As the dramatic debut season of Big Brother VIP Australia begins to draw to a close, competition among the housemates has reached fever-pitch.
Strong alliances and bonds have been formed, while tensions between some housemates (namely Caitlyn Jenner and Omarosa, Luke Toki and Dayne Beams, and Jess Power and Ellie Gonsalves) has also been front and centre of the drama.
Over the past three weeks we’ve seen epic blindsides, hair-raising challenges and surprise twists, with Big Brother pulling out all the stops to keep his VIPs on their toes.
Take a look at who has been sent packing so far.
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Imogen Anthony
The final four celebrated their place in the competition with an Italian feast and Imogen took the opportunity to make amends, apologised to Ellie and the girls made up.
The next morning the housemates attacked their final challenge, with Josh securing the win and the power to decide which housemate would go home, as well as who he would take to the Grand Final with him.
A very emotional Imogen showed her vulnerability again, pleading with Josh based on self-growth and self-worth. Despite his alliance with Luke, Luke was worried, and desperate to break his reality show curse.
In the Eviction Room, Josh was torn, admitting it would make sense to send Ellie or Luke home. But true to his word, he chose to send Imogen home, taking Ellie and Luke to the Grand Final with him.
On leaving the Big Brother VIP hotel, an emotional Imogen said, ” I never thought I would make it this far. I did not expect to be so transformed by this experience, it’s definitely given me my spark back… and I feel like doing that, I can do almost anything. I am excited for things ahead. I am not just someone’s ex, I am me, I am Immy, I am Imogen.”
Jess Power
On the penultimate day in the Big Brother Hotel, Ellie, Luke, Josh, Jess and Imogen headed to the basement for their second last challenge. Ellie proved to be a queen, completing the challenge in less than five minutes.
Upon returning to the hotel, Ellie nominated Jess and Imogen, exacting sweet revenge for their previous blindside and their less than welcoming reaction to hearing Ellie was back in the game.
Jess swung into action trying to get support from Josh and Luke, while Imogen had an epiphany about what the Big Brother experience has meant to her. Tired of always coming in second and being in someone’s shadow, she mustered up the courage to scramble hard. She made an emotional pitch to both Luke and Josh. It worked and Jess was evicted.
Thomas Markle Jr
After making it to the top six and surviving four evictions, Thomas was sent packing on Wednesday night following Luke Toki’s campaign against him. The former Survivor star convinced Jessika Power and Imogen Anthony to vote out the 55-year-old.
“I feel Big Brother has given me a life changing experience,” Thomas said as he exited the house. “It gave my the opportunity to cleanse my soul. I mailed the good letter to Meghan [Markle] and it’s in the post,” he said of the letter her penned to his estranged sister while in the house.
Dayne Beams
After being sent packing during a surprise double eviction, only to be given another shot at the game, AFL star Dayne was evicted for good on Tuesday night’s explosive episode.
In the eviction room, there was just one vote separating him and Ellie Gonsalves, and the father-of-two said his goodbyes to his fellow housemates.
Ellie Gonsalves and Dayne Beams
Several spanners were thrown into the works when Jess Power won the challenge and put Dayne, Ellie and Thomas Markle Jr up for eviction. This then prompted Ellie to go into battle mode trying to push the votes onto the AFL star.
In the eviction room, everyone pitched hard, but Luke Toki was one step ahead of Ellie and orchestrated yet another epic blindside and the actress was sent packing.
Then in a surprise twist, Big Brother announced a double eviction would be taking place, and Dayne was also evicted.
But as they headed to the exit, Big Brother revealed their time in the hotel wasn’t over yet, and said they would be heading to the gym to vie for another shot at the game.
Bernard Curry
Bernard Curry
Bernie was the fifth housemate to be sent packing after being put up for eviction by Josh Carroll.
Josh and Luke Toki were gunning for the Wentworth star after he orchestrated the takedown of Danny Hayes in the previous eviction.
Ellie Gonsalves and Luke were also up for eviction but the Survivor star evaded elimination due to an advantage he won in a challenge.
Danny Hayes
In a shocking eviction that no viewers saw coming, Big Brother 2021 breakout star Danny Hayes was sent home after actor Bernard Curry won the challenge and nominated him, Josh Carroll and Thomas Markle Jr.
Danny and Luke Toki formed an alliance, with the real estate agent making a last-ditch attempt to stay in the house.
“Last season I was there for 62 days and I played really hard,” he told his fellow housemates.
“I never played any hierarchy… I did it my way and I was prepared to go out at any time, I fought and I fought.”
But his campaign wasn’t enough to save him from eviction, and he became the fourth VIP to be sent packing.
“I’m devastated, I don’t like to lose and I lost. This wasn’t my battle, this was the war,” he said as he left.
Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn left the house in an unconventional way following an epic twist by Big Brother.
After an emotional look down memory lane, where the VIPs were asked to explain the story behind old photos of them, the housemates got stuck in the ever-malfunctioning elevator.
Big Brother then announced there was to be a snap eviction, and each housemate needed to plead their case to try and stay in the game. Caitlyn then made the shock decision to evict herself from the house.
“When I came here, I really looked forward to meeting everybody – I love people,” she said. “It’s been such a pleasure during this last week that we’ve been together. To be honest, I don’t want to let anybody down. I love all you guys.”
Matt Cooper
Former NRL star Matt Cooper was the second housemate sent packing after an epic blindside orchestrated by Luke Toki.
Matt was up for eviction along with Josh Carroll and Thomas Markle Jr by Ellie Gonsalves, who hoped her housemates would ultimately vote Thomas out.
But at the eleventh hour, Luke convinced several other VIPs to turn on Matt.
Omarosa
Omarosa was the first housemate to be voted out of the Big Brother VIP house, but that doesn’t mean she was technically evicted.
Bernard Curry, Dayne Beams and Omarosa were put up for eviction by Caitlyn Jenner, with the former political aide ultimately being cast the most votes to leave the house.
But after Omarosa said her goodbyes and tried to exit the house, Big Brother announced he had “plans” for her in the lower levels of of his hotel, unbeknownst to the other housemates.
We’ll have to wait and see what’s in store for Omarosa!