Big Brother VIP (Albanian TV series) season 1

Big Brother VIP 2021, also known as Big Brother VIP 1 was the first season of Big Brother VIP, hosted by Arbana Osmani. The season began airing on 5 October 2021 on Top Channel, and ended after 137 days on 18 February 2022. The viewers can watch for the whole season live from the house in two live pay-per-view channels, with the name Big Brother VIP 1 and Big Brother VIP 2, which are available on Albanian TV platform DigitAlb. The two opinionists in the live evictions shows, were Arbër Hajdari and Balina Bodinaku. Dojna Mema hosted the spin-off show Big Brother VIP – Fans' Club and Iva Tiço was the opinionist. One week after the final of the show, was broadcast a reunion show, with the name Post Big Brother VIP. The three episodes were broadcast on 22 February, 25 February and 1 March 2022. The show was hosted by Arbana Osmani, and the two opinionists were Arbër Hajdari and Balina Bodinaku.

The show was originally scheduled to last 100 days, with the finale on 11 January 2022. However, due to satisfactory ratings, the show was extended by over one month, making it the longest Albanian season overall, with 137 days.

On 18 February 2022, Ilir Shaqiri was announced as the winner of the season, having received 35% of the final vote, with Donald Veshaj as the runner-up after receiving 30%. Ilir Shaqiri won a €100,000 prize.

Production
The celebrity version of the show was expected to start during the 2017–2018 television season. In 2019, Top Channel announced that Big Brother would come back for the 2019–2020 television season in Albania, but they didn't say if will be an original or a celebrity version. On 12 August 2021, Top Channel confirmed that the season would air in October 2021. On 30 September 2021, Top Channel announced that the show will begin airing on 5 October 2021.

Promotion
The first trailer of the show premiered on 29 January 2018 and read "...It's hard, being a VIP! They deserve to relax! And where is the VIP resort?! Big Brother Vip ... coming soon only on Top Channel." Top Channel released in August 2021, a trailer and read "We have been told that you miss him." and at the end of the trailer we hear Arbana Osmani telling "Returns soon to Top Channel.".

House
In the original version of Big Brother Albania, the house was located in different towns including Gërdec and Kashar. The celebrity version was filmed in Studio Nova in Tirana.

Housemates
On Day 1, fourteen housemates entered the house during launch. As time went on, sixteen new people were introduced, making for a total of thirty housemates in the season.

DJ PM and DJ Dagz were eliminated on the 74th day, but Big Brother decided to open a televoting and the public would decide who'd come back in the Big Brother house. The public decided for DJ Dagz to come back and he reentered the house as a single player.

Igli Zarka, was forced to leave the house few days after he entered, on 8 November, due to health problems.

Fifi, also decided to leave the house, as she said she wasn't feeling good enough to keep on the game. It all started when she started to express her feelings towards Granit Cana, and he said to her that sees her as a sister. She had an emotional breakdown in the middle of the night and everyone claimed she had psychological problems. It was just the beginning, as she had a really harsh debate with the opinionist, Balina Bodinaku, on the Tuesday, 23 November live show. Balina claimed that Fifi wasn't a fan of Sarah Berisha and DJ PM's love, she was just seeking attention. Fifi said that it was a really hard count towards her, and she wasn't absolutely seeking attention. Bodinaku insisted on her own opinion, and Fifi asked to leave the house immediately. That's where she fainted and everyone panicked. She was ready to leave the house but after a lot of conversation in the diary room with the host, Arbana Osmani, Fifi decided to stay in the house and keep on the game. Two days later, she decided to leave the house by saying she needed to take care of herself.

Big Mama entered the house on Day 60. However, she left the Big Brother house on 24 December live show, after a very harsh debate with Antonela Berisha. Berisha claimed that she had offended her in Serbian. That's when Big Mama exploded and started insulting Berisha by saying she's immorale, shameless and dirty. Then Big Mama decided to leave the house.

On the evening of 27 January, Einxhel Shkira broke her arm while playing a game with other housemates. She was taken to hospital and had an operation, after which she returned to the house.

Nominations table

 * 2-in-1 housemate called 'DJs', their nominations counted as one. (Week 5 - 10)

Nominations totals received

 * 2-in-1 housemate called 'DJs', their nominations counted as one. (Week 5 - 10)

Reception
Big Brother Albania is known as the most popular Reality Television Show in Albania. Big Brother VIP also became very popular, few weeks after its premiere. This was reflected on the price businesses had to pay to promote their activity. So, in 2021-2022 television season, Big Brother VIP became the most expensive show to advertise. Thus, one second before the reality show starts broadcasting costs 5700 lek, and during the broadcast, 11,000 ALL.

The third among the most expensive are again two shows related to Big Brother VIP; the first is Big Brother VIP Daily Summary and the second Big Brother VIP – Fans' Club, where every second during the broadcast is paid 4600 ALL.

The finale was the most watched programme in the Albanian TV history.

Albania's prime minister, Edi Rama, posted a video from Valbona with Fifi's song "Diell", which was composed inside the Big Brother VIP's house. This song became the most popular at the month of publishing.