The eighth edition of Africa’s biggest reality series Big Brother Africa kicks off in May and already fans of arguably the most successful television franchise ever seen on the continent are asking…who will the new housemates be?

Who will find their name and their faces gracing newspapers, their profiles loaded to websites and blogs?

Who will become the subject of drive time radio and just who will find themselves heating up the Twitter-sphere?

At this time there is no way to know this but if you meet the entry requirements and enter between now and Valentine’s Day on Thursday 14 February, you may well be among the superstars in waiting and may find yourself flirting with fame and fortune!

Entry forms are available immediately at www.africamagic.tv/bigbrother so visit the website and complete the online submission form.

Printed entry forms will also be available at MultiChoice offices in the participating countries from February 1, 2013.

This year, entry is open to the same 14 countries as the year before with the only exception being Liberia which will be replaced by Ethiopia. The replacement comes as AfricaMagic and series producers Endemol SA rotate certain countries into and out of the format. The reason for this is to ensure that a wide range of countries can be included in different editions of the series.  

As a result of the change, participating countries this year are: Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Entry is open to all persons over the age of 21, who are citizens of one of the participating countries and who either have a valid passport or will be able to obtain one by the end of March. Producers are looking for persons who are fluent in English, entertaining and passionate about the Big Brother experience. Of particular importance to the selection team are the qualities of tolerance, determination and enthusiasm. If you are open-minded, bold and adventurous, that’s even better!

As with previous editions of Big Brother Africa, the new season will have a twist…and according to M-Net Africa Managing Director Biola Alabi, who has helmed the production for the past four years, the big surprise this year is one that audiences are expected to fall in love with.

“As always, we won’t say much about the new season but I can confirm that we’ve added a new element that I think will get the hearts of viewers racing. The fact that the fans truly adore the show is all the motivation we need to keep it fresh and fun!”

Her views are echoed by Endemol MD Sivan Pillay who says, “Our long-term association with M-Net is very much a partnership, a marriage of sorts. We understand what they desire for their audiences, and they trust us enough to let us develop innovative twists and surprises. So the process is quite harmonious and very exciting, as all good relationships should be. I am hopeful that this year we are creating a red-hot show that will include familiar trademarks like nominations and evictions alongside a very special new development.”

Previous editions of Big Brother Africa have boasted huge cash prizes for winners and this year the winner will walk away with USD 300 000.

More information on Big Brother Africa 8 will be made available over the next month, so stay tuned to AfricaMagic, follow the action on Twitter and Facebook and keep checking the website.  Big Brother Africa 8 will be screened live 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198 while GOtv audiences will see highlights of the program which begins on Sunday 26 May and is scheduled to run for 91 days.