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Big Brother (Australian TV series)

From Alfawiki
Big Brother Australia
Company typeTelevision program
IndustryReality television
FoundedApril 23, 2001; 25 years ago (2001-04-23)
Headquarters
Australia
ProductsReality television show

Big Brother Australia, commonly referred to as Big Brother, is an Australian reality television program adapted from the global Big Brother concept originally devised by John de Mol Jr.. The series centers on a group of contestants, known as "housemates," who cohabit in a secluded residence under constant surveillance by cameras and microphones. Throughout the competition, housemates are progressively evicted, with the last individual remaining awarded a monetary prize.

The show debuted in 2001 and aired eight seasons plus a Celebrity edition on Network Ten before being discontinued in 2008 amid falling viewership and controversy. It was later revived by the Nine Network in 2012, producing three additional seasons until 2015 when it was again not renewed. The first eleven seasons were produced by Endemol Australia and Endemol Southern Star.

In 2019, the series was brought back by the Seven Network through Endemol Shine Australia, delivering four regular seasons—including a special 21st-anniversary edition featuring both new and returning participants—and a celebrity version called Big Brother VIP. Due to weak ratings during season 15, plans for a 2024 season were canceled.

On 16 September 2024, it was announced that Big Brother would make a comeback for its sixteenth season on Network 10 in late 2025, incorporating live nominations, live evictions, and continuous 24/7 livestream coverage.

Format

Contestants are required to stay inside the house at all times, striving to avoid eviction and ultimately become the last remaining housemate to win a significant cash reward. Big Brother reserves the right to remove participants if necessary, and housemates may also choose to leave voluntarily. To promote mental health and safety, professional psychologists and medical staff are available around the clock. The housemates are filmed continuously, with edited highlights broadcast during prime time each evening.

Big Brother

Housemates are overseen by Big Brother, the authoritative presence representing the production team. Big Brother is responsible for enforcing rules, assigning tasks and penalties, and managing requests from contestants. Unlike some international versions where Big Brother may be addressed individually, Australian housemates refer to Big Brother as a singular entity. Over time, this figure has developed a dry sense of humor and occasionally offers advice to participants.

Voice

During seasons 1 through 3, executive producer Peter Abbott provided the voice of Big Brother. From seasons 4 to 7, Nick Colquhoun took over this role, particularly during live nomination and eviction segments; other parts were voiced by Aaron Lucas and Rikkie Proost. Early to mid-series contributions also came from Jonathan Coffey and Mark Grieve, with Amy Peel lending the female voice in season 7. Leon Murray served as Big Brother’s voice in both 2008 and from 2012 to 2014, while Chris Coucouvinis voiced the character from 2020 until 2023.

Seasons 9 through 11 introduced Surly the Pufferfish, voiced by executive producer Alex Mavroidakis adopting a Cockney accent.

Eviction format

Throughout the series, housemates face nomination and eviction processes designed to gradually eliminate contestants. The eviction procedures have undergone modifications over time.

Original format

During its runs on Network Ten and Nine Network, the show adhered closely to the original Dutch Big Brother format with limited competitive elements. Eviction decisions were made by public vote; discussions about nominations among housemates were prohibited; and regular competitions granting power or immunity were uncommon (aside from Friday Night Games in seasons 5–8 and Showdowns in season 10). Key features included:

  • Nominations: Each week, housemates privately nominated two fellow contestants in the Diary Room along with reasons.
    • Seasons 1-7 and late Season 8: Each housemate had three nomination points to distribute (two points to one individual and one point to another).
    • Early Season 8: The audience determined nominations by voting to save; those with the fewest votes faced eviction.
    • Seasons 9–11: Housemates had five nomination points to allocate between two nominees (either a three/two or four/one split).
  • Eviction: Following nominations, Australian viewers voted via televoting or social media platforms to evict a nominee.
    • Seasons 1-5 and late Season 8: Viewers cast votes to evict; the nominee receiving most votes was removed.
    • Seasons 6 and 7: Viewers could vote either to save or evict; combined totals decided who left.
    • Early Season 8: Housemates voted among nominees; contestant with highest votes was evicted.
    • Seasons 9–11: Viewers voted to save nominees; the one with fewest votes was eliminated.
  • Finale: In the final stage, public voting determined the winner.
    • Seasons 1–5: Viewers voted between final two contestants to evict; the one with fewer votes won.
    • Seasons 6 and 7: Combined save/evict votes decided winner between final two.
    • Season 8: Among final three contestants, viewers voted to evict; lowest vote-getter won.
    • Seasons 9–11: Voting began with five or six finalists; those receiving lowest votes were sequentially eliminated until three remained. The finalist with highest vote count was declared winner.

