| Big Brother | |
|---|---|
 Theseason 16 eye | |
| Genre | Reality television |
| Based on | Big Brother byJohn de Mol Jr. |
| Presented by | |
| Narrated by | |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 16(regular seasons) 2(celebrity seasons) |
| No. of episodes | 1,669 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Peter Abbot(2001–2003) Kris Noble(2004–2007) Virginia Hodgson(2008) Alex Mavroidakis(2012–2014) Amelia Fisk(2020–2023) Sarah Thornton(2025) |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | Network Ten |
| Release | 24 April 2001 (2001-04-24) – 21 July 2008 (2008-07-21) |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Release | 13 August 2012 (2012-08-13) – 26 November 2014 (2014-11-26) |
| Network | Seven Network |
| Release | 8 June 2020 (2020-06-08) – 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
| Network | Network 10 |
| Release | 9 November 2025 (2025-11-09) – present |
| Related | |
| Celebrity Big Brother Big Brother VIP | |
Big Brother (also known asBig Brother Australia) is an Australianreality show based on the internationalBig Brother format created byJohn de Mol Jr.. Following the premise of other versions of the format, the show features a group of contestants, known as "housemates" who live together in a specially constructed house that is isolated from the outside world. The housemates are continuously monitored during their stay in the house by live television cameras as well as personal audio microphones. Throughout the course of the competition, housemates are evicted from the house – eliminated from the competition. The last remaining housemate wins the competition and is awarded a cash prize. The series is named afterthe fictional totalitarian dictator fromGeorge Orwell's 1949 novelNineteen Eighty-Four.
Big Brother was produced from 2001 and ran for eight seasons and a Celebrity edition onNetwork Ten before the network cancelled it in July 2008 after experiencing audience erosion and controversy.Big Brother returned in 2012 on theNine Network.[1] Nine's iteration of the series lasted 3 seasons and was not renewed beyond 2015. Each of the first eleven previous seasons was produced byEndemol Australia andEndemol Southern Star.
In 2019, theSeven Network picked up the series, which was produced byEndemol Shine Australia. This iteration of the series was pre-recorded and featured a revamped competitive format, based on theAmerican version ofBig Brother and ran for four regular seasons (including a special edition featuring new and returning housemates in commemoration of the show's 21st anniversary in 2022) as well as a celebrity edition titledBig Brother VIP. As a result of a poor reception to the 15th season, a planned 16th season (and the fifth to be aired by Seven) that was announced for 2024 did not eventuate.[2]
On 16 September 2024, it was confirmed that Network 10 would be revivingBig Brother for its sixteenth season in November 2025, returning to the original live format with live nominations and evictions, with evictions decided by viewers and a 24/7 live stream, with Endemol Shine Australia set to produce.[3]
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Housemates must remain in the house at all times, with the aim of avoiding eviction from the house to be the last Housemate remaining to win a substantial cash prize at the end of the series. Alternatively, housemates can also be removed from the house if Big Brother feels this is necessary and can voluntarily leave the show at any time. In order to support the housemates' well-being, all participants have access to psychologists and a doctor at all times. Housemates are filmed 24 hours per day with edited highlights broadcast duringprime time slots every evening.
While in the house, the housemates are under the watchful eye ofBig Brother — the embodiment of the show's producers, who will act as an authoritative all-seeingvoice of God to the housemates. Housemates are at all times under the control ofBig Brother, a rule-enforcingauthority figure who monitors the housemates' behaviour, sets tasks and punishments and provides the mechanism for contestants to make external requests. Unlike other versions ofBig Brother, housemates would refer toBig Brother as if it was one person. Over the course of the series, Big Brother developed adry wit in his interactions with the housemates. He would also offer to counsel his housemates in need of his wisdom.
