The popular reality show in Australia is based on the Dutch show of the same name where a group of strangers live together in a house for three months without privacy and with seclusion from the outside world.
☀Big Brother Australia is the Australian version of the international Big Brother reality television series. Big Brother was produced from 2001 and ran for eight seasons on Network Ten before the network cancelled it in July 2008 after experiencing audience erosion and controversy. Big Brother returned on 13 August 2012 with a ninth season on the Nine Network with repeats on 9Go!.[1] The tenth season aired on Nine from 29 July 2013 to 6 November 2013 and the eleventh season ran from 8 September 2014 to 26 November 2014. All eleven previous seasons were produced by Endemol Australia and Endemol Southern Star. The twelfth season will be produced by Endemol Shine Australia.
From its first season until its seventh season in 2007 the show was hosted by Gretel Killeen. With a revamp of the series in 2008 she was replaced by radio duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O. From 2012 to 2014 it was hosted by Sonia Kruger.
Between 2001 and 2005 Big Brother Australia was also shown in New Zealand on TV2 and Prime. The show returned to New Zealand, as part of the TV3 summer line-up in November 2013.[2] Series 10 ended in March 2014. Series 11 aired in New Zealand starting 3 November 2014.
The purpose built Big Brother house has been located in a compound at theme park Dreamworld, on the Gold Coast, Queensland, for its entire run. It has since been abandoned and vandalised. In June 2019, the house was set ablaze and burnt down entirely.
History[edit][]
Network Ten's Iteration[edit][]
The first Australian series began to broadcast on 23 April 2001. It was hosted by Gretel Killeen from 2001 to 2007. In late 2007 it was announced that Gretel Killeen would not host the show for its 2008 return as part of a revamp of the formula.[4][5]
In 2008 Big Brother returned for its eighth season with hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O. Ten's chief programmer David Mott admitted the series had recently experienced "audience erosion" inherent with the show's long run. Mott defended the new hosts saying that the ratings for eviction shows held up.[6]
Mike Goldman provided narration and voice-overs for all eight seasons.
Cancellation[edit][]
Big Brother Australia was axed by Network Ten on 14 July 2008 with the broadcaster confirming that the 2008 season would be the last to air on the channel.[7] A decrease in ratings for the daily shows was cited as the reason for Network Ten opting not to renew its contract for another season.[6]
After the show was axed in 2008, there were many rumours about a possible revival by Nine, Seven, Ten, or SBS. SBS Programmer Shawn White denied the show would be revived on their channel despite rumours with Nine CEO David Gyngell notably 'interested' in the idea soon after the cancellation, only to turn it down days later. The Seven Network expressed interest since bidding for the show after the seventh-season finale; however, denied any and all revival occurring a week after the 2008 finale on morning program Sunrise.
Most notably, Network Ten expressed some interest in the format when on 3 June 2011, News Limited posted an article suggesting the network may be interested in putting it on its digital channel, Eleven. In the article, Chief Programming Officer David Mott stated that "...Ten have considered ways to bring the show back on a number of occasions'; however, was worried that audiences had 'moved on'. Made mention was the US version where the show has had 12 successful seasons, and a thirteenth on the way." Mott said; "It's a summer show for CBS, it doesn't play in the heart of the ratings season but it's done a pretty good job for them."[8]
Nine Network Iteration[edit][]
On 9 September 2011, it was reported and later confirmed that the Nine Network had signed a deal with Southern Star Group to bring the Australian version of Big Brother back. On 22 February 2012 it was confirmed that Dreamworld will be used again as the location for the 2012 series.[9]
The first episode of the revived series premiered on 13 August 2012 with its daily show airing five nights a week at a family friendly timeslot of 7pm.[10]
After a successful season in 2012, Nine confirmed that the series would be renewed for Season 10 in 2013 during their Nine Network 2013 promotion & during the 2013 finale, host Sonia Kruger confirmed the series renewal for Season 11 in 2014 formally opening auditions.
Seven Network Iteration[edit][]
On 3 October 2019, Endemol Shine Australia confirmed that Big Brother Australia would be returning in 2020, initially it was reported that the Seven Network would revive the series however it was later revealed that the Nine Network still had the rights to the show despite not airing it since November 2014, thus meaning Nine had the first decision for any revival of Big Brother. As they had passed the deadline and set out their plans for 2020, Nine's first refusal rights to Big Brother expired later in October 2019.
On 23 October 2019, Seven Network confirmed it will be reviving the series in 2020.[11][12] Early rumours indicate the series will be closer in format to the American & Canadian versions with the housemates competing challenges and voting each other off. The reboot has been compared to, Survivor - in which the strategy and politicking for control over nominations and evictions is not only allowed (bring disallowed in earlier iterations) but encouraged. Another rumour is that the entire series prerecorded weeks in advance with no live shows