By Aaliyah Rugg

Copyright dailyrecord

Big Brother contestants must follow stringent regulations whilst on the programme , some of which might surprise viewers. An official 2025 Big Brother launch date is yet to be confirmed, but excitement continues to mount for the beloved programme. The social experiment features a group of strangers living together in the iconic Big Brother house equipped with surveillance cameras and recording devices. ITV rebooted the series in 2023, which witnessed Jordan Sangha claiming victory, whilst Ali Bromley secured the title the following year . Will Best and AJ Odudu are set to return as presenters, though the contestant lineup and premiere date remain unknown. Whilst supporters eagerly anticipate updates regarding the autumn edition, we’ve examined some regulations Big Brother participants must observe, and certain ones might prove unexpected, reports OK! . Big Brother enforces a rigorous no smoking or vaping policy except within the designated zone away from cameras. Nevertheless, supporters might recall a 2024 disclosure when contestant Emma revealed their concealed vapes they had been secretly using beneath their bedding, according to the Tab . She revealed: “When I was in bed at night, I used to put the covers over my head and vape. Couldn’t tell anyone cause I had a mic on, one night I’m in bed, Sarah’s next to me, and I’ve got the covers over my head. I had a vape, and she’s gone, big trap, ‘Oooh, it smells like vapes in here.’ And I thought, ‘you d******.'”. Contestants are strictly forbidden from having any contact with the outside world, which includes making gestures to communicate with viewers. This rule extends to mobile phones, newspapers, and any other form of communication. Upon entering the Big Brother house, contestants are also barred from bringing in books, notebooks, pens, and musical instruments. The only clothing they’re allowed to bring must be free of obvious branding or messages. Secret messaging between contestants is also a no-go. Fans may recall an incident during Celebrity Big Brother when Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa were accused of doing just this by writing on each other’s hands. Another instance occurred when Chris tried to speculate who his fellow housemates would vote for during nominations. In 2023, Olivia and Hallie faced penalties when Hallie was spotted writing messages on Olivia’s back about their other housemates using her fingers. According to Cosmopolitan , housemates are not permitted to nap – if they do, an alarm will sound to wake them up. They’re also prohibited from moving furniture unless explicitly instructed by Big Brother. The cameras are always rolling, meaning contestants must behave appropriately at all times. There are even cameras in the bathrooms, and housemates are not allowed to tamper with the filming equipment. They’re also required to wear microphones at all times. A key rule for housemates is to avoid inappropriate language or behaviour. Earlier this year, Mickey Rourke was shown the door following his conduct towards Chris Hughes, which came after a previous warning for remarks he made to JoJo Siwa. As reported by RadioTimes , the welfare of housemates is monitored round-the-clock and support is readily available for them on the show. It’s also been noted that former housemates have received comprehensive briefings from Big Brother officials to “prepare them for living in the House and to set out Big Brother’s expectation for appropriate behaviour and language”. Big Brother returns to ITV2 and ITVX this autumn.