Despite not being a direct adaptation of the Big Brother franchise's format, created by producer John de Mol Jr. in 1997, the show has a similar concept while including its own game mechanics, and is also produced and owned by Big Brother's production company Endemol Shine Group/Banijay.

The contestants are continuously monitored during their stay in the house by live television cameras as well as personal audio microphones.

[3] Secret Story has spanned a franchise with numerous international adaptations including Portuguese, Dutch, Peruvian, Lithuanian, Spanish, and French-African versions.

Some "Secret rooms" are also set up for each season where two contestants announced as eliminated to the other candidates have to remain locked up in order to see all their comings and goings through television screens.

An invisible male character named "The Voice" (La Voix) can speak at any time to the contestants through the speakers and give them instructions.

Activities and parties are also organized by "The Voice" in order to break contestants' everyday life, but also to replenish their kitty bank.

The contestant who thinks he guessed the secret of another one can "buzz" the latter, that is to say setting off a kind of sound alarm located in the confessional.

The discoverer can confirm its "buzz" by investing a part of its kitty bank (the sum set by "the Voice" is 5000 euros).