A new Nigerian reality TV show, Celebrity Housemates, is set to launch on January 12 and air until February 11.
Described by its producers as the “convergence of culture, lifestyle and entertainment,” the reality show will have 12 celeb housemates from different sectors of the entertainment industry competing for a cash prize of N7m.
Promoting peace and unity, Celebrity Housemates will feature contestants from the six regions of Nigeria to showcase the nation’s strengths. The reality show is set to air around the clock online and will also include a one-hour daily show on TV nationwide.
The show’s broadcasters are yet to be announced but producers said it will air on 14 stations across Nigeria, plus via Dope TV, a dedicated YouTube channel and a mobile app.
The celebrity contestants will include Emmanuel Ikubese, Yomi Fash Lanso, Funky Mallam, Doris Simeon, Ruggedman, Muma Gee, Ada Ameh, Peggy Ovire, Eniola Badmus, Bolanle Ninalowo, Ogenna Ekwubiri and Frederick Leonard.
Sponsored by travel agent Fly for Value, Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Dope TV, Masters Entertainment, Royalsec Security and Amen Estate, the show is put together by Lagos-based management consultancy Heartlink Ventures.
The 30-day series will involve daily tasks and challenges, focusing on lifestyle, interpretation of culture, education and games. Other celebrities will visit the contestants weekly to share entrepreneurial and career-oriented ideas on whatever project they have in mind.
The contestant who wins the fewest viewer votes each week will be evicted. Every weekend, a party will be held to celebrate the end of the week and other guest stars will be brought in to celebrate with contestants.
The winner of the prize money will donate N2m to charity and N1m to selected viewers. Other contestants will go home with cash prizes too.
Kemi Otegbade, MD of Heartlink and executive producer of the series, said: “We are using this show to converge the Nigerian cultural values with the ideal lifestyle of celebrities and entertain Nigerians in an educating and exciting way.
“We have been working on the format and I can assure Nigerians of an engaging and exciting experience on television and online. We can also confirm it will be an annual event,” Otegbade added.
The team behind the show includes Danladi Bako, as co-executive producer, and Sola Fajobi, as consulting producer, with an advisory board comprising media execs such as Mayor Akinpelu, Funke Egbemode and Jahman Oladejo.
“Our celebrities are normal human beings. Although their fans adore them and grant them a larger-than-life perception, it is imperative that we create a platform for their fans to connect, engage and get a peep into their lifestyles, hence the creation of the reality TV show,” added a representative of Fly for Value.
tagged in: Ada Ameh, Bolanle Ninalowo, Celebrity Housemates, Doris Simeon, Emmanuel Ikubese, Eniola Badmus, Frederick Leonard, Funky Mallam, Heartlink, Kemi Otegbade, Muma Gee, Ogenna Ekwubiri, Peggy Ovire, reality, Ruggedman, Yomi Fash Lanso