Big Brother 7 (Australia)

Coordinates: 27°51′31.96″S 153°18′53.27″E / 27.8588778°S 153.3147972°E

Big Brother Australia
 
 
Season 7 (2007)

Big Brother Australia 2007, also known as Big Brother 7, was the seventh season of the Australian reality television series Big Brother Australia. Episodes were broadcast on Network Ten in Australia, and the first episode aired on 22 April 2007. Despite a drop in ratings compared to previous series, and a number of controversies, the then Big Brother executive producer Kris Noble considers the year's series a success.[1] At the end of this season's finale broadcast 30 July 2007, it was announced by host Gretel Killeen that Big Brother would be returning for an eighth season in 2008. In the finale Aleisha Cowcher was announced winner of Big Brother Australia 2007. She won by the closest winning margin ever in the Australian series. The news the following day reported a margin of 51% versus 49% - a difference of 65 votes. This was the last season hosted by Gretel Killeen.

Development

During the sixth season finale, a seventh season of the show was confirmed.[2] Auditions were held throughout November and December 2006, taking place in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, and Darwin. The house this season was confirmed as to be having an 'eco-friendly' theme and style; It featured a pedal-powered washing machine, a rubber garden turf made from recycled car tyres and carpets made from goat hair.[3] On 18 April 2007, after housemates were put into lockdown, it was revealed that there would be no prize money this season.[4] The launch date of the seventh season was rumoured to be 22 April 2007.[5] These rumours were later confirmed.[6]

Changes to the format

Big Brother 2007 introduced several new elements not seen in previous seasons of the series.

Big Brother Starburst Golden Key

On 29 January 2007, Network Ten, Endemol Southern Star, and Masterfoods announced "Australia's biggest ever integrated television promotion", the Big Brother Starburst Golden Key, which would allow a member of the public to enter the Big Brother House as a housemate.[7] Unique alphanumeric codes were included in packs of Starburst, a confectionery manufactured by Masterfoods. One hundred codes gave the opportunity to audition for the BB season after it began. Of these people, one would become a housemate and be eligible to win the season and all prizes.[7] The winner of this competition was selected during a special episode called "Golden Key". On Day 18, Nick Sady was announced the "Golden Key" winner and entered the Big Brother House.[8]

Prize money

Big Brother originally informed the housemates that there was zero prize money.[9] Later they were informed that they could earn prize money by completing various tasks (similar to that of The Mole).

Friday Night Live Changes

This year the winner of Friday Night Live was given a greater power in nominations. Replacing the Three Point Twist of previous seasons, the Friday Night Live winner each week this season was required to choose one nominated housemate to be removed from the nomination line-up, and to nominate another to replace them.[10] The winner of Friday Night Live this season was also given the chance to discuss their nominations, both past and present, with their chosen housemate whilst inside the Rewards Room.

Storeroom

All staple foods provided to housemates this year were vegan. The housemates could supplement this with milk and eggs supplied from the farm yard and herbs and mushrooms from the herb garden.[11]

Telephone

For the first time Big Brother Australia featured a telephone in the house. It was situated in the lounge and was shown on the Opening Night broadcast before the housemates entered the house. On Day 37, Big Brother informed housemates that if the phone rang only one housemate could answer it. Joel was nominated to answer it on the housemates' behalf. On Day 52 Joel received a call from Big Brother advising that he would be away from the house and would communicate via the phone to Joel at various times.[12] On Day 58 Andrew picked up the phone as a joke, and was penalised by being sent to the Punishment Room to polish boots. Michelle joined him in the Punishment Room due to the weekly task which involved housemates remaining partnered. On Day 97 the housemates were allowed to speak with several of the Big Brother UK housemates.[13] The UK Big Brother House also had a telephone and unlike the Australian version this was the first time the phone was used in the UK version.

Chill Out Room

Adjacent to the kitchen was a new room called the "Chill Out Room". As an official rule, no more than three housemates were allowed in the room at a time. It provided a quiet place to talk or relax, away from the rest of the housemates.

White Room

On 23 April 2007, the four remaining wild-card housemates not selected to enter the House via the public vote on Days 1 and 2 were isolated in the "White Room". The housemates were Cruz, Demet, Kara, and Harrison. The White Room and its fixtures and fittings were all entirely white, and the housemates had only white clothes to wear. White Room housemates were provided with a white porridge which fulfilled all nutritional needs.[14] In the centre of the room was a red button. At any time, a housemate could press the red button if they wished to leave. This decision to leave was final and the quitting housemate could not return to the Big Brother House or the White Room. The challenge was that the housemate who stayed in the White Room the longest without pressing the red button would become a legitimate Big Brother housemate and enter the main house with the rest of the housemates. Monitors in the Big Brother House allowed the housemates to watch, without audio, the White Room housemates at all times. The White Room housemates were unaware that they were being watched by the Big Brother housemates. Cruz was the first white room resident evicted when he pressed the red button after Big Brother offered $750 to whoever pushed the red button first.[15] In the days after Cruz departed no one else volunteered to leave, so Big Brother ran a set of challenges to decide who from the White Room would move to the main house. First, Kara was evicted when Harrison and Demet nominated her.[16] Then, the Big Brother housemates lodged their votes on who they wanted in the house.[17] Demet won the vote and became an official housemate.[18]

