M-net had always kept viewers on their toes with its many twists on the Big Brother show but the  latest edition has the most surprising revelations. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE writes

WHEN M-Net announced that it was set to give its viewers another Big Brother experience out of the  blues and on the heel of the world cup, many were skeptical that this year’s edition would not meet  the standard set by the four previous editions especially when no auditions took place.

These skeptics have however been proved wrong right from Sunday when names of the housemates  were announced. It was indeed a surprise when the housemates were unveiled one after the other.

The noise showed the surprise of many fans as they saw previous housemates that they never  expected to see once again grace the BBA House. Eight days after, the show has continued to reveal  that this edition is indeed a different one that will leave viewers making guesses for the next 83  days since the housemates have shown that they are back with more tricks and experience than  they had before.

When the fifth edition of the show kicked off with a bang last Sunday night with the theme - Big  Brother All Stars featuring 14 of the most unforgettable housemates from the four previous seasons,  many were convinced that it is set to be the hottest season yet.

Former housemates - Mwisho from Tanzania who featured in Season 1, Jennifer from Mozambique  – Season 4, Paloma  from Zambia – Season 4, Munya  from Zimbabwe – Season 4, Code  from  Malawi – Season 2, Yacob from Ethiopia – Season 4, Sheila from Kenya – Season 3, Sammi from  Ghana – Season 1, Kaone  from Botswana – Season 4, Meryl  from Namibia – Season 2, notorious  Uti  from Nigeria – Season 3, Lerato  from South Africa – Season 2, Hannington  from Uganda – Season 4 and Tatiana from Angola – Season 2 are back in the game – they all know how to play as  well as all the tricks, they have seen their fellow housemates in action before and are all hungry for  the prize of 200 000 United States dollars

Out of the 14 housemates, none have ever won the competition, with Mwisho coming closest when  he finished second to Cherise in Big Brother Africa season 1.

IK got the show off to a flying start when he arrived in a limousine and greeted dashing guest  presenter Eku - and immediately gave viewers a sneak peak of the Big Brother All Stars house. The  stylish new house features world-class décor and the coolest accessories – not to mention a plethora  of cameras and microphones which will screen the housemates’ moves to the continent for the next  91 days.

Jamaican dancehall superstar Sean Paul set the bar high for the most riveting season yet when he  took to the stage to perform his hit Temperature, before IK brought the 14 familiar housemates out,  one after the other.

Mwisho, playing it cool, wouldn’t give much away about his strategy for the game.  Jennifer set  pulses racing in a gorgeous pink dress before Paloma was revealed, promising to be as  uncompromising as ever.  She was followed by new dad Munya who was next onto the red carpet.
Code promised double the music, double the action and double the fun before Yacob told Eku he  was also “all about the fun” and promised to be more open to other people’s opinions – was the  master strategist already playing the game even before the famous Big Brother doors opened?

Sheila told viewers she would be bringing her ability to relate to just about anyone into the game  and promised “all Sheila, all the time, uncensored”.

Ghana’s Sammi told viewers he’d learned a lot after his experience on Big Brother Africa Season 1 – including remembering not to let emotions distract him from playing the game.

Super-stylish Kaone was next out of the limousine and IK immediately quizzed him about seeing  season 4 housemate Geraldine on a recent trip to Nigeria , but the modest man from Botswana said  there was nothing going on between them.

Fun-loving Meryl told viewers she had been hoping for a return to the Big Brother house and would  be more cautious this time around.

Uti was the 11th Big Brother All Stars housemate to step out of the limousine, promising that he had  changed – and was particularly excited to see fellow season 3 housemate Sheila.

South Africa’s Lerato told Eku that she was heading into the house to be herself and have a good  time – but swore off ‘another’ relationship in the house before super-smooth Hannington told the  continent  he felt misunderstood on season 4 and was looking forward to rectifying that on Big  Brother All Stars.

The final All Star to join IK on stage was Tatiana, who promised IK that she was still the same  fun-loving contestant the continent got to know in season 2 – but this time she would be standing  her ground if things got heated.

Ghanaian stars “The African Drum” played as the housemates entered the Big Brother All Stars  house, with their energy and dynamism setting the tone for what is sure to be a fascinating season.  With the housemates safely locked away until evictions begin, IK and Eku rolled a video insert  which saw all the housemates spilling their darkest secrets to the continent. The housemates must  now find out their fellow housemates’ secrets over the course of the next 91 days, with rewards and  penalties on the cards for success and failure.

Sean Paul closed out the show with So Fine before heading into the house himself for a while – and  what a fine season of Big Brother All Stars it promises to be!

The winner of Big Brother All Stars will be named after 91 days of magic and the power to award to  USD 200 000 prize rests in the hands of the viewers.The stage is indeed set for an all stars show.