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Lisa Wilkinson to host Big Brother revival for TEN

New host & new season as TEN takes Big Brother back to basics at Dreamworld.

Big Brother is returning to TEN with Lisa Wilkinson as host.

It will kick off the network’s 2019 ratings year with CBS ordering the series to replace I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

In a win for true believers, TEN is also returning the series to its core, with a stripped nightly show, Sunday evictions, Big Brother Up Late on ELEVEN and 24 / 7 ‘webcam’ streaming. Unlike Nine’s “family friendly” revival in 2012, TEN is promising ‘adult’ content in an MA timeslot.

CBS honcho Armando Nunez sealed the deal with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during a flying visit last week. The show’s return to Dreamworld marks another feather in the cap for the Gold Coast.

Annastacia Palaszczuk said, “With the Logie Awards, Commonwealth Games, Tidelands, Harrow, Safe Harbour, The Family Law and Dora the Explorer, Queensland is now a powerhouse in Australia’s film & television industry. TEN’s commitment to local jobs is a win for fans and industry alike.”

Lisa Wilkinson said, “Big Brother is the grand-daddy of Reality TV experiments. Who can forget Sara-Marie’s bunny ears, Marty & Jess falling in love, or Merlin’s “Free the Refugees” protest? It is watercooler TV meets eviction confessions, and I’ve been practicing those famous words, “It’s time to go…'”

TEN Chief Content Officer Beverley McGarvey said, “We always knew TEN would return to TV’s favourite Reality show when the time was right and give fans the show they truly deserve. We can’t wait to meet the next housemates set to have Australia talking.”

The return of Big Brother will come 11 years after it ended on TEN, with a 3 season run on Nine from 2012-2014. Sources suggest it was always part of CBS’ master-plan to poach Lisa Wilkinson for the show’s revival, rather than The Project.

“Now the bigger picture is clear. Wilkinson on The Sunday Project is actually a warm-up to Sunday night evictions,” a source tells TV Tonight.

“CBS owns the Big Brother brand and it is cheaper to produce than I’m A Celebrity in South Africa. There aren’t that many hosts with both the Live TV and interview skills to make it work -you can bet Lisa won’t let anybody get away with turkey-slapping.”

CBS will also use 24 / 7 “web-cam” streaming to launch CBS All Access in the Australian market. Fan favourite Mike Goldman is understood to be finalising a deal as Up Late host, fending off strong interest from HotDogs.

“We’re baaaack baby!” he told TV Tonight.

“I’ve been rehearsing my dancing-doona impressions and bum-dancing, ready to unleash more mayhem on the Goldie! Bring it ornnnn!”

With its diehard fanbase, Big Brother is the network’s best shot to take the fight up to Married at First Sight & My Kitchen Rules.

Sources say Peter Helliar attempted to rework Cram as a possible alternative, locking himself in the Dreamworld house and throwing brussel sprouts at Fitzy & Bree but execs were just not impressed.

Update: April Fool’s thanks for playing again!

Photo: Roberto Parlavecchio

116 Responses

  1. I like very much the big brother tv show. Are 2020 auditions coming in Australia? Because I have seen this link to apply 2020 auditions:- australia2020auditions.com/big-brother-australia-auditions-2020-details.html

  2. I think they should consider bringing the show back however change the game to be more like the American format with only 3 episodes a week but with Friday night games, uplate and live feeds.
    The original Australian format just doesnt work because the public will evict the big characters and we will be left with the Ryans, Jades and Jamie’s.
    Yes I am obsessed haha.

  3. I actually believed that story, until I saw the April Fools’ part. I would not mind if TEN brought back Big Brother, but I still want I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here to come back.

  4. David, you got me this year – I took it hook, line and sinker. The reason being, nothing in TV right now would surprise me. The most bizarre decisions are being made and from people you expect better from. Phew – so glad this was a joke (Joyce).

  5. This would have been so good. Please bring it back ch10! Doesn’t have to be with Lisa. Don’t know if Gretel would be up for it again but they could also have one of the OG housemates as host!

      1. She said that she happened to see it online just before hopping on a flight this morning and unfortunately had no internet on the plane. So she spent an hour and a half thinking: “Oh well, I’m at a new network maybe that’s how they do thing here”. 😆
        Hamish followed up with “Welcome to Channel Ten”. 😆

  6. Got me! Good one, first time suckered by April fools joke in many years. I remember one about 25 years ago on Ten Eyewitness news where they talked about a new grass that never needed mowing!!!!

  7. I sooo wish this was true….I was reading ABC News earlier…and they listed many pranks…still the penny did not drop….I just went back there and the actually have a blue link to this page…Even the last sentence did not make me tweak…Only excuse..chocolate overload…. Good One DK….. ?

  8. Oh buggar got me hook line and sinker this morning! Even sent a message to my Son just to hear him groan ‘ugghhhh oh no not another Big Brother’! A very good April Fools, wish it were true though !

  9. Oh no!!!! You got me haha. I was so excited thinking this was true! All I can hope for is that somebody at Ten or CBS reads this and thinks it might be a good idea after all. If Lisa says no then I’m sure Gretel would give it another crack. Please Please Please make it come true! 🙂

  10. What a shame this isn’t true! I’d be all over that. I would have totally believed the article if you hadn’t named Lisa as the new host – she’d be great though! You might have given 10 something to think about…

    1. Wat a random comment … all in different hotels and allowed to Rome outside .. just like anybody having a holiday in a hotel .. yes totally the same lol

  11. Oh, damn you, I was ready to write a huge thing about what a horrific step down this is for Lisa! Your headlines get me every year, David. I seem to forget that it’s April 1st when I check in here on April 1st.

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