Housemates' voting

Secret Relationships

It was revealed on the Game On episode that housemates Hayley and Andrew were secretly in a relationship. Big Brother set the task to both housemates to enter the house and keep their relationship secret for one week. If successful in this task both would be allowed stay in the house; if they failed then one of them would be evicted. All other housemates had individually been challenged by Big Brother to secretly discover who was in a secret relationship, each believing they were the only housemate to be issued this challenge. Housemate Billy was added on Day 2. Billy is Hayley's former boyfriend and was added specifically to complicate her task of keeping her relationship with Andrew secret. Hayley was not allowed to inform anyone, including Andrew, of Billy's true status. Each day he received a mission from Big Brother to put pressure on Hayley's secret challenge.

Billy's Tasks

  1. Day 2: Before Billy went to bed, he had to say "Goodnight Hayley, sweet dreams".
  2. Day 3: From the moment Hayley woke up, Billy had to "wait on her hand and foot" and become her best friend. He also had to pick a bunch of flowers from the garden and give them to Hayley, and ask her to help pick the herbs.
  3. Day 4: When Billy was asked to take a housemate with him to tend the animals, he had to choose Hayley.
  4. Day 5: Billy had to become Andrew's best friend.

Big Brother confirmed on Day 8 that Billy's mission was an overall success, and his reward was becoming an official Big Brother 2007 housemate(who could compete to win Big Brother Australia 2007) on Day 16. On 29 April episode, Big Brother revealed the secret relationship. Three housemates had correctly guessed Hayley and Billy were involved. As fewer than half of the housemates had guessed correctly, Big Brother deemed Hayley and Andrew as successful in their challenge so both were allowed to stay. Big Brother also revealed that as Hayley and Andrew had completed their task successfully $50,000 had been awarded into the prize pool.

No housemates on Rove

Housemates this season were not featured as guests on variety/talk show Rove. Previously housemates would appear on Rove in the days following their eviction. As of 2007 Rove aired on Sunday nights at 8:30, immediately after the Big Brother eviction show. As Rove is taped in Melbourne, Victoria it was impossible for the housemates to travel so quickly to appear on both shows [19] (it is normally a two-to-three hour flight from the Gold Coast to Melbourne). Even so, Rove chose not to cross to evicted contestants following the eviction shows, as Rove would not start airing immediately after Big Brother.

Nominations

Viewers to nominate housemates

The public were able to submit nomination votes via SMS for 2 July nominations. The housemate with the most votes received two nomination points, and the next housemate received one point. With the tally counted, Michelle had the most votes from the public and so received an extra two nomination points. Daniela received an extra nomination point. As winner of Friday Night Games Daniela had the power of saving one housemate from eviction. She saved herself.

Viewers to nominate / Housemates to evict

Big Brother changed the usual format for Week 12 nominations. For this week viewers could nominate housemates, and from the nominated housemates the housemates themselves could vote to evict, reversing the usual procedure. While housemates were put through the usual nomination procedure and their nominations were screened, unknown to them, their nominations were ignored. Viewer nomination points were counted. On Sunday's eviction the housemates were apprised of this twist, and then were individually be asked to nominate to evict any of the nominated housemates. The nominated housemate with the most votes was to be evicted.[20][21] Daniela was evicted with a total of 12 points.

Housemates

The starting Big Brother Australia 2007 housemates. From left to right, back row to front row: Jamie, Kate, Aleisha, Thomas, Hayley, Rebecca, Joel, Emma, Bodie, Teresa Jane ("TJ"), Andrew, and Travis, in the diary room on the announcement that the prize money for the 2007 series stood at zero.

Over the 100 day season, a total of 24 housemates entered the Big Brother House, twelve during the opening night and a following twelve at various points throughout the series. On the opening night, viewers were given the opportunity to vote in two additional housemates, one male and one female, from a selection of six potential housemates, while the remaining four would be isolated in the White Room. The following night, Susannah and Zoran entered the house along with Billy, or Mr. X, whose purpose in the House was to jeopardise Andrew and Hayley's secret relationship challenge, but was not officially recognised as a legitimate housemate until Day 16. Demet, one of the four White Room Wildcards, was voted into the House by the housemates on Day 11, while Nick entered on Day 18 as the winner of the Starburst Golden Key promotion. A further four Intruders followed, Daniela and Laura on Day 31 and Michelle and Zach on Day 50. In a promotion for the upcoming season of Australian Idol, Kyle Sandilands entered the House as a celebrity guest with a mission from Big Brother to encourage housemates to "be themselves," but left the House early due to a severe migraine. Due to an incident prior to the Big Brother 2007 finale, Intruder Laura was not invited to attend and participate while all other former Big Brother housemates, wildcards and intruders were present.