Channel Seven format

In 2020, the Seven Network redesigned the show's structure to align more closely with the American and Canadian versions, granting housemates full authority over both Nominations and Evictions. This change highlighted the competitive aspect, encouraging contestants to engage in strategic planning, political maneuvering, and alliances during the nomination and eviction processes. Nevertheless, unlike the American and Canadian formats where an evicted housemate "Jury" decides the champion, the Australian audience continues to vote for the ultimate winner.

  • Nominations: Each cycle starts with a "Nomination Challenge," where the victor earns immunity and is tasked with nominating other contestants for eviction, explaining their choices privately in the Diary Room. The number of nominees decreases from three at the beginning of the season to two as it progresses.
  • Eviction: On eviction evenings, all housemates who did not nominate cast secret ballots in the Diary Room to evict one of the nominees. The nominating contestant only votes to break a tie; when only two nominees remain, those nominated do not vote. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes leaves the house.
  • Finale: During the finale, Australia's public votes online among the last three remaining housemates. The contestant obtaining the most votes is declared the winner of Big Brother.

Prize money

The cash prize awarded to the final surviving housemate on Big Brother Australia has varied by season:

  • Seasons 1–3, 8–10, 13, and 14 offered a guaranteed prize of A$250,000, occasionally announced midway through the season.
  • In Seasons 11 and 12, although starting at A$250,000, various challenges reduced the final prize to A$200,000 and A$234,656 respectively.
  • Season 4 featured a guaranteed grand prize of A$1,000,000.
  • Seasons 5 and 6 retained the A$1,000,000 prize but introduced penalties that lowered winnings; champions received $836,000 and $426,000 respectively.
  • Season 7 did not have a fixed prize amount; instead, winnings were based on earnings from household tasks totaling $450,000.
  • The abbreviated Season 15 offered a prize of $100,000.
  • Celebrity editions such as Celebrity Big Brother Australia and Big Brother VIP Australia awarded $100,000 to charities chosen by their winners.

Tasks and missions

Throughout their time in the house, contestants are assigned various tasks by Big Brother.

Punishments

Introduced in Big Brother 5, a fines system deducted $5,000 from the $1,000,000 prize for each infraction. Season 6 added a Punishment Room for further disciplinary measures. In Big Brother 7, fines were subtracted from the household budget rather than directly reducing the prize money; however, the Punishment Room remained part of the format.

By Big Brother 9, a Naughty Corner replaced the Punishment Room. Seasons eight and nine abandoned fines altogether and reverted to a three-strike eviction policy.

Intruders

Most seasons include "Intruders," new participants who enter mid-season. These entrants are eligible for victory but typically face a special eviction shortly after arrival, determined either by fellow housemates or public voting.

First Network Ten iteration (2001–2008)

The series premiered on 23 April 2001 with Gretel Killeen hosting until her departure in late 2007 amid a format overhaul.

The eighth season in 2008 introduced hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O. Despite acknowledging some viewer decline, Ten's chief programmer David Mott defended this hosting change as eviction show ratings remained consistent.

Mike Goldman served as narrator and voice-over artist throughout all eight seasons.

Initial Hiatus

On 14 July 2008, Network Ten officially ended Big Brother Australia, confirming that the 2008 season would be its final installment on the channel. The decision stemmed from diminishing viewership for the daily broadcasts, leading Ten to decline renewing the show's contract.