Executive producer Peter Abbott voiced Big Brother in seasons 1–3. Executive producer Nick Colquhoun provided the main voice of Big Brother in seasons 4–7,[4] particularly during live nominations, eviction nights and other special shows, with Aaron Lucas and Rikkie Proost serving as the voice at other times during the show in the aforementioned seasons.[5] Jonathan Coffey and Mark Grieve also voiced Big Brother in the early-mid seasons, and Amy Peel provided the female voice of Big Brother in season 7. Leon Murray provided the voice in the 2008 and 2012–2014 seasons. Chris Coucouvinis voiced Big Brother in the 2020–2023 seasons and Gold Coast-based voice artist Pete Cunningham provided the voice of Big Brother for the 2025 season.[6][7][8]
In addition to the character of Big Brother, seasons 9–11 featured Surly thePufferfish, who was voiced by the show's executive producer Alex Mavroidakis using aCockney accent.[9]
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Over the duration of the competition, the housemates will face nominations and evictions to evict housemates from the house, eliminating them from the game. However, throughout the series, the format regarding evictions has changed.
For Ten's and Nine's iterations of the series, the format of the show resembled the original Dutch version of the show - a format adapted by most versions of theBig Brother format. In this format, the competitive aspects are minimised. The eviction decisions were determined by viewer voting, housemates were not allowed to discuss nominations (at the risk of punishment) and most seasons did not feature any regular competitions for power or safety (except theFriday Night Games (seasons 5–8) andShowdowns (season 10) — where the winners were offered limited power to change the Nominations after voting).
The main elements of the original format are as follows:
In 2020, theSeven Network revived the series in a format inspired by theAmerican andCanadian editions - with housemates deciding both nominations and evictions among themselves. The new format emphasised the competitive aspect of surviving the eviction process. As such, the housemates were allowed to strategise, politic and collude about the nominations and evictions. However, there were still be key differences compared to the American and Canadian formats, most prominently with the Australian public still deciding the eventual winner - rather than being decided by a "Jury" of evicted housemates (as is the case on the American and Canadian show).[10]
The winner ofBig Brother Australia receives a cash prize for being the last remaining housemate.
In addition to the grand prize, housemates may also win additional prizes in different challenges and tasks held in the house. Further, each evictee (particularly during the first Network Ten iteration) would receive a consolation prize, which could include holidays, cars and a small cash prize - usually from the show's sponsors as a form ofProduct placement.
During their time in the house, housemates are given tasks byBig Brother.
Season 5 introduced a fines system in which the $1,000,000 cash prize was decreased by $5,000 each time housemates violated a rule of Big Brother. The house used for season 6 featured aPunishment Room, where housemates would sometimes be sent to be punished in addition to the $5,000 fine. In season 7, some changes were made. These monetary fines were subtracted from the household budget rather than from the prize money, while thePunishment Room remained.
In season 9, there was a small, rectangular-shaped room, linked to the lounge. This room was theNaughty Corner. This room was similar to thePunishment Room of the sixth and seventh seasons. The eighth and ninth seasons featured no fines system at all. Instead, Big Brother used the original striking system more frequently which meant when a housemate received three strikes they were evicted.
Most seasons ofBig Brother Australia usually includes "Intruders". Intruders are new housemates added to the house by the show's producers as ongoing housemates after the series has started. Intruders will be eligible to win the series but will often face a special "Intruder Eviction" shortly after their entrance to the house (either by house vote, Australia's vote or some combination of both).
The first Australian series began to broadcast on 24 April 2001.[13] It was hosted byGretel 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.[14][15]
In 2008,Big Brother returned for itseighth season with hostsKyle Sandilands andJackie 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.[16]
Mike Goldman provided narration and voice-overs for all eight seasons, as well as hosting many of the companion shows. He was also notably the audience warm-up person during Live Evictions.
Big Brother Australia was axed byNetwork Ten on 14 July 2008 with the broadcaster confirming that the2008 season would be the last to air on the channel.[17] 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.[16]
After the show was axed in 2008, there were many rumours about a possible revival byNine,Seven,Ten, orSBS. 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. TheSeven Network expressed interest since bidding for the show after theseventh-season finale; however, denied any and all revival occurring a week after the 2008 finale on morning programSunrise.