Nominations Table

Each housemate nominated two housemates for eviction each week, excluding the first. The first housemate listed was nominated for 2 points, whilst the second housemate was nominated for a single point. The three or more housemates with the most nomination points faced the public vote to save/evict, and when the save votes were subtracted from the evict votes, the housemate with the most evict votes was then evicted. Before the weekly nominations took place, the housemates competed in a competition called Friday Night Live (FNL) - the winner of which won a special nomination privilege - to remove one nominated housemate from the line-up and replace them with a housemate of their choice.

Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Nomination points received
Fake Real Day 99 Day 100 (Finale)
Aleisha Kate
Jamie
Jamie
TJ
Zoran
Thomas
Nick
Rebecca
Jamie
Rebecca
Travis
Joel
Daniela
Jamie
Thomas
Travis
Michelle
Jamie
Michelle
Zach
Daniela
Zoran
Daniela
Zach
Zoran
Joel
No
Nominations
Winner
(Day 100)
17
Zach Not in
House
Exempt Exempt Zoran
Jamie
Zoran
Michelle
Joel
Zoran
Daniela
Billy
Travis
Joel
No
Nominations
Runner-Up
(Day 100)
13
Travis Zoran
Emma
Zoran
Emma
Emma
Thomas
Nick
Thomas
Jamie
Rebecca
Thomas
Zoran
Laura
Daniela
Jamie
Thomas
Daniela
Joel
Zach
Daniela
Daniela
Zach
Daniela
Zach
Zoran
Zach
No
Nominations
Evicted
(Day 99)
22
Billy Exempt TJ
Zoran
Zoran
Thomas
Susannah
Rebecca
Jamie
Rebecca
Travis
Andrew
Laura
Daniela
Zoran
Travis
Michelle
Daniela
Daniela
Zoran
Daniela
Zach
Daniela
Zach
Zoran
Joel
No
Nominations
Evicted
(Day 99)
14
Zoran Bodie
Aleisha
Bodie
Emma
Rebecca
Jamie
Rebecca
Nick
Jamie
Rebecca
Travis
Andrew
Laura
Daniela
Andrew
Billy
Billy
Michelle
Michelle
Daniela
Zach
Daniela
Daniela
Billy
Billy
Travis
Evicted
(Day 92)
47
Joel Kate
TJ
TJ
Susannah
Susannah
Travis
Jamie
Nick
Jamie
Rebecca
Travis
Aleisha
Laura
Andrew
Jamie
Billy
Jamie
Zach
Zach
Travis
Daniela
Zach
Daniela
Zach
Aleisha
Billy
Evicted
(Day 92)
17
Daniela Not in
House
Exempt Travis
Andrew
Andrew
Laura
Andrew
Joel
Billy
Zoran
Billy
Aleisha
Zoran
Billy
Billy
Aleisha
Evicted
(Day 85)
30
Michelle Not in
House
Exempt Exempt Zoran
Zach
Aleisha
Zoran
Evicted
(Day 78)
12
Jamie Emma
TJ
Emma
Bodie
Emma
Aleisha
Emma
Nick
Emma
Zoran
Emma
Aleisha
Joel
Aleisha
Billy
Joel
Joel
Zoran
Evicted
(Day 71)
35
Thomas Kate
Aleisha
Zoran
Aleisha
Demet
Hayley
Aleisha
Emma
Zoran
Travis
Travis
Andrew
Laura
Travis
Andrew
Travis
Evicted
(Day 64)
13
Andrew Exempt Bodie
TJ
Demet
Emma
Nick
Susannah
Zoran
Rebecca
Daniela
Jamie
Daniela
Laura
Jamie
Thomas
Evicted
(Day 64)
12
Laura Not in
House
Exempt Daniela
Emma
Zoran
Andrew
Evicted
(Day 57)
12
Rebecca Bodie
TJ
Emma
Bodie
Emma
Zoran
Emma
Joel
Joel
Emma
Emma
Travis
Evicted
(Day 50)
21
Emma Kate
Jamie
Rebecca
Jamie
Thomas
Rebecca
Rebecca
Susannah
Rebecca
Jamie
Daniela
Jamie
Evicted
(Day 50)
39
Susannah Jamie
Bodie
Bodie
Aleisha
Emma
Aleisha
Emma
Jamie
Emma
Zoran
Evicted
(Day 43)
11
Nick Not in
House
Exempt Joel
Emma
Evicted
(Day 36)
9
Hayley Exempt Bodie
TJ
Demet
Emma
Evicted
(Day 31)
2
Demet In White
Room
Exempt Susannah
Thomas
Evicted
(Day 29)
4
Bodie Kate
Rebecca
Zoran
Rebecca
Evicted
(Day 22)
14
TJ Zoran
Kate
Susannah
Hayley
Evicted
(Day 22)
9
Kate Emma
Bodie
Evicted
(Day 15)
11
Notes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 none 12 13
Nominated
(pre-save and replace)
Bodie,
Emma,
Kate
Bodie,
Emma,
TJ,
Zoran
Emma,
Thomas,
Zoran
Emma,
Nick,
Rebecca
Jamie,
Rebecca,
Zoran
Aleisha,
Andrew,
Daniela,
Emma,
Jamie,
Thomas,
Travis
Andrew,
Daniela,
Laura
Andrew,
Billy,
Jamie,
Thomas
Aleisha,
Billy,
Jamie,
Michelle,
Zoran
Daniela,
Michelle,
Zach
Billy,
Daniela,
Travis,
Zach
Billy,
Joel,
Travis,
Zoran
none
FNL Winner Emma Hayley Andrew Demet Andrew Billy Andrew Jamie Daniela Daniela Joel Billy Travis Zach
Saved Emma Emma Thomas Emma Zoran Aleisha Andrew Jamie Michelle Daniela Travis Billy none
Nominated For Eviction Bodie,
Jamie,
Kate
Bodie,
Joel,
TJ,
Zoran
Demet,
Emma,
Zoran
Andrew,
Nick,
Rebecca
Jamie,
Rebecca,
Susannah
Andrew,
Daniela,
Emma,
Jamie,
Rebecca,
Thomas,
Travis
Daniela,
Joel,
Laura
Andrew,
Billy,
Joel,
Thomas
Aleisha,
Billy,
Jamie,
Joel,
Zoran
Aleisha,
Michelle,
Zach
Aleisha,
Billy,
Daniela,
Zach
Joel,
Travis,
Zach,
Zoran
Aleisha,
Billy,
Travis,
Zach
Aleisha,
Zach
Evicted Kate
55%
to evict
TJ
54%
to evict
Demet
65%
to evict
Hayley
Chosen
to evict
Susannah
47%
to evict
Emma
76%
to evict
Laura
43%
to evict
Andrew
24%
to evict
Jamie
25%
to evict
Michelle
73%
to evict
Daniela
12 of 21 points
to evict
Joel
7%
to evict
Billy
14%
to evict
Zach
49%
to save
Bodie
7%
to evict
Nick
51%
to evict
Rebecca
4%
to evict
Thomas
22%
to evict
Zoran
1%
to evict
Travis
18%
to save
Aleisha
51%
to save

