Big Brother Australia will be returning on June 8 with a new channel, house, and format for its first season since it was cancelled by Nine in 2014.
The show is now calling Channel 7 home with a format more closely resembling Survivor with the housemates voting each other out as opposed to previous incarnations which relied on a fan vote to decide eliminations and ultimately the winner.
20 housemates, ranging in age from 19-62 and representing a broad cross-section of Australia will live together for six weeks, cut off from the outside world in a custom-built house fitted with cameras and microphones. With the winner receiving $250,000.
Housemates will be competing in nomination challenges every episode with the winner having the power to nominate three of their fellow housemates for eviction. For the first time in Australian Big Brother history, housemates will then cast individual votes to evict one of the three nominees from the house.
Big Brother will also keep housemates on their toes by having them compete in house tasks that will reward them with everything from shopping money and dinner parties, to messages from their loved ones.
With the original Big Brother house in the Gold Coast being demolished last year, the location of the new house will be in Manly. Making this the first version of the show filmed outside the sunshine state.
Although with all the changes to the show one thing has remained with Sonia Kruger returning as host after hosting the show for Nine for three years between 2012-2014.
Seven provided details on this year’s contestants are:
Alan, 31, Sydney
Allan is a high-achieving corporate salesman from Sydney who will do whatever it takes to win Big Brother. Being mediocre just doesn’t cut it for this self-described master manipulator. He will use strategy, stir the pot, poke the bear and give it his all to be there at the end.
Allan is a proud A.B.C. (Australian-born Chinese) and is excited to be part of a diverse group of housemates. Allan is deadset keen on being a trailblazer and becoming the first Asian housemate to win Big Brother Australia.
Angela, 38, Perth
Born to stand out, not to blend in, Angela was raised in the “Beverly Hills of Kenya” before moving to Australia without her parents when she was just 17.
Unapologetic and with strong opinions, Angela isn’t afraid to express herself. She had to fight to get where she is today and while her confidence may come across as arrogance, Angela would rather get it all out than regret things not said.
Casey, 25, Perth
Self-described bogan Casey likes pushing herself and she’s ready to give Big Brother a red-hot crack. This creative, clumsy, self-deprecating free spirit says that growing up in Kalgoorlie gave her a country mindset and shaped her into the respectful, open-minded person she is today.
Casey works as an accounts administrator but also holds a diploma in youth work and hopes to work with kids in need someday. Her parents are still madly in love with one another and have instilled strong family values in her, while her two older sisters are her best friends and number one supporters.
Chad, 27, Perth
There’s more to male model Chad than meets the eye. This kid from Campbelltown spent 10 years in construction until a model scout walked past his job site and signed him up, straight off the scaffold. He’s since travelled the world and modelled for the likes of Vogue, GQ, Country Road, Superdry and David Jones.
Still a westie at heart, Chad wants his time on Big Brother to bring recognition to his roots in Sydney’s west. Loving and loyal, his passions are music, the outdoors, staying active and animals and he’ll especially miss his toy poodle, Buddy, while in the house.
Daniel, 28, Melbourne
Former AFL player Daniel is a loveable larrikin set to make his mark on Big Brother. Daniel started playing footy when he was 13 years old, ending up as a ruckman for the Gold Coast Suns and then Carlton. Ever the joker, Daniel says he feels bad for the clubs that picked him up because you’ve gotta be able to get the ball – and he couldn’t get the ball!
Danni, 34, Townsville
Married mother-of-two Danni feels she’s going to bring the “real” to this reality competition.
The former hairdresser turned call centre service officer describes herself as a typical Aussie
into music, movies and new experiences. Having her first child when she was just 18, Danni is proud of the lifestyle she’s achieved and now is the perfect time to live out her Big Brother dream.
Garth, 50, Sydney
Fab, fun and a little naughty, Garth is setting out on his Big Brother adventure to prove to himself and Australia that you can still play hard at 50.
A director of a recruitment agency, Garth will draw on his experience with reading people
to get to know the housemates. He likes to think he’ll stick to a competitive strategy but is more likely to get socially excited and forget about the game altogether!
Hannah, 26, Perth
Confident, cutthroat and super competitive, Hannah is going to tackle the game of Big Brother with a vengeance.
The fit, bright communications specialist grew up in a footy family with two brothers. The three of them play at the same AFL club and her dad is a coach. Hannah won’t let boys try and beat her at anything. Boys don’t scare her; in fact, she’s not afraid of anyone. She’s even earned the nickname ‘Bulldozer’ because she’ll let nothing stand in the way of getting what she wants.
Ian, 25, Perth
Inquisitive by nature, there’s a science to Ian’s motivations for applying
to Big Brother.
Growing up in the bush as an only child, Ian developed a fascination with ecology and biology, which his geologist parents encouraged. To this day, they still take an annual family holiday together to sightsee, hike and do a little fossil hunting.
Kieran, 21, Adelaide
Kieran may appear shy and unassuming but don’t let his looks fool you. This outgoing kid from Adelaide is ready to play a bold, strategic game and will do anything to win Big Brother.