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 theAmerican 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."[18]
On 9 September 2011, it was reported and later confirmed that theNine Network had signed a deal withSouthern Star Group tobring the Australian version ofBig Brother back. On 22 February 2012 it was confirmed that Dreamworld would be used again as the location for the 2012 series.[19]
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.[20]
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 and during the 2013 finale, host Sonia Kruger confirmed the series renewal for Season 11 in 2014 formally opening auditions.[citation needed]
In 2018, "Big Brother" returned to Australia as Nine confirmed they would air thefirst season ofCelebrity Big Brother US.[21] Nine created a special logo for the show resembling the eye logo of Nine's iteration ofBig Brother Australia that previously aired on the network.[22] Episodes were "fast-tracked" and available on their streaming service9Now shortly after their American airing with televised broadcast on9Go! starting 11 February 2018.[21] Due to low ratings episodes were moved from the 9:30 pm timeslot to 11:30 pm effective 14 February 2018.[23] No further American seasons of Big Brother aired.
On 1 April 2018, a highly publicisedApril Fools prank by the Australian television news blogTV Tonight reported the return ofBig Brother on Ten withLisa Wilkinson to host.[24]
On 23 October 2019, Seven Network confirmed it would be reviving the series in 2020.[25][26] Rumours indicated the series would be closer in format to theAmerican andCanadian versions - particularly given the upfronts trailer featured footage fromBig Brother US 17,Big Brother Canada 2 andBig Brother Canada 3 as well as the emphasis on the phrase "Control, Evict, Win" in the promo.[27]
The reboot has been compared toSurvivor — in which the politicking and strategising regarding the Nomination and Eviction processes is allowed (being disallowed in earlier iterations) and central to the format, with housemates directly voting each other out of the house.[28] Seven's Director of Programming Angus Ross confirmed that the revived format would be prerecorded and aired at a later date on 26 October 2019.[29] It was announced on 5 February 2020 thatSonia Kruger would return to host the revival.[30]
Thefirst season of the new revival (and twelfth overall) launched on 8 June 2020, running until 22 July 2020. Midway through the season, the show was renewed for athirteenth season (the second with 7) on 28 June 2020; once again, the season was prerecorded and aired in late 2020 and aired from 26 April to 29 June 2021.[31]
In October 2021, the series was confirmed to return for afourteenth overall season. In celebration ofBig Brother Australia's twenty-first anniversary, the season featured former housemates from all eras of the show returning to compete against new housemates. Filmed in late 2021, the season aired from 9 May to 12 July 2022.[32]
Afifteenth season was announced in October 2022. Initially teased asBig Brother: House of Love due to the intentional casting of young, attractive single people, criticism of the show trying to imitateLove Island led to the network dropping the title.[33] Pre-recorded in its entirety in late 2022, the season premiered over a year later, running from 6 November to 6 December 2023.[34][35] Harshly reviewed by critics and viewers alike due to its pivot to a dating show instead of a social experiment and the lack of diverse casting andLGBT+ participants, the show rated poorly.[36][37] As a result, a planned sixteenth season that was announced for 2024 was rescinded.[38] While the show was not officially cancelled prior to the October announcement of the show leaving the network, Seven confirmed there would be no 2024 edition of the show.[citation needed]
Prior to the start of season 14,a second celebrity edition was also confirmed. Pre-recorded in its entirety from July to August 2021, the season aired from 1 to 23 November 2021.[39][40] Though a second edition (third celebrity season of the format overall) was announced in October 2021,[41] following the season's poor ratings, it was announced in February 2022 that the series was "not proceeding".[42]
On 16 September 2024, it was confirmed thatBig Brother would be returning to Network 10 for its sixteenth season in 2025, with comedian,Nova Melbourne announcer, andThe Cheap Seats showbiz correspondentMel Tracina announced as the new host.[3][43] The promo advertising the return noted the series' return to its original format with 24-hour live streaming, live nominations and evictions and prominently featured footage from the original Network 10 iteration of the series. Although promoted as a return to the original format, the revival only partially restored the traditional live elements; the live format returned, but the show remained highly edited with producer-guided narratives instead of the looser, continuous style of the early years.
