Edward Marchesi Big Brother VIP provided an unexpected scene in the fourteenth episode, when showgirl Carmen Di Pietro reunited with Luigi Avagliano, nicknamed "the olive tree man." After more than four decades, the duo reunited in the house, rekindling a spark that had seemed extinguished by their separate lives.
The reunion, which took place on October 19, was greeted with enthusiasm by both the public and the other contestants.
Carmen, now sixty-one, had repeatedly asked to spend more time with her first great love, and the production decided to give her the opportunity to relive those memories in an intimate setting.
The meeting in the house: how it happened
At the end of the episode, after Ilary Blasi's farewell words, the camera followed Carmen and Luigi to a private suite.
The two began with the usual pleasantries, but the romantic dinner , prepared especially for the occasion , immediately followed . The conversation quickly returned to the days they had spent together: their three-year relationship, their first outings on a Vespa, the chats at the Salerno market, and the small gestures that had made their young relationship special.
The night in the suite: kisses, '70s music and a promise
Once the hallways of the house were closed, the real magic began in the suite. Carmen, eager to confirm Luigi's marital status, asked if he was still married. He replied that he was happily single , and the room immediately took on a rapidly rising emotional tone. The songwriters chose songs from the 70s , such as Claudio Baglioni's "E Tu" and Cugini di Campagna's "Anima Mia," to create the right atmosphere. Carmen lay on Luigi's lap and embraced him, and the kisses quickly followed, repeated and passionate, so much so that they were noticed by the production team.
At three in the morning, just before Luigi was supposed to leave the house, the two exchanged a promise : after the reality show ended, they would see each other again "outside." Carmen then confided in Marina La Rosa the details of the evening, emphasizing Luigi's freedom and the deep memories that still tie him to Salerno, to his graduation, and to his return to his hometown.
Carmen's Story: Childhood Memories and Love in Salerno
Carmen said she moved to Salerno when she was just six. At fourteen, she met Luigi for the first time at the market, where the young man, in his hoarse voice, shouted, "Buy the olives, they're good." The memory of that phrase, of Luigi's mustache, and of the Vespa that took her around every afternoon, remained indelible in her memory.
The market, the Vespa and the first dates
Her first boyfriend was described as tall, curly-haired, dark-haired, and an olive salesman. Their outings included rides on a Vespa, even in the rain, and first kisses behind newspapers propped against the windows of a Fiat 500. Carmen recalled living those moments with the knowledge that, despite the subsequent distance to Rome for the auditions, that bond remained a cornerstone of her youth.
When, after graduating, Carmen began frequenting the capital to pursue a television career, their relationship naturally fizzled out. No specific reason was cited, but the frenetic pace of life in Rome gradually drove the two apart. Despite the years, Carmen continued to return to the Salerno market, hoping to catch a glimpse of the "olive knight" again.
On October 19th, after nearly 45 years, that wish finally came true. The encounter demonstrated that youthful feelings can resurface with the same intensity as before, providing the Big Brother VIP audience with a testimony of "long-term love" capable of transcending the game's more recent dynamics.