What is a good TV show without a great villain? Boring! Whether we admit it or not, villains are the reason we find many shows entertaining. They take a show from dull to exciting and keep us glued to our tv screen by giving us content to look forward to, and start conversations.
Every season of Big Brother Naija has produced at least one villain and occasionally, some ruined their chances at snatching the grand prize worth millions of naira. From manipulation to backstabbing and abuse, these villains came in different character styles. Their traits made them either interesting or cringe to watch, and led to some housemates having reputations, adopting nicknames and making history. Sometimes, villains were disliked by other housemates, but admired by the audience for their unique qualities.
In honour of the aforementioned traits, we have curated and ranked our top 10 Big Brother Naija villains:
10. Erica
Season: 5, The Lockdown
Erica remained a fan favourite even after she got disqualified over offences like verbally abusing and threatening the life of co-housemate and admirer, Laycon, and making attempts to engage with the camera crew. Her insistence on remaining in Laycon’s space even though she was aware of his strong feelings towards her, and had stated that the feeling wasn’t mutual, caused controversy on social media and led many to view her as manipulative. Erica was a top contender for the grand prize. Though she was disqualified after the aforementioned tragic events, her fans popularly known as the Elites helped recoup the grand prize through Gofundme.
9. Laycon
Season: 5, The Lockdown
For many, Laycon is no saint or as innocent as he tried to portray himself on the Big Brother show. He gossiped about his love interest, Erica, to nearly all the housemates, and many believed it was a strategy to turn the housemates against her because she rejected his love advances. The public blamed him for Erica’s outrage and ensuing disqualification. Many viewers concluded that Laycon pretended to be heartbroken in hopes to secure pity votes because he couldn’t handle Erica’s rejection. In the end, he emerged as the winner of the season.
8. Brighto
Season: 5, The Lockdown
He is the most manipulative housemate on the reality tv show yet. Brighto was known for giving bad relationship advice to housemates which occasionally led to feuds, the infamous ‘apply pressure’ line and turning semovita. Due to his cunning behaviour, fans called him ‘Lord Baelish’, dubbed from a character in the HBO blockbuster series Game Of Thrones. Of the housemates on this list, he seemed to be the only one with a strategy, a funny one too.
7. T-Boss
Season: 2, Pepper Dem Gang
T-Boss is the only villain from the second season of the show. Most viewers described her as controlling, mean and rude. She nominated Miyonse for eviction and towards the game finale, tricked Debie-Rise into believing they were besties. On social media, the public complained that she used fellow housemates Debie-Rise and showmance partner, Miyonse as pawns and slaves to move forward in the game.
6. Beauty
Season: 7, LevelUp
You have to be a menace to be kicked out of the Big Brother house two weeks into the show. The former beauty queen was disqualified after receiving three strikes within a week for physically assaulting love interest Groovy, getting involved in a heated exchange with Ilebaye and taking off her wig. Her elimination is the earliest disqualification in Big Brother’s history.
5. Vee
Season: 5, The Lockdown
Although season 5 produced a few villains, Vee leads as one of the least favourite contestants. She did many things that made people dislike her and even call her a witch. Vee nominated her friend, Lilo for eviction. She added extra chilli while cooking so Erica, the only known ulcer patient, would not eat her food making viewers believe she did it because she disliked Erica. Vee also accused Erica of using jazz on her friend, Laycon. Many believe Vee strategically attached herself to potentially strong housemates like Laycon to evade nomination.
4. Maria
Season: 6, Shine Ya Eye
Maria’s questionable attitude got her evicted early from the reality TV show, a surprising departure for many viewers used to pretty and controversial housemates lasting longer in the house. Many Nigerians were quick to dislike her because of occasions where she was found to be rude, condescending and an instigator. She also consistently slut-shamed and gossiped about co-housemate Angel, leading viewers to think it was an attempt to turn the housemates against Angel. A plan which if it were true, clearly failed after her eviction.
3. Tacha
Season: 4, Pepper Dem Gang
Loved by many, and hated by others, Tacha had some of the most controversial moments on the show. She butted heads with nearly all the housemates. Even Big Brother Naija host, Ebuka got a taste of her spicy attitude. The intriguing part about Tacha was her firm confidence in winning the show, a fact she often reiterated on. Many argue that her dream would have come through if she had not gotten disqualified for assaulting her fellow housemate, rival and eventual winner, Mercy Eke.
2. Cee Cee
Season: 3, Double Wahala
Cee Cee is the original Big Brother Naija villain. All the housemates had a piece of her strong attitude, including the Big Brother Naija sponsors and stylists. Many of her highlights showed her in one heated argument or the other, sparking debates among viewers and on social media. One of the most memorable incidents in Big Brother history starred Cee Cee going off for over an hour on fellow housemate and romantic partner, Tobi, for gossiping about her. Despite her shocking behaviour throughout the season, she was the first runner-up.
1. Sheggz
Season: 7 LevelUp
Popularly known as Mr Ikoyi, Big Sheggz instantly went from fans’ favourite to one of the least favourite housemates, ever. From being condescending towards housemates and calling housemate and lover, Bella out of her name, Sheggz’s behaviour sparked constant conversations on social media leading fans to believe he was manipulative. He won the slavish loyalty of Bella whom the audience believes is oblivious to his emotional abuse and manipulative tactics. It’s not far-fetched that he may have used showmance to advance in the game but unfortunately, fans were fed up with his treatment towards Bella and this led to his eviction.