After the cancellation, rumors circulated about potential revivals by Nine, Seven, Ten, or SBS. SBS quickly denied any plans to take on the series. Initially, Nine's CEO David Gyngell expressed interest but soon retracted his position. Seven Network showed enthusiasm following the conclusion of the seventh season but ultimately ruled out bringing the program back.

Significantly, in June 2011, Ten’s Chief Programming Officer David Mott revealed that the network had contemplated relaunching Big Brother on its digital platform, Eleven, though concerns lingered that viewer interest had waned. Mott cited the American version’s success on CBS as a reference point, noting its summer timeslot outside of peak ratings periods.

Nine Network Revival (2012–2014)

On 9 September 2011, Nine Network inked an agreement with Southern Star Group to resurrect the Australian edition of Big Brother. Dreamworld was selected as the filming site for the upcoming 2012 season.

The rebooted series debuted on 13 August 2012, broadcasting five nights weekly during a family-appropriate 7pm slot. Following a strong initial season, Nine extended the show for Season 10 in 2013 and Season 11 in 2014. Host Sonia Kruger announced casting calls during the finale of the 2013 season.

Second Hiatus

In 2018, Nine introduced Celebrity Big Brother US to Australian viewers, offering episodes earlier via their streaming service 9Now and airing on 9Go!. Due to underwhelming ratings, the broadcast time shifted from 9:30pm to a later 11:30pm slot soon after launch. No additional American seasons were aired afterward. That same year, an April Fools’ joke falsely claimed a Big Brother revival on Ten with Lisa Wilkinson as host, generating considerable publicity.

Seven Network Revival (2020–2023)

On 23 October 2019, Seven Network unveiled plans to bring back Big Brother in 2020 with a format more aligned to its American and Canadian counterparts, focusing on strategic gameplay and housemate-controlled evictions under the tagline "Control, Evict, Win." The reboot was pre-recorded and broadcast later; Sonia Kruger was confirmed as host in February 2020.

The twelfth season premiered on 8 June 2020 and concluded on 22 July. Mid-season, Seven renewed it for a thirteenth run which aired from April to June 2021. In October 2021, Seven announced a fourteenth season celebrating the show’s twenty-first anniversary. This edition included returning contestants from previous seasons and aired between May and July 2022.

A fifteenth season was revealed in October 2022 under the title 'Big Brother: House of Love, focusing on young singles in a format reminiscent of dating shows such as Love Island Australia. Following criticism regarding format alterations and insufficient diversity, the subtitle was removed. This prerecorded season aired from October to November 2023 but suffered from poor ratings and unfavorable critiques. As a result, plans for a sixteenth season in 2024 were scrapped, with Seven confirming there would be no new installment that year.

Before Season 14 premiered, a second celebrity edition was pre-recorded mid-2021 and broadcast in November. Despite announcing another celebrity season in October 2021, low viewership led to its cancellation by early 2022.

Second Network 10 phase (2025–present)

On 16 September 2024, it was officially announced that Big Brother would make a comeback on Network 10 for its sixteenth season in 2025, with comedian and The Cheap Seats correspondent Mel Tracina stepping in as the new host. Promotional material emphasized a revival of the original format, including 24-hour live streaming along with live nominations and evictions, featuring clips from the initial Network 10 era. On 27 July 2025, the return of the house to its original Dreamworld setting was revealed, coinciding with the start of casting calls.

Original house (2001–2014)

The inaugural Big Brother House was situated near Dreamworld, a theme park located in Coomera, a northern suburb of the Gold Coast in Queensland. This venue served both Ten and Nine’s versions of Big Brother, with footage being monitored and edited at Dreamworld Studios. The existing auditorium at Dreamworld hosted live audience events such as evictions and finales, and was leased annually by Endemol Southern Star.

For the second series and the 2002 Celebrity Big Brother Australia, only minor interior modifications were made. Subsequent seasons featured significant redesigns: two separate houses combined mid-series in 2003; a dedicated Friday Night Live games area was introduced during the fifth season; and an animal enclosure was incorporated for the sixth and seventh seasons.

