Ruqayyah Snyder
Big Brother Australia, based on the original Big Brother format, is a reality TV show that first aired in 2001 and ran for eight seasons. 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. Throughout the competition, housemates are continuously monitored and evicted until the last housemate wins the competition and is awarded a cash prize. The Australian public decides the eventual winner of the competition, who receives a grand prize of $250,000, with some variations in the prize money across seasons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to win | The winner is decided by Australia's vote among the finalists |
| Prize money | $250,000 |
| Number of nominees | Starts with three nominees and reduces to two nominees towards the end of the game |
| Eviction | All housemates must vote to evict one of the nominees, except the nominating housemate |
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What You'll Learn
Cash prize of $250,000
In the Australian reality TV show Big Brother, contestants known as "housemates" live together in a specially constructed house, isolated from the outside world and under constant audio and video surveillance. Throughout the competition, housemates are evicted, and the last remaining housemate wins a cash prize.
In seasons 1-3, 8-10, 13, and 14 of Big Brother Australia, the winner took home a guaranteed cash prize of A$250,000. Seasons 11 and 12 also intended to award this amount, but challenges during the seasons resulted in the prize decreasing. In season 11, the prize was A$200,000, and in season 12, the winner took home A$234,656.
The cash prize has been known to change the lives of the winners. For example, Jamie Brooksby, who won Big Brother Australia in 2006 at the age of 22, said that the money helped set him up for the future. However, Reggie Bird, the 2003 champion, experienced a different outcome. She was swindled out of a significant portion of her winnings by a fake TV producer and faced money woes, a divorce, health issues, and scams.
The Australian public decides the winner of Big Brother Australia, rather than a "Jury" of evicted housemates, as is the case in the American and Canadian versions of the show.
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Australia decides the winner
In the Australian version of Big Brother, the winner is decided by a public vote. In a departure from the format of the American and Canadian versions of the show, where a ""Jury" of evicted housemates decides the winner, the Australian public votes for the winner of Big Brother Australia.
The Australian public's involvement in deciding the winner of Big Brother Australia is not just limited to casting votes. The public is also involved in the nomination and eviction processes. For instance, in the 2020 revival of the show, a ""Nomination Challenge" was introduced, where the winner of the challenge is safe from eviction and gains the power to nominate housemates for eviction.
The Australian public's influence on the show extends beyond just voting and nominations, as the show also incorporates interactive elements that allow viewers to log in and observe the housemates at any time. This live-streaming feature was introduced in the 2025 season and provides viewers with an unedited and unfiltered perspective on the housemates and their dynamics.
The winner of Big Brother Australia receives a substantial cash prize for being the last remaining housemate. The prize money has varied across seasons, with some seasons offering a guaranteed A$250,000, while others have had a maximum prize of A$1 million. The cash prize is subject to changes based on tasks and challenges, as seen in seasons 11 and 12, where the prize money decreased from the initially intended amount.
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Housemates must avoid eviction
Housemates on Big Brother Australia must remain in the house at all times, avoiding eviction to become the last housemate standing and win the grand prize. The show follows a similar format to other international versions of the show, with housemates continuously monitored by live television cameras and personal audio microphones.
Eviction is a key part of the show, with housemates voted out by their fellow housemates or the Australian public. The eviction process typically involves a ""Nomination Challenge", where the winner is safe from eviction and gains the power to nominate housemates for eviction. The number of nominees is determined by how far into the game the housemates are, with three nominees at the start and this number reducing towards the end of the game.
During eviction night, all housemates, except the nominating housemate, must vote to evict one of the nominees. The nominating housemate will only cast a tie-breaker vote if required. In some cases, there have been double fake evictions, where evicted housemates are sent to a Secret Arcade instead of leaving the house.
The show also introduced a Head of House title, with the HoH able to award immunity to a housemate. This immunity could be used to cancel votes against a housemate, saving them from eviction.
The winner of Big Brother Australia is determined by a public vote among the finalists, with the finalist receiving the most votes declared the winner and awarded a cash prize. The cash prize has varied across seasons, with some seasons offering a guaranteed prize of A$250,000, while others have had a lower prize amount due to tasks and challenges. In seasons 4-6, the maximum prize money offered was A$1 million, with housemate Trevor in season 4 being the only person to win this amount.
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Nomination Challenges
The nomination process in Big Brother Australia combines elements of North American and International nomination processes. While the Australian version does not have a Head of Household, the winner of the Nomination Challenge gains the power to nominate housemates for eviction, and in some cases, more than one housemate may gain this power depending on the challenge. The nominator must then go to the Diary Room to cast their nominations and provide valid reasons for their choices, which are announced to the other housemates by Big Brother.
The Nomination Challenges are an important aspect of the game, as they not only provide safety from eviction for the winner but also give them a degree of control over the nominations, adding a strategic element to the competition.
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Secret missions and tasks
In Big Brother Australia, secret missions typically involve housemates keeping secrets from one another or completing tasks without the knowledge of their fellow contestants. For example, in one mission, housemates Emma and Michelle had to keep their presence a secret, repressing their usually outgoing personalities. In another instance, Makosi, a contestant on Big Brother 6, was tasked with convincing the other housemates to nominate her for eviction on the very first night, testing her skills of manipulation and tactical thinking.
The producers of Big Brother Australia also incorporate secret elements into shopping tasks. In one instance, Maxwell, who had chosen to be "Worker Number One," had to sort maggots and shell prawns without his fellow housemates knowing. In another instance, Science, a housemate in dire need of toilet paper, was told he would win a roll for every housemate he slapped on the bottom.
Secret missions can also involve housemates sabotaging tasks or creating moments of mayhem. For example, in Big Brother 11, Andrew wore an earpiece and went "all Jack Bauer," throwing himself into barrel rolls and shouting, ultimately winning a lap dance.
The success of these secret missions often lies in the housemates' ability to keep them hidden from their fellow contestants. If a housemate guesses that someone is on a secret mission, there is usually no award given. However, if a housemate successfully completes a secret task, they may receive a reward, while failure can result in punishments such as automatic nomination or ejection.
Overall, secret missions and tasks add a layer of intrigue and unpredictability to the Big Brother Australia format, keeping both the contestants and viewers on their toes.
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Frequently asked questions
The winner of Big Brother Australia receives a cash prize for being the last remaining housemate. In most seasons, the prize was $250,000. However, the amount has varied across seasons, with some seasons offering a $1 million prize.
In the Australian version of Big Brother, the public decides the winner by voting for their favorite finalist on a dedicated website. This is different from the American and Canadian versions, where a "Jury" of evicted housemates decides the winner.
Typically, each week, two housemates are evicted from the Big Brother Australia house. However, there have been instances of fake evictions, where a housemate is voted off but then immediately brought back into the house.
