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Ben wins Big Brother 2012 …and proposes

Benjamin Norris has won Big Brother 2012 and proposes to his partner Live on stage.

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Benjamin Norris has won Nine’s Big Brother 2012 winning $250,000 and a new car -but he capped off his win with a proposal from Benjamin to his partner Ben live on stage.

“Since I met Ben all I’ve ever wanted is for him to be a part of my family. No-one’s going to tell us sitting on the couch at the end of the day pretending that we’re married that we’re not married,” he said.

The 32 year old Victorian accounts manager becomes the first gay man to win an Australian Big Brother Series. His mix of gossiping, analysis and humour saw him triumph over Layla Subritzky for the title. Fan favourite Estelle Landy was eliminated at the eleventh hour.

Final votes were Benjamin 40%, Layla 31% and Estelle 29%.

“I’ve never really won anything in my life,” Benjamin said. “I thought the only way I could win was to be myself.”

It was ten years since he had first applied for the series.

Runner up Layla Subritzky, branded as the “English Rose” of the series, proved to be a popular housemate with her vibrant personality, romantic storylines and occasionally ditzy comments. As the series runner up she won $10,000 on top of her previous prize of a new car.

Second runner-up Estelle Landy survived multiple eviction nominations but her exit on the Finale night mirrored 2001 third placegetter Sara-Marie Fedele. After being eliminated she remained resilient about her time in the house and defended her individuality. Upon being evicted she was trending worldwide on Twitter (#LegalizeGayMarriageInAustralia also trended in Australia) and took home the third prize of $5000 cash.

Nine turned it on with a dynamic finale with fireworks, dancing and surprises. It began with footage from former series on TEN and an opening number from evicted housemates. Choreographed by Tony Bartuccio, they performed Oats a la Layla and Gangnam Style (including a video appearance by Korean pop star Psy). They also led a congaline through the backstage area and the house.

All the evicted housemates also appeared on stage accompanying a montage of series highlights as  glammed-up Sonia Kruger looked back on the series.

Peter Overton appeared in a news package bringing Layla and Benjamin up to speed on headlines (including Obama’s re-election just hours before) -always one of the most fascinating features of the finale.

Benjamin’s mother Jane also entered the house for one of the show’s most emotional moments as mother and son re-bonded. Sonia Kruger also snuck into the Diary Room to surprise Benjamin, by taking him to the eviction stage.

Despite the sudden departure of one housemate for personal reasons, Nine’s Reality series managed to avoid a controversy all season -a feat in itself given the show’s tarnished reputation. It has also performed well in advertiser-friendly Demos.

The show ended with Big Brother thanking Australia for watching.

“Big Brother will get back to you.”

75 Responses

  1. Is it a full moon or something…. seems most of you have had a dose of the ‘nasty pills’ after reading some of the comments posted. I have been denied approval of one comment posted over the many years of following this website, and it was nothing like what I am reading here…

    Ben won, get over it. If Estelle or Layla won, wonder what we would be reading in the comments. Much the same I guess but from different people.

    The public voted… Now to 2013.

    1. Kathy as per my comment below, the comments are approved in light of the storylines. BB spent the whole season focussing on gossip / bullying / romance, and it asks viewers to choose heroes and villains. Where a network explicitly puts this on the table I think it’s reasonable that the audience expresses their reaction. One of the other times I approved more explicit comments was when Deni Hines was heavily edited into Celebrity Apprentice as a villain (not that I am suggesting Ben was on the same level). But it’s about context. Some of these comments would never get passed me in other situations, nor if a minor was involved. Thx.

  2. Estelle made a career out of being a ‘victim’ and almost got away with it…..Ben was the most entertaining housemate by far .

    Best Big Brother ever.

  3. Marriage equality tweets are now trending in Australia.

    #LegalizeGayMarriageInAustralia
    #AustralianGayRights
    #gayrights

  4. I was really surprised by Bens win. I knew the save votes had flipped this series on its head (he would have gone first time up if it was evict votes for throwing water in Bradley’s face), and it would get him a fair distance but he actually won?

    He was rude and harsh and disrespectful right to the end. He couldn’t even be respectful and choose to get along with those others who had also made it there. Even on final night, he was still being disrespectful!

    Never have we had such a rude person in the final. They’ve all got along and played happy families in the past in the last days and this time there was awkwardness, and in previous years the good bloke who got along with everyone or funny girl won. I’m surprised Ben was rewarded for his rude and nasty behaviour.

    1. Normally I wouldn’t condone some of these comments on a blog post, but reality shows put storylines and characters on the table and ask people to pick a side, so in this context I think the audience has a right to express their passion.

  6. Sigh, like wtf?

    This guy was horrible. He spent the season being horrible. He’s a self admitted compulsive liar. He instigated so much of the horrible, exclusionary, and yes bullying behavior that went on this season.

    Why would people want to reward the most mean housemate in there?

  7. I wanted Estelle to win but well done to Ben, he was a bit bitchy but good on him for winning.

    Will 9 turn the wedding into a reality show?

  10. I too cannot believe the rest of Australia gave 55c to Ben over Estelle (Estelle got my 55c)

  11. “Big Brother will get back to you” is what was said at the end. Does that mean it’s renwed, or it’s a maybe? lol

  13. I have watched all seasons of BB Australia, and have never been so disappointed with who won!

    To the last moment he showed his true colours, when Estelle left he threw her horse over the wall, disgusting behaviour, he has no control at all!

  14. I’m so glad Ben won. Yes, he did gossip a lot, but at the end of the day – he was the most entertaining.

  15. Ben is noy a bully. What do you expect? Locked in a house for more than 3 months, of course you’re going to talk about each other.

  18. A bit disappointed that Layla didn’t win.During the final weeks Ben’s true colours started to show and I didn’t like what I saw.

  19. oh im in perth i wasnt expecting to see that allready but i cant beileve a guy who sits there and bitches about peoplebullies them and is 2 faced to them wins that kind of money
    whats wrong with australia or the 900,000 people watching it layla deserved it way more than ben

  20. When it comes to voting in the last 24 hours, how could America get it so right, and Australia get it so wrong?

  21. They better announce BB13 at the end, or I’ll be seriously disappointed. Promoting all these shows (WTF is Bake Wars?!) and not BB..

  24. Peter Overton’s no Sandra Sully safe to say.
    Overall, Ten’s Big Brother (except for the final year) left Nine’s for dead.

  25. As a gay man, I’ve never hated a reality show winner so much in my life.

    That…… deserves $250,000? That!? That attitude, horribly two faced, backstabbing, rudeness wins Big Brother?

    I wanted to go on next year but, will the producers even let a gay guy from Melbourne go on again after Benjamin wins?

    I honestly don’t understand who supports such….. a horrible personality.

    I’m baffled.

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