Nomination Notes

  • ^Note 1 : Andrew and Hayley won the privilege of immunity in this week's nominations, after managing to keep their relationship a secret from their fellow Housemates. However, they were to nominate as a couple until further notice; they could however be nominated as individuals. At this time Billy was only a guest in the House and could not nominate. Thomas was penalized with a nomination point after failing to properly nominate.
  • ^Note 2 : As a new Housemate Demet was exempt from nominating this week. Billy became an official Housemate and allowed to nominate for the first time. This week was a Double Eviction.
  • ^Note 3 : As a new Housemate Nick was exempt from nomination this week.
  • ^Note 4 : Hayley was evicted when she and Andrew were forced to choose one of them to leave the House. Daniela and Laura entered shortly after her Eviction. Emma and Aleisha were both penalized a nomination point by Big Brother for discussing nominations. In the nominations twist, prior to leaving the House, Friday Night Games winner Demet – who was evicted the night before nominations – provided a choice of Housemates who she wished to save and who she wished to nominate. Once her list was applied, Emma was removed from nomination, and Andrew was nominated in her place.
  • ^Note 5 : As new Housemates, Daniela and Laura were exempt from nomination this week.
  • ^Note 6 : This week, Housemates were asked to nominate the two Housemates they saw as the biggest threat to them winning Big Brother. As this week was a double eviction, the five or more Housemates with the most points faced the public vote.
  • ^Note 7 : New Housemates Michelle and Zach were exempt from nominations for the first two weeks of their stay.
  • ^Note 8 : As there was an unbalanced ratio of males to females in the House – 8 males to 3 females – this week, only males could be nominated for eviction.
  • ^Note 9 : Aleisha automatically faced the public vote this week after failing her secret mission as part of the Police Academy task. Big Brother gave the public 24 hours to vote for who they want to allocate two points and one point, which would be added to the nominations total this week. The public chose Michelle (77%) and Daniela (15%).
  • ^Note 10 : Joel was exempt from nomination this week after passing a task the previous week; however he could still nominate.
  • ^Note 11 : This week the nomination process was reversed, with the public nominating and the Housemates evicting. In the first round of nominations, Housemates were allowed to nominate for any reason, but they were unaware that these nominations did not count. The public chose to nominate Daniela (26%), Billy (16%), Zach (14%) and Travis (13%). On Day 85 the Housemates nominated, but this time it was to evict, and Daniela was evicted with 12 out of 21 points, receiving two points from every other Housemate.
  • ^Note 12 : The final four Housemates all automatically faced the public vote - which was to be a double eviction on Day 99; the day before the finale.
  • ^Note 13 : The final two Housemates, Aleisha and Zach, both automatically faced the public vote to determine the winner; whoever received the most save votes (or the least evict votes) would be the winner.

