The highly anticipated All-Stars edition of the Big Brother Naija TV Reality Show finally graced the screen on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
The premier has been trailed by a groundswell of mixed feelings.
One of the most prominent sentiments fluttering on social media is the conspicuous absence of some of the biggest stars in the previous editions.
DAILY POST reports that only two past winners from the six seasons (seasons 2-7) selected for the All-Stars edition- Mercy Eke and Whitemoney, from seasons 4 and 6, respectively, are among the 20 housemates battling for the N120 million cash prize.
Top Season 2 “See Gobe” Housemates Missing
Big Brother Naija Season 2 “See Gobe’ aired in 2017. Its notable stars include Efe Money (winner), Bisola Aiyeola, Debbie-Rise, TBoss, Kemen, ThinTallTony, and Uriel.
Uriel and Somadina “Soma” Anyama are the only housemates from the season participating in the ongoing edition.
The fame of the season winner, Efe, dwindled over the years after his unsuccessful attempt at a music career.
The runner-up, Bisola is currently one of the most sought-after actresses in the country.
On his part, Kemen is now one of Nigeria’s top fitness experts.
None of the ‘See Gobe’ housemates missing from the show has come out to state the reason for their absence.
Top Season 3 “Double Wahala” Housemates Missing
Big Brother Naija Season 3 “Double Wahala” which aired in 2018 was one of the seasons that produced the most superstars.
Its most prominent stars include Miracle Igbokwe (winner), Cee-C, Tobi Bakre, Teddy A, BamBam, late Rico Swavey, Alex Unusual, Nina, Dee-One, Khloe and Ifu Ennada.
Despite rumours that Nina Ivy recently “underwent another Brazilian Butt Lift surgery ahead of the new season”, only CeeC, Alex, and less known, Princess who was the first to be evicted alongside Bitto from the “Double Wahala” House, are representing the season in the ongoing edition.
The season winner, Miracle, is currently one of the top celebrity pilots in the country, while finalist, Tobi Bakre is arguably the most sought-after action thriller actor in Nigeria. He won the Best Actor of the Year at the 9th African Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA.
Celebrity couple, Teddy A and BamBam are also doing well in the movie industry.
Top Season 4 “Pepper Dem” Housemates Missing
Big Brother Naija Season 4 “Pepper Dem” aired in 2019 with Mercy Eke (winner), Tacha, Frodd, Mike Edwards, Ike Onyema, KimOprah, Seyi Awolowo, Venita Akpofure, Elozonam, and Diane Russet being the major stars that emerged from the season.
The quintet of Mercy Eke (winner), Seyi, Frodd, Venita, and Ike are representing the season in the ongoing edition of the Big Brother Reality Show.
However, unlike former housemates from other seasons, “Pepper Dem” stars who are missing from the All-Star edition, have been vocal about their absence from the show.
Controversial housemate, Natacha Akide, aka Tacha who was disqualified from the show during her season, recently claimed she turned down the organisers’ invite to participate in the ongoing edition.
Tacha, who hosts the Big Friday Show on Cool FM Nigeria, bragged on-air last Friday that she can’t “water down” her brand to be on the All-Stars edition if Big Brother Naija organisers are not going to pay her to come on the reality show.
She said, “I’m not going to water down my brand to give Nigerians a show because come on nau, It’s Big T, we know nobody can do it like me.”
Similarly, an actress, Diane Russet, while featuring on the Hip TV programme, Trending, said she was not interested in returning to the Big Brother House.
She said she would prefer to work with the production crew.
Another popular former housemate, KimOprah who hosts Hip TV programme, Trending, is also not in the ongoing all-star edition for obvious reasons.
Top Season 5 “Lockdown” Housemates Missing
Big Brother Naija Season 5 “Lockdown” premiered in July 2020. Its most popular housemates were Laycon (winner), Erica Nlewedim, Dorathy Bachor, Kiddwaya, Nengi, Neo, Vee, Ozo, Brighto, Tolanibaj, Lilo, Ka3na and Prince Nelson.
The season is being represented by the trio of Kiddwaya, Neo, and Tolanibaj in the ongoing edition.
The season winner, Laycon, Dorathy (runner-up), Nengi, Ozo, and controversial housemate, Erica, who was disqualified from the show during the season, are conspicuously missing in the current edition.
Fans on social media are basking in the rumours that the duo of Laycon and Erica would later be introduced to the ongoing season.
However, Laycon has said repeatedly in interviews that he only featured in the reality show to boost his music career.
Similarly, Ozo is currently engaged with Brilla FM where he works as a sports show host.
Top Season 6 “Shine Ya Eye” Housemates Missing
Big Brother Naija Season 6 “Shine Ya Eye” hit the screen in July 2021. Its most prominent stars include Whitemoney (winner), Pere, Liquorose, Cross, Angel Smith, Nini Singh, Saga, Maria Chike, Boma, Tega Dominic, Jackie B, Emmanuel Umoh, and Saskay.
Only Whitemoney, Cross, Pere, and Angel are representing the season in the ongoing edition.
The top housemates from the season such as Liquorose (runner-up), Saga, Boma, Saskay and Nini, who are not participating in the all-star edition, have been silent about their absence.
Understandably, Maria’s absence could be because she just welcomed a baby.
Top Season 7 “Level Up” Housemates Missing
Big Brother Naija Season 7 “Level Up” premiered in July last year. The biggest stars that emerged from the season include Phyna (winner), Hermes Iyele, Bryann, Beauty Tukura, Bella Okagbue, Sheggz, Adekunle Olopade, Groovy, Diana Edobor, Ilebaye, Eloswag, Doyinsola David and Giddyfia.
Both the season winner, Phyna, and runner-up, Bryann, as well as top stars such as Beauty, Groovy, Hermes, Diana, Giddyfia, Bella, and Sheggz are all missing from the ongoing edition.
The season is being represented by the trio of Ilebaye, Doyin, and Adekunle, who emerged as the first-ever Head of House of the All Stars edition.
Some top former housemates of the season have been vocal about their absence.
Diana had disclosed via her Twitter handle that the only reason she could have been on the current edition was if the host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, an ex-Season 1 housemate, was competing.
DAILY POST reports that the organisers of the Big Brother Naija reality show exempted Season 1 housemates from the All-Stars edition. Ebuka belongs to the season.
Another Season 7 housemate, Giddyfia rejected the All-Stars edition, saying via his Twitter handle, “Affliction shall not rise the second time.”
