The series started on 27 June 2008, when 15 people entered a purpose-built house on the outskirts of Paris.
The contestants are kept locked away for 10 weeks in a house, called "La Maison des Secrets" (the House of Secrets) measuring 1600m² styled on the UK Big Brother house including a swimming pool, jacuzzi, a lounge, a big bedroom divided by a shattered glass, bathroom with showers and 5 secrets room (Crystal room, Love cave, Museum of Secrets, White Room, Bedsit [like BBUK5]).
All of the rooms are installed with cameras, (except the toilet due to a law imposed by the Conseil Supérieur de l'audiovisuel).
The Voice speaks to the contestants at times, and acts like "Big Brother" in other countries.
Each Tuesday, 2 contestants are nominated and put up against the public vote to be evicted on the Friday.
The girls and boys nominate the opposite sex, alternating weekly.
Her initial secret was that she was supposed to be an accomplice for La Voix.
Upon entering the house, La Voix imposed a new secret: that she be in a fake relationship with Matthias.
On Day 12, she was voted Miss Secret Story 2008 by her fellow housemates.
As punishment for revealing his secret Cyril was automatically nominated for the following weeks eviction.
His secret is that he has a bullet in both his head and neck, as a result of being shot at during the 2006 Dawson College shooting.
She died of a brain aneurysm on August 18, 2011, making her the second ex-housemate to pass away.
On Day 14, he was given a secret mission by La Voix to organize a house cleaning session; if succeeded, he would add €2,000 to his prize money.
On Day 43 Laurent was ejected from the house for revealing his secret.
As a result, Marie-France was ejected from the house and Maeva was automatically nominated for eviction.
As a result she was ejected and her daughter Maeva was automatically nominated for eviction.
On Day 71 Matthias was declared the winner of Secret Story 2008 with 33% of the public vote.
On Day 46 Quentin was automatically nominated for eviction for revealing his secret to fellow housemate Samantha.
Nominations follow a different formula than is typical of the Big Brother franchise.