Weekly summary and highlights

The main events in the Big Brother 7 house are summarised in the table below. Evictions, tasks, and other events for a particular week are noted. Events in the house are listed in order of sequence.

Weekly summary
Week 1 Entrances
  • On Day 0, Aleisha, Andrew, Bodie, Emma, Hayley, Jamie, Joel, Kate, Rebecca, Thomas, TJ and Travis entered the Big Brother House.
  • On Day 2, Susannah and Zoran entered the house, having both received the highest amount of votes to enter via public voting. Billy, also known as Mr. X, entered the house as a guest on Day 2.
Tasks
  • On Day 2, housemates began their first weekly task. In the first part of the task, one by one, each housemate was called to the Diary Room in order to take a compatibility test. The test involved Big Brother giving a housemate two options, such as 'Saint' or 'Sinner', with the housemate asked to choose the option that best reflects their personality. In the second part of the task, Big Brother revealed that two of the housemates were in a secret relationship to each housemate and that they each had one week to decipher who these two housemates were. Housemates thought they were the only one to be given the task.
  • Billy's Tasks: On Day 2, Hayley's ex-boyfriend Billy was told that before he went to bed, he had to say "Goodnight Hayley, sweet dreams". On Day 3, Billy received his next task; he had to wait on Hayley from the moment she woke up until the moment she went to bed. The following day, when Billy was asked to take a housemate with him to tend the animals, he had to choose Hayley. On the fifth day, Billy had to become Andrew's best friend.
  • Friday Night Live: On Day 6, housemates competed in the first Friday Night Live of the season. The theme was 'Gladiators' this week. Emma was the winner. As a result of her win, she was allowed to choose one other housemate to take into the Rewards Room later that night and had to choose between three boxes which each contained a mystery prize; She decided to take Aleisha with her into the Rewards Room and won a New Zealand holiday.
Twists
  • On Day 0, Big Brother revealed to the housemates that there was zero prize money.
  • To the viewers, Gretel Killeen confirmed that two more housemates would enter the house the following night according to who received the highest amount of votes to enter from the public. It was also explained that two housemates entering the house on Day 0 had been tasked with hiding their true relationship. Hayley and Andrew were revealed as being in the secret relationship on Day 2 to the viewers; If they failed to hide their true relationship, one of them would be evicted. Hayley's ex-boyfriend, Billy, entered the house later that day to complicate their secret task (see Billy's Tasks).
  • On Day 2, Cruz, Demet, Harrison and Kara entered The White Room in a last chance attempt to become a housemate this season. Big Brother told them that the person who stayed in the room the longest would become a housemate.
Punishments
  • On Day 7, Kate received her first official strike for showing aggression towards fellow housemate Emma.
Week 2 Tasks
  • On Day 8, Hayley and Andrew's relationship was revealed to the rest of the house and as the majority of housemates did not guess that it was these two housemates that were in a secret relationship, the house passed the first weekly task and added $50,000 to the total prize money as a reward. Billy's identity, as Hayley's ex-boyfriend, was also revealed. Hayley and Andrew earned immunity from the first round of nominations this season too, as a reward for successfully completing each of their secret tasks.
Twists
  • On Day 8, Cruz, Demet, Harrison and Kara (from The White Room) were offered money in exchange for their departure. Big Brother told them that the first housemate to press the red button would walk away with the money on offer; Cruz later pressed the red button and therefore left behind The White Room and his chance to become a housemate this season with $750.
Punishments
  • On Day 8, as a result of constant rule breaches, such as exceeding the four-minute shower limit, housemates were forced to earn their weekly food budget. For every rule break during the week, they would be fined one dollar and as a further punishment, housemates were supplied with porridge as their only source of food until further notice.
Exits
  • On Day 8, Cruz left The White Room (see twists).

Friday Night Live

For the main article regarding Friday Night Live, see Big Brother Australia#Friday Night Live.