Kieran has already made a name for himself as “Adelaide’s worst driver”, racking up millions of views on social for his terrible but comedic attempts at learning to drive with his parents.
Laura, 25, Melbourne
Fierce, fabulous and unique, Laura is pumped to bring her “good vibez” to Big Brother.
Born and raised in Melbourne with a Fijian and Australian background, Laura dropped out of school at 17 to pursue dancing and has never looked back. After training in NYC and LA, this #bossbitch is now living her dream as a professional dance teacher, choreographer and performer; as well as running her own youth outreach programs.
Marissa, 62, Sydney
Sydney makeup artist Marissa is ready to show Australia that age is just a number! The competition’s dark horse is no stranger to the spotlight.
Marissa and her twin sisters brought aerobics to Australia in the eighties, becoming household names as The Rancan Sisters, with daily morning TV appearances, celebrity clients and a cult following.
Mat, 30, Broken Hill
Country bloke Mat was born and raised in Broken Hill, or as he calls it, “God’s Garden.” By coming on Big Brother, this down-to-earth sparky is not only hoping to challenge himself but give the people of his town and surrounds something to smile at and with any luck, make them proud to call him one of their own.
A self-confessed sports nut, Mat is “batting above average” with fiancé Jessica and is super close with his mum, dad, younger brother and extended family.
Sarah, 19, Melbourne
Sarah is a 4’11” pocket rocket and Regimental Sergeant Major with the Australian Army Cadets. What she lacks in height, Sarah makes up for with personality, passion and positivity. She loves beating people’s perceptions about her based on her stature.
Sarah is a true Aussie battler, growing up on the poverty line in a family of seven; stressing about money from a young age and working multiple jobs as a teenager to help support her family. Despite the hardships they endured,
Sarah’s parents encouraged education and she is now the first person in her family to reach university where she is currently studying Criminal Justice and Psychological Science (to add to her Law and Business studies).
Shane, 39, Tweed Heads
Shane is an effervescent husband and father-of-three with a wicked sense of humour. In coming on Big Brother, Shane wants to prove to himself and his kids that anything is possible.
He’s hoping that the life experience which comes with being a bit older will help him go far in the game.
Soobong, 48, Adelaide
Adelaide delivery driver SooBong has been a singer, ski instructor, casino dealer, personal trainer, golf coach, sound engineer and vocal coach, and now has his sights set on becoming the winner of Big Brother.
Born and raised in Korea, the divorced father-of- three is one of the happiest human beings
you’ll ever meet. He has a converted campervan, a travelling house, which provides him with the ultimate freedom. SooBong openly admits he’s crazy… but not in an actual crazy way, just for fun. His friends call him Bart (as in Simpson) because he’s cheeky, naughty and doesn’t age.
Sophie, 25, Darwin
Former elite gymnast Sophie is landing a lifelong dream when she enters the Big Brother house and may surprise her fellow housemates at Challenges with her athletic edge.
Born in Germany and raised in Darwin, Sophie started to train as a gymnast from a young age, moving to Canberra as a teenager and then onto Brisbane to pursue her passion. When she was 18, she made the team for the 2012 London Olympics but just two months out from the Games, her dreams were shattered when a career-ending back injury forced her to retire from elite sport.
Talia, 22, Adelaide
Talia isn’t your average 22-year-old woman. In fact, people are usually shocked to discover this blonde beauty works in construction and was a homeowner at just 19.
Smart, strong and confident, Talia is looking forward to smashing through more gender stereotypes in the Big Brother house. She may be young and look like a “girly girl,” but after growing up with two older brothers and managing a job site of 50 men, she can hold her own with the boys.
Xavier, 23, Sydney
Surfer boy Xavier is likely to be the cheekiest and most chilled out person in the Big Brother house. But look past his boyish charm and laidback persona and you’ll find a deep-thinking paramedic with a kind heart.
Xavier reckons he’ll be a cracker of a housemate – friendly, funny, polite (thanks for the lessons in manners mum!) and someone who can handle conflict and big personalities. In fact, he sees his strength as his ability to get along with people and get them to like him.
Zoe, 39, Melbourne
Melbourne fun mum Zoe is a secondary school woodwork teacher who moonlights as a lifestyle blogger with her popular blog, ‘The Subtle Mummy.’ Subtle as a brick to the face, Zoe loves talking about all the taboo subjects that come with being a wife and mother of two kids under six.
Zoe doesn’t take life too seriously and wants Australia to see that a regular mum can be
fun too. She’s also adamant that mums shouldn’t sacrifice their dreams and things they want
to do in life because of their kids, encouraging others to get out, do it and get over
the mum guilt.
• More than 53,000 people applied
• There are 65 cameras in the house including GoPros and purpose built set cameras
• The house features sustainable plantation timber and LED lighting to reduce energy consumption, and they were repurposed from other sets
• Water savers include shower time limits and rainwater toilets
• Over 100 crew worked on the series
• Over 100 crew worked on the series
• 2019 marked 20 years since the show first aired in the Netherlands; since then, 480 series have aired across 62 markets producing more than 28,000 episodes
• This is the 12th season of Big Brother in Australia
Big Brother is produced by Endemol Shine Australia for the Seven Network.