It’s back, whether you wanted it to be or not, and this time a few of the housemates have let slip a little too much detail such that their complete backgrounds have already been sourced. Favourites have been picked by viewers, first evictees already identified, and the twist – well, the twist is as we expected a lot less twisty than was intimated. Again Sonia Kruger did the best she could with the very weak material she was given. BB is a marathon and not a sprint and with the first ep we’ve already hit the first hill.
From the press release:
The Nine Network tonight launched the much anticipated 2013 series of BIG BROTHER with host Sonia Kruger, welcoming 12 Housemates onto the Stage before a capacity crowd of fans at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.
A former soldier, a high school teacher, an ex-cop and a sports agent, are some of this year’s BIG BROTHER contestants who have now moved into the House for the ultimate social experiment, vying to win a cash prize of $250,000.
This season, BIG BROTHER has created a division in the House that will test this year’s Housemates like never before with the Safe House & Half Way House. On stage, Sonia asked each Housemate to pick a key that would determine their fate in the House. The keys either unlocked the door to the Safe House where Big Brother offered his new guests the opulent surrounds of luxurious gym, spa, swimming pool and wine and canapés on arrival. The other key opened the door to the Half Way House where unfortunate Housemates experience an underprivileged life with beds half sized, and very limited facilities – all within clear view of their ‘richer’ neighbours. The Half Way Housemates will have to rely 100% on the hand-outs of the Safe House on a daily basis – the toughest challenge in Australian Big Brother history.
BIG BROTHER says of this year’s twist, “Listen carefully. Those of you who think that what you saw on tonight’s show answers all your questions about my plans – think again. There are many more elements to this year’s twist which will make the Housemates take their tasks and nominations very seriously.”
Tomorrow night BIG BROTHER pulls the twist even tighter as he introduces some new faces in a special LIVE SHOW at 7pm. The institution of marriage will be put to the test as DREW & JADE are introduced for the first time by Sonia, before being released into the Diary Room where these unsuspecting strangers are dealt a massive challenge. In order to ensure their stay in the BB House lasts longer than two weeks, they must fool the Housemates into thinking they are a married couple. An impossible task? Let’s watch and see.
Big Brother 2013 will broadcast to a new schedule, for the first time ever having eviction shows on a Monday night, followed by Nominations Tuesdays and a brand new instalment on Saturdays with BIG BROTHER SHOWDOWN, hosted by Shelley Craft with commentary from Mike Goldman and Michael Beveridge.
BIG BROTHER ON CHANNEL 9 W/C JULY 29:
7pm, Tuesday 30TH JULY LIVE BIG BROTHER SPECIAL
7pm, Wednesday 31ST JULY BIG BROTHER
7pm, Thursday 1ST AUG BIG BROTHER
7pm, Friday 2ND AUG BIG BROTHER
6.30pm, Saturday 3RD AUG BIG BROTHER SHOWDOWNTickets to the live shows can be purchased only at Dreamworld via www.dreamworld.com.au.
BIG BROTHER 2013 HOUSEMATES
Mikkayla: 23. High school teacher. Newcastle NSW.
A South Korean orphan Mikkayla was adopted by an Australian family when she was six months old. “On the flight to Australia I screamed the whole way.” After experiencing racist bullying at school she escaped into a world of books and study which led to university and a teaching degree. “I was always a massive bookworm but once I overcame my fears of rejection from my peers I became a social butterfly. My life has not been smooth sailing but it has brought me to where I am today and for that I am grateful.”Xavier: 28. Facilities manager. Melbourne.
Xavier doesn’t hold back when asked if he’s happy with his life: “No. I’ve been stagnating in my job and ambitions for years. I need to break out and find something.” A born entertainer Xavier gets his post work kicks from being the lead singer of a band and by making people laugh. “My best quality is my sense of humour. You can’t fake being funny and I’d like to think I genuinely am. I’m average looking, but I know how to wrap presents and iron a shirt. Come at me ladies.”Tahan: 24. Part-time model. Public servant. NT
Darwin born and raised Tahan is a striking mix of Aboriginal / Malaysian and Chinese heritage. She had a real NT childhood, riding quad bikes, swimming in waterholes and stealing mangoes from the neighbor’s yard. Her adult life is a more sophisticated affair, living as a young professional in Melbourne and doing acting and magazine shoots. “People either like me or dislike me and I can’t change that. Everyone has the right to their own opinions.”Ben: 31. Former flight attendant. Brisbane.