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14
Theme Gladiator Japanese Game Show Bling Bling On the Beach Almost Famous Outback Adventure Jungle Mexican Nightmare Back to School Pirate 70's Disco Seven Deadly Sins Quest for Glory
Winner Emma Hayley Andrew Demet Andrew Billy Andrew Jamie Daniela Daniela Joel Billy Travis Zach
Winner's Choice Aleisha Andrew Travis Joel Thomas Zoran Jamie Thomas Michelle Zach Zoran Travis Zach
Billy
Not Applicable
Major Prize New Zealand Holiday Domestic Holiday Watches Holiday Egypt Holiday Vietnam HolidayBorneo Holiday South America Holiday Cambodia Holiday Vietnam Holiday Thailand Holiday South African Holiday South American Holiday
Minor Prize Scooter Scooter Scooter Scooter Scooter Scooter Nintendo Wii Nintendo Wii Scooter Nintendo Wii Scooter Nintendo Wii Nintendo Wii
Booby Prize Baby Shoes Porridge Zebra Underpants Bucket & Spade Hiking Boots Kangaroo Poo Half-Eaten Banana Chilli Con Carne Skeleton Foot Whoopie Cushion/Whoopee Cushion Pirate Video/Pirate Videotape Leo Sayer Greatest Hits CD Seven 'Deadly' Pins

Italic and bold denotes prize won.

Special shows

Game On

"Game On" was a live show that was broadcast on Day 2 (23 April 2007). The results of the overnight wild-card SMS vote were revealed. Susannah and Zoran were the chosen two out of the six wild-card housemates. The remainder of the wild-card housemates were isolated in the White Room. The Daily Show was incorporated into the first part of the live show. Hosted by Gretel Killeen.

Full House

"Full House" was a live show that was broadcast on Day 8 (29 April 2007). It was aired in the timeslot usually occupied by Eviction shows. The relationship between Andrew and Hayley was revealed to the house, as was Billy's role to impede Hayley's task of keeping that relationship secret from the other housemates. Hayley and Andrew were deemed by Big Brother to have successfully kept their relationship a secret from the housemates for the week (fewer than half of the housemates had successfully guessed their relationship) which meant they could both stay in the house. Big Brother also revealed that for succeeding in their task they had earned $50,000 to be added to the prize money, which was previously set at zero. Big Brother also tempted the wildcard housemates to leave the White Room by offering a sum of money to them (A$ 750), which Cruz accepted. Hosted by Gretel Killeen.

Wild Card Entry

"Wild Card Entry" was a live show broadcast on Day 11 (2 May 2007). The White Room housemates had left the room and, dependent on their success completing various challenges, one of them would enter the Big Brother house as a housemate.

Hosted by Gretel Killeen.

Golden Key

"Golden Key" was a live show broadcast on Day 18 (9 May 2007). This special was to select the winner of the Starburst Golden Key. The show's producers had selected five finalists from the original 100 Golden Key winners after an intensive audition process. The chosen finalists were Carolyn, Nick, Natalie, Angie and Laura. To select which would become a housemate contestants chose one of five numbered discs randomly from a bag. Then they were allocated a clear box of confectionery depending on which disc they had selected. One box also contained a golden key, and the contestant whose box contained the key, Nick, was designated the new housemate. He entered the house during the show, while the housemates were conducting their weekly task performance. Hosted by Gretel Killeen.

Intruder Alert!

"Intruder Alert!" was a live 90 minute special that aired on Day 31 (22 May 2007). Hayley was evicted from the house during the episode. Later new housemates Daniela and Laura entered as intruders. Hosted by Gretel Killeen.

The Works

"The Works" was a scheduled Big Brother special focusing on behind the scenes footage that was planned to air on Day 46 (6 June 2007). The show would have been recorded on the same day at Network Ten's Pyrmont studios.[22] The show was later cancelled for unapparent reasons.[23]

Live Eviction 6

The 6th Live Eviction show was a 90 minute eviction and intruder special that aired on Day 50 (10 June 2007). It featured a double eviction and introduced the two new intruders, Michelle and Zach. Michelle entered and met the remaining housemates. Zach remained in the Rewards Room, awaiting entry during UpLate later that evening. Hosted by Gretel Killeen and Mike Goldman.

Kyle in the House

"Kyle in the House" was a special version of the daily show that aired for 60 minutes before Live Eviction 11 on Day 85 (15 July 2007). It featured a recap on Kyle Sandilands' entry to the house and during the show Big Brother set Sandilands a special task to "challenge the housemates".

Live Eviction 11

The 11th Live Eviction show aired immediately after the special daily show on Day 85 (15 July 2007). The remaining housemates were forced to vote out one of the nominated housemates, and Daniela was evicted with a total of 12 points, meaning that every housemate except herself had given her two points. Hosted by Gretel Killeen.

Gretel Goes In

The final nomination show on Day 93 (23 July 2007) was a special where the housemates did not need to nominate and instead Killeen went into the Rewards Room to interview the housemates individually and ask questions supplied by the viewers. Hosted by Gretel Killeen.

Quest For Glory

The final Friday Night Live show on Day 97 (27 July 2007).

