A celebrity edition of Big Brother will return to Australian screens on channel Seven in late 2021, with the network confirming it will air following a regular series of Big Brother.
Big Brother VIP will be only the second time a celebrity-laden version of the show has aired in Australia, and returns to screens 19 years after the likes of Kyle Sandilands, Gabbi Millgate, Kimberley Cooper, Anthony Mundine, Warrick Capper and Red Symonds went into the house on Ten in 2002.
Seven has now revealed that Big Brother VIP will air later in the year, produced by Endemol Shine Australia and hosted by Sonia Kruger, who’ll also first host the regular edition (airing in April).
Seven brought Big Brother back to air in 2020 for the first time since it aired on Nine in 2015. Last year’s series was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, after a crew member was exposed to the virus.
ADVERTISEMENT
Seven Network programming director, Angus Ross, said: “The new season of Big Brother looks fantastic. We can’t wait for Australia to meet this year’s amazing collection of housemates and to start discovering the many surprises and twists we have built into the show.
Celebrity Big Brother has been a huge success in the UK, where 22 seasons have aired.
Speaking about Big Brother VIP, Ross added: “With anticipation for the new season building, the time is right to commission Big Brother VIP.
“The celebrity format is a proven success around the world. It was a hit here in Australia almost two decades ago and we’re looking forward to introducing a whole new generation of celebrities to Big Brother. Let the game begin.”
The celebrities joining Big Brother VIP are set to be announced soon. Radio and television presenter Dylan Lewis was the winner of the previous series.
Endemol Shine Australia CEO, Peter Newman, said: “We were thrilled to be able to bring the new Big Brother to life on the Seven Network last year.
“Across last year’s season and the upcoming 2021 season, over 40 everyday housemates have had a chance to play Big Brother’s game.
“We now welcome a host of celebrities to a brand-new house, seal them off from society and see who can survive the twists, turns and surprises that Big Brother has waiting inside. Who will win? Australia will decide.”
Seven has already started introducing housemates for the regular edition of Big Brother in TVCs and across its socials.
Big Brother first aired in Australia in 2001 on Ten, and the first eight series remained with that network. Between 2012 and 2014 Nine aired four seasons of the show.
Speaking to Mumbrella midway through the 2020 series, Seven CEO James Warburton said Big Brother had “changed the game” for the network as it looks to attract younger audiences.
Seven will hope that Big Brother will help drive audiences after a tough start to the year in which new formats like Holey Moley and Ultimate Tag haven’t lived up to expectations.
The network recently announced the former will be given a second chance in 2022 while the latter won’t be back.