During production, visitors were able to watch live footage from the auditorium until this option ceased after the ninth season.

Second house (2020–2021)

Following the destruction of the original house by fire, Seven Network relocated the Big Brother House closer to production personnel. The new facility was established inside a World War II-era warehouse near North Head on Sydney Harbour, adjacent to the North Head Sanctuary Visitor Centre car park near Manly. An additional building, formerly used as a gymnasium, accommodated activities and challenges. This setup was dismantled after the conclusion of the 2021 season.

Third house (2021–2023)

The third iteration of the Big Brother house was built within Sydney Olympic Park’s White Pavilion. Since season 14 and season 15, both the VIP edition and main series have been filmed in this newly constructed facility.

Fourth house (2025–)

On 27 July 2025, it was confirmed that Big Brother would return to Dreamworld for Channel 10’s upcoming series, with filming taking place in a specially designed house located within the theme park complex. Live broadcasts will also be produced from a newly established studio set at Dreamworld.

Theme music

The theme tune, adapted from the original Dutch Big Brother series, was composed by Siew Ooi and 001 Productions based in Melbourne. It represents an extended version of the main title theme heard during the first two Australian seasons, while shorter remixes were used in subsequent editions. The original composition frequently accompanied eviction voting sequences and nomination announcements. In 2008, an electric remix was introduced to reflect changes in format, followed by a futuristic remix for the 2012 revival. The theme was not featured in the 2020 season.

Originally released as a single, this extended mix included versions influenced by acoustic and trance styles. After an initial modest chart performance, it peaked at #12 on the ARIA charts in 2001 upon re-release, paired with a B-side co-written by early contestants.

New Zealand

From 2001 to 2003, and again in 2005, Big Brother Australia was broadcast on TV2 with a one-day delay, enabling viewers in New Zealand to participate in voting during that timeframe. In 2004, the program moved to Prime, maintaining a similar schedule; however, by 2005, voting was discontinued due to a three-week broadcast delay.

The series made a comeback on TV3 in November 2013 for its tenth season, followed by the eleventh season premiering in November 2014. In June 2020, the Seven Network version aired on TV3 (now known as Three) during prime time for the first occasion since 2004, filling programming gaps caused by COVID-19-related postponements of The Block NZ. Due to underwhelming viewership figures, the show was moved to a later time slot with two episodes per week starting July 2020.

The second season from Seven was exclusively released online via TVNZ OnDemand beginning May 2021, with episodes accessible within 48 hours following their Australian broadcast.

Finland

The 2020 edition was streamed on Finnish platform Ruutu.fi commencing 6 December 2020, featuring two episodes every Sunday.

The Netherlands

Dutch network RTL started airing Big Brother Australia from season twelve on RTL 5 beginning 9 April 2021, one day after concluding their own Dutch-Flemish adaptation. Episodes were scheduled each weekday at 9:30 pm.

United States

Seasons twelve and thirteen became available on Paramount+ in the United States as of 16 February 2022.

United Kingdom

In the UK market, both the VIP edition and the 2020 season were broadcast on E4, with episodes also offered through the Channel 4 on-demand service.

India

Seasons twelve through fifteen were distributed via the Indian streaming service JioCinema.

Criticism and controversy

The program attracted criticism for its explicit sexual content, with some media outlets nicknaming it "Big Brothel" in response to provocative scenes featured in the Uncut episode. Several Australian politicians publicly denounced it as "toxic television." Complaints prompted a rebranding of Uncut to Big Brother: Adults Only in 2006; nevertheless, this iteration was terminated prematurely amid persistent disputes.

Censorship and sexual content

After complaints following the 2005 season, the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) conducted an investigation into Big Brother: Uncut for violating industry standards by broadcasting material exceeding the MA15+ classification permitted on Australian commercial television.

The ACMA identified multiple breaches including:

  • Housemate Michael performing a massage on Gianna's back without her consent (BB 2005).
  • Vesna Tosevska removing pubic hair while in bed (BB 2005).
  • A song containing references to sexual fetishes (BB 2005).
  • Tim being restrained and having his testicles struck with a leather strap inside the diary room (BB 2005).
  • Glenn Dallinger and Michelle Carew-Gibson apparently engaging in sexual activity within a sauna (BB 2005).