On 27 July 2025, it was confirmed that the series would return to Dreamworld with the new house constructed inside the Exhibition Centre; the original house had burned down in 2019 and the land later sold for development.[44][45] In November 2025,Mike Goldman, who previously narrated the original Ten and Nine seasons, was announced to be returning to the show for the upcoming season.[46]
The series premiered on 9 November 2025[47] and concluded on 8 December 2025
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | Days | Housemates | Winner | Runner(s)-up | Prize money | Average viewers (millions) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | |||||||||
| 1 | 95 | 24 April 2001 (2001-04-24) | 16 July 2001 (2001-07-16) | Ten | 85 | 14 | Ben Williams | Blair McDonough | $250,000 | 1.40 | |
| 2 | 100 | 8 April 2002 (2002-04-08) | 1 July 2002 (2002-07-01) | 86 | 15 | Peter Corbett | Nathan "Marty" Martin | $250,000 | 1.50 | ||
| Celebrity | 20 | 21 July 2002 (2002-07-21) | 12 August 2002 (2002-08-12) | 24 | 12 | Dylan Lewis | Jay Laga'aia | $100,000 (for charity) | 1.10 | ||
| 3 | 122 | 27 April 2003 (2003-04-27) | 21 July 2003 (2003-07-21) | 86 | 16 | Regina Sorensen | Chrissie Swan | $250,000 | 1.70 | ||
| 4 | 109 | 2 May 2004 (2004-05-02) | 26 July 2004 (2004-07-26) | 86 | 16 | Trevor Butler | Bree Amer | $1,000,000 | 1.50 | ||
| 5 | 141 | 8 May 2005 (2005-05-08) | 15 August 2005 (2005-08-15) | 100 | 20 | Greg Mathew | Tim Brunero | $836,000 | 1.20 | ||
| 6 | 135 | 23 April 2006 (2006-04-23) | 31 July 2006 (2006-07-31) | 100 | 23 | Jamie Brooksby | Camilla Severi | $426,000 | 1.30 | ||
| 7 | 129 | 22 April 2007 (2007-04-22) | 30 July 2007 (2007-07-30) | 100 | 24 | Aleisha Cowcher | Zach Douglas | $450,000 | 1.07 | ||
| 8 | 112 | 28 April 2008 (2008-04-28) | 21 July 2008 (2008-07-21) | 85 | 20 | Terri Munro | Rory Ammon | $250,000 | 0.86 | ||
| 9 | 89 | 13 August 2012 (2012-08-13) | 7 November 2012 (2012-11-07) | Nine | 87 | 16 | Benjamin Norris | Layla Subritzky | $250,000 | 1.04 | |
| 10 | 89 | 29 July 2013 (2013-07-29) | 6 November 2013 (2013-11-06) | 101 | 20 | Tim Dormer | Jade Albany Pietrantonio | $250,000 | 0.89 | ||
| 11 | 56 | 8 September 2014 (2014-09-08) | 26 November 2014 (2014-11-26) | 80 | 22 | Ryan Ginns | Travis Lunardi | $200,000 | 0.65 | ||
| 12 | 28 | 8 June 2020 (2020-06-08) | 22 July 2020 (2020-07-22) | Seven | 39 | 20 | Chad Hurst | Sophie Budack and Daniel Gorringe | $234,656 | 0.83 | |
| 13 | 31 | 26 April 2021 (2021-04-26) | 29 June 2021 (2021-06-29) | 63 | 26 | Marley Biyendolo | Christina Podolyan and Sarah Jane "SJ" Adams | $250,000 | 0.66 | ||
| VIP | 11 | 1 November 2021 (2021-11-01) | 23 November 2021 (2021-11-23) | 22 | 12 | Luke Toki | Ellie Gonsalves and Josh Carroll | $100,000 (for charity) | 0.38 | ||
| 14 | 31 | 9 May 2022 (2022-05-09) | 12 July 2022 (2022-07-12) | 62 | 21 | Reggie Sorensen | Johnson Ashak and Taras Hrubyj-Piper | $250,000 | 0.34 | ||
| 15 | 25 | 6 November 2023 (2023-11-06) | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) | 25 | 18 | Tay and Ari Wilcoxson | Louis Phillips and Mineé Marx | $100,000 | 0.14 | ||
| 16 | 26 | 9 November 2025 (2025-11-09) | 8 December 2025 (2025-12-08) | 10 | 30 | 13 | Coco Beeby | Emily Dale | $135,000 | 0.82 | |
| 17 | TBA | 2026 (2026) | 2026 (2026) | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||
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The firstBig Brother House was located at27°51′32″S153°18′53″E / 27.85889°S 153.31472°E /-27.85889; 153.31472 nearDreamworld, a theme park inCoomera, a northern suburb of the city of theGold Coast,Queensland. The house was used for Ten and Nine's iteration ofBig Brother. Footage from the house is monitored and edited inDreamworld Studios.[48] There is also an auditorium where the live audience shows, such as the eviction and finale episodes, were staged. The auditorium was an existing facility at Dreamworld used for live stage shows prior to the first series ofBig Brother. It was leased to Endemol Southern Star for the duration of the series each year.
