The first season of Grande Fratello kicked off on 14 September 2000, and ended on 21 December 2000. The idea was spawned from George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, and the Italian version was inspired by the original Big Brother series in the Netherlands.
Concept
Every two weeks, the Housemates were called to the Confessional to nominate, choosing two Housemates each whom they wished to see face the Public Vote. The two or more Housemates with the most nominations would face the Public Vote, and the least popular Housemate was evicted from the House.
Viewership
Grande Fratello started with 5 million viewers at the launch of the show. Viewing figures increased fast, with 10 million viewers watching the eighth episode. It reached 16 million viewers at season finale.
Housemates
Ten Housemates moved into the House on Day One, each hoping to emerge from the House as the eventual winner of the prize fund.
Cristina
was born on 17 June 1972. She was the winner of the first season of Grande Fratello, and therefore won the £250,000 cash prize.
Francesca
Francesca Piri was born on 15 May 1976. Francesca moved around a lot, attending various universities, but was excluded from all of them. In the House, she struggled to adapt and fit in with her fellow Housemates, and became the first to be evicted.
Lorenzo
Lorenzo Battistello was born on 13 November 1973 in Vicenza. In the House, he became known as the House chef. Since leaving the House, he has opened a successful restaurant in Milan.
Maria Antonietta
Maria Antonietta Tilloca is a painter and artist, born in Alghero on 27 May 1973. She paints mainly in red and black. In the House, she was seen as a peace-maker and very diplomatic, whilst also overcoming personal difficulties in her real life, such as breaking up with her then boyfriend live on television.
Marina
was born on 21 January 1977. Marina was eventually evicted over Cristina with 83% of the vote, in which over one million people voted.
Pietro
was born in Italy on 4 February 1975. He was a law student but did not finish his studies after dropping out. Pietro was very extroverted in the House, which led to enormous popularity with the Italian public. He died on 29 June 2010 due to a parachuting accident, making him the first Italian ex-Housemate to have died after Grande Fratello.
Roberta
Robeta Beta, born on 22 August 1965, worked in public relations. During her stay in the House, she proved very unpopular, even on one occasion receiving unanimous Nominations from all her fellow Housemates.
Rocco
Rocco Casalino, born on 1 July 1972, lived for sixteen years in Germany and has a degree in electrical engineering. In the House, Rocco was seen as being vain and attentive to the aesthetic side of his appearance, but also as being very well educated. He was also very volatile, often being very sensitive and telling stories of his alcoholic father's death and other difficulties with his family, but at other times being very argumentative and aggressive, arguing with Lorenzo, Salvo, Peter and, in particular, Marina.
Salvo
Salvo Veneziano, born on 4 April 1975, is a married man with one daughter named Laura. Salvo was considered to be the House comedian. Since leaving the House, Salvo has opened a chain of pizzerias.
Sergio
Sergio Volpin was born on 20 June 1975 in Ancona. Sergio was very confident in his appearance and was often considered to be conceited. His bizarre but hilarious rants often took centre stage during the show's highlights, and he proved very popular.