Previous seasons also encountered criticism: in 2001, a so-called "sex scene" between Peter Timbs and Christina Davis involved rhythmic movements beneath bed sheets without actual intercourse. That year featured a bondage-themed party where Andrea Silva, a professional dominatrix, showcased sexual fetishes by restraining shirtless male participants and employing nipple pinching and scourging techniques. Additionally, Sara-Marie Fedele later bound Gordon Sloan and erotically caressed his bare chest.

While ACMA did not impose penalties directly on Network Ten, it required enhanced content controls for the 2006 season. Network Ten consented to submit footage prior to airing for censor review, appointed two dedicated censors specifically for Big Brother, and provided staff training regarding MA15+ classification guidelines. Consequently, the show was retitled Big Brother: Adults Only in 2006.

Daily broadcasts during the initial four seasons carried a G rating despite mild sexual references; subsequent seasons shifted to PG classification. The adult-focused segment Late Night Feast, introduced in the 2013 season, held an M rating due to moderate sexual references, non-explicit nudity, and strong language.

2006 Allegations of Sexual Assault Controversy

On 1 July 2006, two participants from the sixth installment—Michael Cox (known as Ashley) and Michael Bric (known as John)—were expelled following accusations of sexually assaulting fellow contestant Camilla Halliwell in an incident dubbed "Turkey slapping." Although Queensland Police examined the recorded footage, they opted not to initiate a criminal inquiry. This event echoed previous claims by former contestant Rita Lazzarotto regarding a comparable episode during the 2005 season.

In reaction, then Prime Minister John Howard demanded the termination of Big Brother, urging Channel 10 to demonstrate accountability. This position was supported by Opposition Leader Kim Beazley and Senator Steve Fielding. Conversely, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie highlighted the show's significance in providing employment to numerous Australians and advocated for its continuation amid a shrinking television market.

Selection of Housemates

The production team strives to showcase "authentic individuals" through personality assessments and nationwide recruitment efforts. While earlier editions featured a broad range of participants, recent seasons have included a higher proportion of contestants with backgrounds in modelling, which has alienated some segments of the audience.

In 2007, aiming to minimize censorship challenges linked to previous seasons' provocative cast members, producers chose more restrained and modest contestants such as Rebecca Dent, a committed Mormon, and Jamie McDonald, a computer geek. This shift toward more educated and mature housemates persisted, as seen with Michael Beveridge in 2012, recognized for his elevated IQ, and Priya Malik, an Indian Australian educator holding an English Honours degree in 2014.

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Outcome
2002 Logie Awards Most Popular Reality Program Template:Won
2003 Most Popular Reality Program Template:Nom
2004 Most Popular Reality Program Template:Nom
2005 Most Popular Reality Program Template:Nom
2006 Most Popular Reality Program Template:Nom
2007 Most Popular Reality Program Template:Nom
2008 Most Popular Reality Program Template:Nom
2013 Most Popular Reality Program Template:Nom
2014 Most Popular Reality Program Template:Nom

Additional Media

On 8 July 2003, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment launched a DVD titled Big Brother: Unseen/Uncut/Unreel, which compiled provocative highlights from the series. Rated M for mature viewers, the DVD achieved moderate sales success. It is organized into three segments: Unseen features Launch and Eviction episodes; Uncut contains footage from Big Brother Uncut, explores international television censorship variations impacting the franchise, includes audition tapes, and presents a day-in-the-life segment with Peter Abbott, the original Big Brother voice; Unreel offers profiles of housemates from the first three seasons, including introductory packages from Big Brother 2003, a photo gallery updating on original contestants’ activities at the time of release, and an interactive walkthrough of the merged houses from 2003.

Noteworthy Participants

2001
2002
  • Nathan Morris
  • Brodie Young
2003
2004
2005
2006
2008
2012
  • Layla Subritzky
2013
2014
2020
2021
2022

See also

Bibliography

External links

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