Only slight modifications were made to the interior of the house for the second series and the specialCelebrity Big Brother Australia series that were screened in 2002. Subsequent to those series, the interior of the house has been rebuilt or extensively remodelled for each new series. Two separate houses were built forBig Brother 2003, and they were merged twenty-three days into the series when previously hidden connecting rooms were revealed. The fifth series introduced aFriday Night Live games arena. An animal enclosure was added to the side of the compound for the sixth series. It was retained for the seventh series.
During production on the series, visitors could access theBig Brother auditorium and view live footage from the house. This feature was, however, discontinued at the start of the ninth series.
As the original house had burned down,Seven Network who previously produced and broadcast the series decided on a new location for theBig Brother House much closer to where production and crew members live. It has been understood the house has been built inside a warehouse which existed during World War II as an artillery shed, with a secondary building (previously used a gym) housing activities and challenges for the housemates. The exact location is33°49′0″S151°17′50″E / 33.81667°S 151.29722°E /-33.81667; 151.29722 next to the North Head Sanctuary Visitor Centre car park onSydney Harbour'sNorth Head nearManly.[49] This house has since been pulled down following the 2021 season.
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The third Big Brother house was built atSydney Olympic Park in the White Pavilion. The VIP edition was filmed at a newly built compound as well the main series sinceseason 14 andfifteenth season.
Like the Dreamworld house, the Sydney Olympic Park House was available to be visited by the public during theSydney Royal Easter Show in 2022, in promotion of the then-upcoming 14th season.
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On 27 July 2025, it was confirmed thatBig Brother would return to Dreamworld for Channel Ten'snew series, with the new house situated in the Dreamworld Exhibition Centre.[50] In addition, live shows will also come from a new studio set in Dreamworld right outside of the house.
Due to the house being located inside Dreamworld, this allowed patrons on certain rides to see into the house garden, with some overhead yelling to the housemates during episodes and live streams.[51]
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, the house was opened up for tours between 26 December 2025 - 11 January 2026.[52]
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The theme music was adapted from the original theme used inthe originalBig Brother, which aired in the Netherlands. The theme forBig Brother Australia was written by Siew Ooi and 001 Productions inMelbourne. The track is an extended version of the main title theme used in the first two seasons ofBig Brother Australia, and tracks heard throughout the seasons that followed are shorter, remixed versions of this track. The original track can sometimes be heard in the background when eviction votes, or the nomination tally in theNominations show, are shown on screen, or when eviction phone numbers are during a show. In 2008, the theme music was retooled into an electric amplified remix, in counterpart of the format changes that were made that year. Four years later in the 2012 revival of the program, the original theme song returned with a futuristic remix. The theme song was completely absent from seasons that aired on Seven Network from 2020 to 2023. From 2025 onwards, the original theme song returned to the show with a remix, combining elements from the original theme music and later remixes in its original run.
The title theme was initially released as a single. The track was an extended mix of the main title theme used in the first two seasons, and was released with an acoustic "Diary Room" mix and a more trance-influenced "Eviction" mix. It barely scraped in the top 50, but was re-released a few months later where it reached #12 on theARIA charts in 2001 with a B-Side of The Sirens' hit "Don't You Think That It's Strange", which was also co-written byBig Brother 2001 housemates; theDiary Room mix; and an extended version of theBig Brother Uncut theme.
