who you are and can make a decent choice whether to vote for you or not.

But if you put up an act, you might not be able to sustain it until the end of the show and the minute you start to change, you’ll confuse whatever fans you may have gathered. It’s just safest to be yourself.

Have you ever met Big Brother?

No. Not physically

What are your expectations for this year’s Big Brother Hotshots edition?

In all honesty, I never know what to expect until I meet the housemates. They are the ones that bring life to Biggie’s ideas and concepts. So I guess I’m just kinda excited and waiting with baited breath.

How does it feel being the one to announce evictions to the housemates?

Well, it’s always a difficult thing to do because you’ve come to like these people. You’ve spent so much time watching them that you feel connected to them. Like we were friends before they came to the house. And who wants to be the one to tell a friend bad news? But hey, it’s part of the show and it’s part of my job.

Which year’s Big Brother stands out the most to you?

The show has progressively gotten better over the years, and each year has exceeded my expectations. So even though I see each edition differently and can hardly compare them, I think each new edition outdoes the previous ones.

And even the numbers support that notion. Each year, the social media interaction about the show exceeds the previous year’s records.

Do you think Big Brother participants have better opportunities after their stay in the house?

I certainly think it opens up a world of possibilities to them. Especially if they are interested in a media career.

If you look at the lives of some past housemates, it also supports the theory. Nic hosts Mashariki Mix, Gaetano got a job on several radio stations and landed several acting gigs, Uti hosts Jara, Vimbai hosts Star Gist etc. The list goes on.

The truth is that once you’ve been on the show, people all over Africa are more welcoming to you.

Apart from being the host of Big Brother, what other projects are you currently working on?

Well apart from Big Brother, I also keep a radio job where I work on radio four times a week. This year, I also ventured into acting. I played lead in a TV series and I have acted in two other movies.

I’m going to do even more acting in the near future. I also have plans for some more TV show content. Just watch this space.

Big Brother Hotshots kicks off on Sunday, September 7, at 5pm and runs 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198.