Big Brother fans have accused ITV bosses of copying one of the BBC’s most iconic shows, as the house took a tense and paranoid turn in the latest shopping task.

In a bid to win a luxury shopping budget, the house was split into three gangs, with Head of House Marcello, and his right-hand woman Lily tasked with trying to track down the saboteurs.

However, viewers learned that Nathan, Ali and Hanah were secretly sabotaging the task, and if they were successful in ruining the heist, and staying undetected, the house would win the luxury shopping budget.

Given the focus on lies, sneaking and paranoia, viewers were quick to compare the task with The Traitors, especially with the trio of housemates tasked with trying to pull off their secret plot.

Posts to X included: ‘This task is basically ITVs answer to BBC Traitors;

‘Are they trying to recreate The Traitors with this task

‘I didn’t know series three of The Traitors had started already?

‘This task is giving serious vibes of The Traitors, the show that spun off from Big Brother;

‘The Traitors producers watching Big Brother steal their concepts and pass it off as their own; Not them copying The Traitors lool;’

After a series of heists, the Biker Bandits succeeded in sabotaging the task without being detected, meaning the entire house won the luxury shopping budget. 

Fans are already eagerly anticipating the third series of The Traitors, with reports already claiming it’s set to hit screens on New Year’s Day.

It comes after a shocking nominations twist led to a surprise lineup of housemates facing the first double eviction of the series during Wednesday’s episode.

Following the latest round of nominations, it was revealed that Ali, Baked Potato, Emma, Khaled and Lily will be the next Housemates to face the public vote ahead of Friday night’s live double eviction.

Viewers learned that Ali, Emma, Khaled, Lily and Thomas received the most nominations from their fellow housemates this week. 

Lily received six nominations from Emma, Hanah, Khaled, Marcello, Segun and Thomas, while Ali received four nominations from Emma, Hanah, Marcello and Segun. 

Emma received three nominations from Ali, Hanah and Thomas, while Khaled received three nominations from Baked Potato, Lily and Sarah, and Thomas received two nominations from Baked Potato and Lily.

However, Head of House Marcello was given the opportunity to either Save and Replace or deliver a Killer Nomination, and he opted to save Thomas, over Khaled, despite their close bond.

He said: ‘It’s definitely between Tom and Khaled – I love them both. Khaled is an incredible person, I feel like he’s opened up more as the weeks have gone on, sometimes misunderstood, but I’m leaning towards Tom because right at the beginning, he was my day one.

‘We had a good connection, so I think I’m going to choose to save Thomas.’

After struggling to choose who he would like to put up for eviction, Marcello returned to the house, and was asked by Big Brother to explain the reasons for his decision.

He said: ‘I feel awful for it, I want you to know it’s a massive compliment because I think you’ll be saved. I’m really sorry,’ before announcing he’d chosen to save Thomas, and replace him with Baked Potato.

The decision sparked gasps from the rest of the house, and outrage from many fans, given Baked Potato had received just one nomination so far.

Posts on X included: ‘Marcello instead of putting up Nathan you put up Baked Potato? I’m so confused and upset right now’

‘So you understand Marcello picking you Baked Potato but you can’t understand why Khaled picked Lily for nomination… hmm interesting! Let me not say what I want to;

‘Marcello has saved Thomas from eviction and has put up BAKED POTATO;

‘I f*****g hate this series so bad. Ali, Khaled, Emma, Lily and BAKED POTATO UP FOR NOMINATION? The f*****g core group will pay!’

‘Saved Tom and replaced with, Baked Potato!’

‘Marcello I’m so disappointed you had ONE job – I supposed Baked Potato going home and watching Nathan cry will be a good enough compromise;

‘MARCELLO had one job to save Khaled and replace him with Nathan. NOT SAVE TOM AND REPLACE HIM WITH BAKED POTATO;

‘He f*****g put Baked Potato up, absolutely abysmal behaviour;”’