Big Brother fans across the country are counting down the days until the show returns to our screens.
And while we’re getting drip fed details about the reboot, including who the new housemates are and what to expect from the new series hosted by Sonia Kruger, there’s no better time to take a look back at the old-school days of the show.
From Merlin Luck’s agenda-setting political protest to the infamous Turkey Slap and numerous cheating scandals, Big Brother has long been a breeding ground for scandal over the years.
Scroll on as we take a walk down memory lane and look back at Big Brother’s most shocking scandals of all time.
turkey slap
THE TURKEY SLAP
It was one of the most controversial moments on Australian TV, when housemate John held down Camilla so that Ashley could smack her with his genitals. Thankfully, the situation was dealt with swiftly by producers, who sent the two packing from the Big Brother house in 2006! The situation not only angered fans, it forced the then-Prime Minister John Howard to speak out against the reality show, calling for the “stupid” program to be axed and branding it “filth”. Camilla was season six’s runner-up.
cheating housemate
CHEATING HOUSEMATE
Following the show in 2014, Cat and Lawson – who had a long-term girlfriend – dated for several years. They split in 2019, with Cat saying, “We don’t have any ill will towards each other.”
Gretel’s hook up
GRETEL’S HOOK-UP
Despite her denials, host Gretel Killeen couldn’t escape rumours she was dating evicted season three housemate Daniel, who’s 19 years her junior. The romance was short-lived, but had tongues wagging!
Dancing doona
THE DANCING DOONA
In 2001, housemates Pete and Christina were the first couple on the Aussie series to hook up, and they raised eyebrows when they were seen canoodling under their doona!
bree evicted
BREE IS EVICTED BY MISTAKE!
A massive mistake in 2004 saw series favourite Bree evicted after a vote counting error! Much to the delight of fans, she returned to the house – after meeting family and friends – the Monday after her Sunday eviction, with actual evictee Wesley booted instead. The bubbly blonde went on to become season four’s runner-up, just missing out on the $1 million prize – the largest ever sum forked out by the show.
Eviction blackout
EVICTION BLACKOUT
In what became one of many moments proving the show’s original host Gretel should never have left, the presenter was forced to tackle a live TV cross during a blackout in 2004! She was left without a teleprompter, ear piece or any on-stage screens, but successfully managed to remain calm for almost 10 minutes.
murder shock
MURDER SHOCK
In 2003, Belinda was the first housemate to remove herself from the show after she drunkenly revealed someone she knew had been involved in the murder of a gay man. The incident caused the show’s website to be inundated with complaints and hate-mail about the comments.
Bum dance
THE BUM DANCE
With her infectious personality and bunny ears, 22-year-old Sara-Marie invented the bum dance craze that took over the country! Upon exiting the show in 2001, Sara-Marie said the hilarious dance was a sign to tell her sisters she was happy in the house. The loud reality star became so popular she even wrote a self-help book, The Sara-Marie Guide To Life, released a song, had her own line of pyjamas and landed herself on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine!
drew and tully
TULLY & DREW’S SHOWMANCE
In 2013, Tully entered the house happily loved-up with her girlfriend on the outside. But things took an interesting turn when she took a shine to Drew. The pair tried hard to convince their housemates they were just friends, but Tully’s girlfriend was quick to dump her after watching the romance play out on screen.
Merlin
POLITICAL PROTEST
It was a moment of live television gold when 2004 housemate Merlin used his eviction to protest the mandatory detention of asylum seekers in Australia. Upon exiting the house, Merlin taped his mouth with gaffer tape and held up a sign reading, “Free The Refugees,” forcing host Gretel into a tight spot as she tried to calm an aggravated crowd and strong-minded Merlin, who refused to speak to her. Speaking of the moment years later, Merlin revealed he had sewn his sign into the lining of a T-shirt to ensure it wasn’t removed by producers.
Merlin’s Free The Refugees protest on Big Brother