Between 2001 and 2003, as well during 2005, Big Brother Australia aired onTV2 in New Zealand. The show aired onPrime in 2004. Between 2001 and 2004, the show aired on a one-day delay from the Australian broadcast. As such New Zealand viewers had the ability to cast eviction votes to determine the weekly evictee, however this did not continue in 2005 as the show aired on a three-week delay long after voting in Australia had concluded.[citation needed]
The show returned to New Zealand, as part of theTV3 summer line-up in November 2013 with the tenth season of the show.[53] The following eleventh season was also broadcast by TV3 in November 2014.
The show then returned to New Zealand and TV3, which has since rebranded asThree, with the Seven iteration of the show in June 2020.[54] This marked the first time the show has aired in primetime in New Zealand since the conclusion of the2004 season due to the network needing to fill a scheduling gap caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic delayingThe Block NZ's ninth season to 2021.[55] On 14 July 2020, it was announced due to low ratings, the show would be moving into a later timeslot and would drop to airing two episodes per week.[56]
The second season to air on Seven was broadcast online-only, viaTVNZ OnDemand, starting 4 May 2021 with the first four episodes and each subsequent episodes being released within 48 hours of the Australian broadcast.[57]
The 2020 edition of the show was also broadcast on Finnish streaming serviceRuutu.fi from 6 December 2020, with two episodes airing every Sunday.[58]
Dutch broadcasterRTL revealed that they are going to broadcastBig Brother Australia from season 12 onRTL 5, starting from 9 April 2021, only one day after theirDutch-Flemish version ended. The broadcast would occur each weekday at 9:30 pm.[59][60]
In the United States, seasons 12 and 13 were added toParamount+ on 16 February 2022.[61]
In the United Kingdom, the VIP series and the 2020 season were broadcast onE4, with episodes being released on theChannel 4 on-demand service.[citation needed]
In India, seasons 12, 13, 14 and 15 were added to theJioCinema streaming platform.[citation needed]
The series received some criticism from commentators and audiences for its sexual content. The series was occasionally referred to as "Big Brothel" in the press, in reference to the sexual content of theUncut episode.[62] Criticism was also voiced in the Australian Government, with one politician referring to it as "toxic television".[63] Complaints aboutUncut led to it being rebrandedBig Brother: Adults Only for the 2006 season.Adults Only was cancelled early in the season due to continuing controversy.[64]
After the2005 series, complaints prompted theAustralian Communications and Media Authority to launch an investigation intoBig Brother: Uncut.[65] The main complaint was that Network Ten had breached the industry code of practice by broadcasting footage that went past the maximumMA15+ rating for Australian commercial television.
The ACMA found Network Ten had breached the code on a number of occasions:[66]
The ACMA did not impose any direct punishment on Network Ten, however outlined requirements for the 2006 series ofUncut. Included in those requirements is a commitment by Network Ten to compile episode footage early enough for censors to evaluate it. Two censors were taken on by the network specifically forBig Brother, and crew were trained on the restrictions of the MA15+ television rating. As a result of criticism, the show was renamedBig Brother: Adults Only for the 2006 season.[citation needed]
The daily shows in the first 4 seasons were rated G, despite their (mild) sexual references orinnuendos and adult subject matter. The daily shows in the latter seasons were rated PG.Late Night Feast, an adult-oriented show first aired in the2013 season, was rated M for moderate sexual references, (non-graphic) nudity and coarse language.[citation needed]
On 1 July 2006 two housemates,Michael Cox (using the alias Ashley for the show) andMichael Bric (using the alias John), were removed from the house for allegedlysexually assaulting, "Turkey slapping" female housemate,Camilla Halliwell,[68] in aseason of the series that had already attracted significantcontroversy.Queensland Police were shown the relevant footage, but opted not to conduct a criminal investigation.[69] Subsequent to this incident former housemateRita Lazzarotto reported that she had been subjected to a similar incident during her time in the Big Brother house in the2005 series.[70]
Australian prime ministerJohn Howard asked forBig Brother to be cancelled, saying, "Here's a great opportunity for Channel 10 to do a bit of self-regulation and get this stupid program off the air"; leader of the oppositionKim Beazley and senatorSteve Fielding supported this view. Queensland premierPeter Beattie argued that the show employed many Australians in production and that, because of the already diminished size of the Australian television industry, the show should continue.[71]