Finale

The season finale aired on Day 100 (30 July 2007) in which Aleisha was announced the winner and Zach the runner-up. It was the closest winning margin in Australian Big Brother history of less than 500 votes and the announcement of the winner was delayed by an hour after the voting lines closed as votes were rechecked.[24] At one point during the final episode, there was just 64 votes difference between the last two housemates.[24] Aleisha is the second female to win Big Brother Australia.

Reception

The 2007 launch had the smallest ever opening episode audience in all seven Australian Big Brother series, and a 14% drop from the previous year's opening night. Network Ten came second overall but lost the night to Nine Network's 60 Minutes. Nevertheless with an average of 1.549 million viewers, the opening night was Ten's best Sunday night of the year, to date.[25] The series finale was expected to have just under two million viewers, a 10% drop from 2006's finale.[26] Network Ten later announced that the peak audience for the finale was 2.3 million viewers.[27] Crikey's media reporter Glenn Dyer stated that Ten's reported figures were exaggerated, and that the average number of viewers was 1.791 million for the entire show, not 1.9 as Ten had stated, which only accounted for 8.30pm - 10pm. He also said that while the peak of 2.3 million viewers beat the 2006 finale, the average audience was fewer than the 2006 finale's average 1.88 million viewers.[28] In June, the series ratings were down 5% overall and 13% in the 16 to 39 year old demographic compared to the previous year's series.[29]

By the series' final week in July these figures had dropped a further 5% and 2% respectively.[30] The Daily Show and Live Eviction Show were down 100,000 and 200,000 viewers respectively.[31] Overall the season attracted around one million viewers each night.[32] The show received several bad reviews. The Sunday Telegraph stated that "nothing could get worse for the ratings-challenged BB".[33] The Daily Telegraph named the series "Most. Boring. Ever." [34] The Sunday Herald Sun said that the show "has committed the worst television sin - it is boring."[35] eBroadcast Australia considered the program "left lifeless and fading" after the finale.[36] Christian Today thought the entire season "a slump in rating".[37] One review in The Age praised the series, pointing out the highlights of the season and claiming "[Big Brother] is as enjoyable as watching a quality sitcom or drama".[38] Another Age journalist disagreed, commenting that the 2007 series "just didn't sparkle".[39] In comments reported in a newspaper article, evicted housemate Emma reflected on the program's reduced ratings and noted that whilst inside the house the housemates joked about whether the show had been cancelled.[40]

Ratings

Viewers (millions) 5-City Metro
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14
Sunday 1.55 (Launch) 1.10 (Daily) 1.02 (Daily) 1.06 (Daily) 1.00 (Daily) 0.98 (Daily) 1.01 (Daily) 1.03 (Daily) 1.09 (Daily) 1.01 (Daily) 1.01 (Daily) 1.13 (Kyle In The House) 1.07 (Daily) 1.09 (Daily)
1.24 (Full House) 1.16 (Eviction) 1.19 (Eviction) 1.12 (Eviction) 1.08 (Eviction) 1.10 (Eviction) 1.13 (Eviction) 1.16 (Eviction) 1.09 (Eviction) 1.07 (Eviction) 1.19 (Eviction) 1.11 (Eviction) 1.17 (Eviction)
Monday 1.04 1.01 0.98 1.02 0.95 0.90 0.98 1.01 1.01 0.99 1.00 1.06 1.08 1.79 (Finale)
1.12 (Game On) 1.10 (Nominations) 1.07 (Nominations) 1.13 (Nominations) 1.05 (Nominations) 0.99 (Nominations) 1.06 (Nominations) 1.07 (Nominations) 1.09 (Nominations) 1.04 (Nominations) 1.06 (Nominations) 1.10 (Nominations)1.13 (Nominations)
Tuesday 0.96 0.98 0.93 0.97 1.10 (Intruder Alert) 0.89 1.13 (Live Double Eviction/Intruder Alert!) 0.96 0.91 0.87 0.89 0.94 0.97
Wednesday 1.00 1.08(Wild Card Entry) 1.10(Golden Key) 1.00 0.97 0.94 1.04 1.03 1.07 1.01 1.00 1.06 1.09
Thursday 1.04 1.01 1.00 0.98 0.94 0.91 0.99 1.00 1.04 0.97 0.99 1.04 1.01
Friday 1.01 1.06 1.02 1.06 1.03 0.98 1.04 1.07 1.06 1.01 1.03 1.07 1.09
1.09 (FNL) 1.12 (FNL) 1.07 (FNL) 1.11 (FNL) 1.08 (FNL) 1.03 (FNL) 1.09 (FNL) 1.10 (FNL) 1.11 (FNL) 1.07 (FNL) 1.07 (FNL) 1.17 (FNL) 1.23(FNL Quest for Glory)
Weekly average 1.10 1.08 1.04 1.06 1.03 0.97 1.05 1.04 1.06 1.01 1.01 1.08 1.09 1.35
Running average 1.10 1.09 1.07 1.07 1.06 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.07
Series average 1.07m

Ratings are rounded to the nearest ten thousand. Uplate shows are not included in official averages. Figures in bold include consolidated viewing figures.

