The contestants on the reality TV show, Big Brother Germany, entered the house prior to the global explosion of the coronavirus. They entered the house on February 6th and have been blissfully unaware of the rapid expansion of the virus in Germany and throughout the world.

The producers weren’t planning on telling them about what’s going on as the guests are all cut off from all news outside the house.

The show’s producers, for the TV channel Sat.1, defended the decision not to update the housemates on the crisis going on in the outside world, telling the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that the information blackout would only be lifted in certain circumstances, such as a family member’s illness. They also pointed to “special hygiene measures†taken to protect residents themselves from infection, though did not explain what those measures entailed.

Public pressure has made the producers change their minds.

But after uproar on social media, Sat.1 changed its position – and announced a live special episode, due to air before the regular slot at 7pm on Tuesday evening, in which the housemates will be told of the growing crisis. They will be given the opportunity to ask questions about the state of the nation, as well as receive video messages from their relatives.