The show's producers aim to get "real people" in the house. This has been done by personality testing, engaging with people around the country and appearances. While there are housemates who are "unique" and reflect many diverse people in Australia, there has been a high number of individuals in the latter seasons who come from amodelling background which has alienated them from the public audience.[citation needed]
In the 2007 season, to lower censorship controversies that stemmed from the housemates' generally salacious and revelling personality types from the previous seasons, producers selected more sophisticated, reserved andmodest type of housemates, such as Rebecca Dent, a devoutMormon, and Jamie McDonald, acomputer geek. Such practise of selecting more educated and mature type of people continued into the latter seasons, with other examples being Michael Beveridge from the 2012 season, who had theIQ of agenius, and Priya Malik, anIndian Australian schoolteacher with an EnglishHonours degree from the 2014 season.[72][73]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Reality Program | Won | |
| 2003 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | ||
| 2004 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | [74] | |
| 2005 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | [75] | |
| 2006 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | [76] |
Since 2001, many home media iterations ofBig Brother Australia have been produced, including books, magazines, music, games, VHS and DVDs.
| Name | Release year | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Best of Big Brother: The Official Video | 2001 | Warner Vision Australia | A 2-hour compilation featuring all the highlights from the first season ofBig Brother Australia. |
| Name | Release year | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Brother: Unseen/Uncut/Unreel | 2003 | Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment | A collection of exclusive content, including never-before-seen footage, extended scenes and a comprehensive look at the making ofBig Brother Australia. |
In August 2025, it was announced that full episodes of classicBig Brother Australia seasons will be digitised and officially released for the first time ever.[77] As of November 2025, the first eight seasons are available on YouTube.[78] In addition, the rebootedsixteenth season ofBig Brother Australia are also available on10 after the initial broadcast, and on YouTube, a day after the original broadcast, with the exception of Friday episodes being released on Sunday.[79]
Most of the seasons of the Channel 7 iteration (season 13 toseason 15, andBig Brother VIP) remain available on 7Plus.
| Name | Release year | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Brother Theme: The Single | 2001 | BMG Music Australia | Includes the theme song and two remixes, as well as "The Housemates Song (Don't You Think That It's Strange?)" which was recorded by the 2001 Housemates. |
| Big Brother: The Album | 2001 | BMG Music Australia | Includes compilation music featured in, and inspired by, the first season ofBig Brother Australia. |
| Big Brother 2002 | 2002 | BMG Music Australia | Includes compilation music featured in, and inspired by, the second season ofBig Brother Australia. |
| Big Brother '07: Party Mix | 2007 | Universal Music Australia | Compilation album featuring various pop songs from the time of release. None of the music was featured onBig Brother Australia. |
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Two official board games have been released. In 2001, "Big Brother Uncut" had players ask each other questions from one of four categories - Relationships, Romance, Fantasy & Desire - and guess which answer belonged to which player. While in 2002, the second official board game "Big Brother" had players ask each other questions from four different categories - Friendship, Romance, Scandal & True Colours. In both games, players nominate each other to be evicted. Just like in the TV show, votes are made in secret and then tallied when the last player passes the eviction point, which is about halfway around the board. The player with the most votes goes back to the beginning, while the first player to reach the final position wins the game.
During the 2002 season, an officialBig Brother magazine was released, containing exclusive news, photos and interviews from the show. Only four editions were ever published.
An unofficial book titledBig Bother: Why Did That Reality TV Show Become Such a Phenomenon?, written by Toni Johnson-Woods, was also released in 2002. It was an in-depth analysis of theBig Brother phenomenon and a behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking first season in Australia, exploring the production of the show and of reality TV in general.
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| Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland |
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| Ocean Parade |
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| Tiger Island |
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| WhiteWater World |
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