Controversy

References

  1. AAP (27 July 2007). "Big Brother to be back, despite ratings". The West Australian. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  2. http://www.throng.co.nz/2006/10/back-in-2007/
  3. "Big Brother, the net's watching you". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 April 2007.
  4. http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/04/bb-strips-cash-prize.html
  5. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2007/03/13/april-for-big-brother/
  6. http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/04/bbs-full-house-twist.html
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Starburst Golden Key Promotion announcement", Network TEN, 29 January 2007. Retrieved on 14 February 2007.
  8. Little Sister: Nick meets the House Ten official site
  9. No money, no problem... or is it? Ten official site
  10. Nominations night - what happened? Ten official site
  11. Meat for treats: the HMs diet goes veg Ten official site
  12. The phone finally rings - Day 52 Ten official site
  13. London Calling Ten official site
  14. Little Sister: white drinks in the White Room Ten official site
  15. Cruz you lose Ten official site
  16. Kara says goodbye White Room, hello food! Ten official site
  17. Harrison says hello to the outside Ten official site
  18. From white to bright - Demet the star Ten official site
  19. Housemates won’t appear on Rove Behind Big Brother Australia URL accessed 21 April 2007
  20. The biggest twist of all! Ten official site
  21. Network Ten (5 July 2007). "Aleisha has towns glued to Big Brother house". eBroadcast Australia. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
  22. "The Works" special revealed Behind Big Brother Australia URL accessed 24 May 2007
  23. "The Works" cancelled Behind Big Brother Australia URL accessed 30 May 2007
  24. 24.0 24.1 Fiona Connolly (1 August 2007). "Row over Big Brother 'farce'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
  25. AAP (24 April 2007). "OZ Big Brother audience worst in 7 years". stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 1 May 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  26. Chris Pycroft (30 July 2007). "Aleisha wins Big Brother 2007". GenerationQ.net. Retrieved 30 July 2007.
  27. "Aleisha wins Big Brother 2007". Australian-Media.com.au. 30 July 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  28. Glenn Dyer (31 July 2007). "Media briefs and TV ratings". Crikey. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  29. Amy Harris (4 June 2007). "Trouble on the tube, Brother". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  30. Nick Tabakoff (26 July 2007). "Ten looks to 'big five' franchise". The Australian. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  31. Darren Devlyn, Siobhan Duck (11 July 2007). "The rise and fall of Big Brother". The Advertiser. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
  32. Amy Harris (30 July 2007). "Hits and misses in 2007". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  33. "Kyle Sandilands BB entry fury". The Sunday Telegraph. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  34. Andrew Mercado (29 July 2007). "McLeod's is just spooky". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  35. Garry Williams (29 July 2007). "Brother, what a turkey". Sunday Herald Sun. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  36. eNews staff and agencies (3 August 2007). "Big Brother, it's time to... revamp". eBroadcast Australia. Archived from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  37. Aaron Smith (1 August 2007). "BB Series Declared Winner, But Gone Through A Tumultuous Year". Christian Today. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  38. Jim Schembri (2 August 2007). "Big Brother ends on an up note". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  39. Marieke Hardy (9 August 2007). "A time to repent: Big Brother's over". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  40. Christine Sams (29 July 2007). "'It was torture': is this the last of Big Brother?". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  41. "Big Brother housemates named". The Daily Telegraph. 21 April 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
  42. AAP (21 April 2007). "Big Brother housemates list 'leaked'". The West Australian. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
  43. Big Brother attempts to "catch out" BBBA Behind Big Brother Australia URL accessed 25 April 2007
  44. Holly Byrnes (25 April 2007). "Big Brother swearing disgrace". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 May 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  45. Helen Tsitouris (29 April 2007). "Mormon mum defends teetotaller". The Sunday Mail. Archived from the original on 3 June 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  46. Stephen Downie, Luke Dennehey (4 May 2007). "We knew all about it, says Ten". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
  47. "Officials to investigate BB". The Daily Telegraph. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
  48. Scott Casey (22 May 2007). "Big Brother pays cash in hand". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  49. El Universal (21 June 2007). "Agreden a bandera mexicana en 'Big Brother' Australia". www.eluniversal.com.mx. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
  50. Alejandra Patrón (21 June 2007). "Agreden a bandera mexicana en 'Big Brother' Australia". Noticieros Televisa. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
  51. Staff writers and wires (22 June 2007). "Big Brother says sorry to Mexico". Herald Sun. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
  52. Sydney Confidential (3 July 2007). "Is Gretel too big for BB-boots?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
  53. "Good bits missed, moans Jamie". Herald Sun. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
  54. Garth Montgomery (9 July 2007). "Most hated Housemate". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  55. "BB girl runs off with housemate". The Daily Telegraph. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2007.

External links