Lisa Wilkinson to host Big Brother revival for TEN
New host & new season as TEN takes Big Brother back to basics at Dreamworld.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News, Top Stories
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
“Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Ten for comment.”
???
??? always some journalist who falls for your April Fools stories
Is this a joke David?
Sometimes a crazy joke like this can turn into reality. Ten should really give this some consideration. Well played David
Every Big Brother Fan send this link to channel 10 , I am lol , on a bright note , look how much traffic u have on Easter Sunday David , you just can’t shake daily habits no matter what day of the year ?
Omg that was cruel , didn’t take any notice of the date , playing emotions with my fav show . I thought the last paragraph was just because funny ..
I’m still upset about this lol. Surely your best one yet David.
Me to I’m going on strike from this site for a while lol .. Don’t mess with big brother
So glad this is an April Fools joke… When i read this this morning, i thought WTF…. Why would she feel she needs to do this… was devastated… but alas…. Thankyou April 1st…
I actually got on this site first thing to see what April Fools story you would put up David. But Lisa would actually make a good host.
Wouldn’t be surprised if CBS/TEN actually did this ?
This is genius David! It’s entirely believable until the last bit about Cram. I’ve always wondered how the networks respond, Hopefully they take it in good humour.
Happy April Fools Day to everyone but I so wish Big Brother Australia actually came back to TV.
Maybe TEN/CBS surprises us with a shock reveal at the Upfronts. Unlikely but you can hope.
Can’t help wondering if it’s April 1st…
April fool!!
Greedy Nine didn’t deserve this show anyway. When it aired there, it was watered down a lot so that it was “family friendly”.
Great thanks David. Got really excited for a second.. then I realised the date.
Well this is a surprise (or maybe not!). Look forward to watching it to see how it is.
The article got me for a while before I realised what day it was, but Ten should really consider this.
I am guessing April fools?
Damn it. Fooled again.
The question is, are they going to have a wide variety of contestants, fascinating people like Chrissie and Reggie etc were, or are they going to fall back on boring pretty young people lounging in a hot tub.
April Fools
Out of all April fools jokes ever done by anyone in the history of the world. This, is the cruelest by far ?
Fantastic news! We’ve waited so long for this.
Celebrity BB US was ok but nothing on the local production.
(Please don’t let this be an April Fool’s prank)
Another nail in Lisa’s credibility. Looks like leaving 9 was a mistake.
Just realized what day it is! Is this a April fools joke?
If not I can’t wait!
hahaha. Love the story. An awesome April Fools story though
Loved the last line though….. 🙂
Ah yes, good old April Fools! Good one David!