Benjamin is not your regular thirty-year-old guy. For starters he counts his mum as his best friend: “Mum sacrificed so much for me and raised me on her own. I can always count on mum to turn up, keep a secret or help take care of something for me.” Ben loves TV current affairs and still enjoys his childhood practice of walking through graveyards and reading gravestones. “I’m not much of a drinker, don’t go to clubs, I like to read, can’t dance and hate clothes shopping.”Tully: 25. Social media strategist- “spends half her life on Facebook – and gets paid for it” Sydney.
An inner city type Tully lives in a terrace house with her girlfriend Tahlia and their Pomeranian puppy Luna. Despite having a good job with a top advertising agency Tully says she never has any money: “Shopping makes me happy, but I never have extra cash to blow.” As for bad habits: “I can be unfriendly or bitchy to people I don’t know before getting to know them and giving them a chance. That said, I’m generally spot on with my first impressions.”Tim: 29. University student. Sydney.
Easily distracted, rebellious and with an eye on having a good time, Tim is still trying to finish his science degree ten years after he started it. “My life is a constant search for weird and fun. There are no limits. I crossed that line years ago and life is so much more interesting on the other side.” Tim doesn’t believe in playing it safe: “If more people lived life like me I’d have more friends. To get more friends I’d have to sacrifice who I am. I can’t have both.Sharon: 41. Ex-cop. Melbourne.
A married mother of three, Sharon’s daily life is non-stop. Getting the kids up and off to school before taking fitness classes with clients of her personal training business then home for bath time, dinner and bed. In her younger life Sharon was a policewoman, but rates her biggest achievement as losing 30 kilos “not once, but three times. It was a bloody hard task but I always say strong mind, strong body and if you believe it you can achieve it.”Ed: 26. Sports agent. South Australia.
One half of identical twins, Ed’s a former AFL player who had to give the game away after a devastating knee injury. His brother Nick plays for Western Bulldogs. “I could never have imagined being unable to play at 23 especially when that’s all I wanted to do when I was younger. But it’s been good to experience life outside of professional sport.” Ed still goes to the gym five times a week as well as university. His job means he’s constantly looking for promising players to sign up to the agency.Matthew: 28. Former soldier turned electrician. Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
An Australian soldier who has seen active service in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mathew has now left the army and settled back into the Queensland sunshine and the more peaceful life of a tradesman and surfer: “Being in the Australian Army infantry was the most rewarding thing I have ever done and such an honour to serve this amazing country. But to be back with my mates, surfing and having the freedom to walk along the beach is amazing.”Heidi: 29. Radio announcer. Newcastle NSW
Born in Bathurst NSW and armed with a degree in public relations, Heidi travelled the world looking for her dream job, before finding it in Newcastle where she landed a gig as a breakfast announcer on the local FM radio station. It suits her alpha personality: “There’s nothing fake about me. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I love to listen. People tell me I’m the mother hen. People tell me everything.”Jasmin: 24. Flight attendant. Melbourne.
Jasmin’s funky good looks come courtesy of an Australian mum and an African-American father. A Melbourne-based flight attendant she has a natural affinity with people, but her generous nature doesn’t extend to beetroot which she has hates with a passion. She also can’t stand people who lie: “I’m a terrible liar so I just don’t do it.” At 24 Jasmin is an unashamed mummy’s girl and calls her up to three times a day for advice. If mum can’t fix a problem she turns to comfort food. “Vegemite and butter cures just about any emotional girly problems.”Caleb: 33. Fireman. Melbourne.
Caleb completed an accounting degree before deciding he needed to try something more exciting and signing up as a flight attendant. After spending “three years in the desert” based in Dubai with a Middle Eastern airline, he returned to Australia and took a job with the Melbourne metropolitan fire brigade. Caleb’s weakness is women: “I always fall too quickly for a girl I like. I’m a sucker for wearing my heart on my sleeve.”