Fed: Big Brother launched on the Gold Coast

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2007
Fed: Big Brother launched on the Gold Coast

Eds: reissuing to accommodate updated information from show's spokesperson



EDs: EMBARGOED TO 2100 AEST SUNDAY, APRIL 22



By Michael Gadd, National Entertainment Writer

GOLD COAST, April 22 AAP - Beautiful, 20-something and with a dominant personality.

That is what the casting call could have read for this year's first wave of contestants
who have entered the Big Brother house on the Gold Coast.

A cast of 12 people, six men and six women aged between 20 and 32 years, were introduced
and unleashed in a new environmentally-friendly house during a recording on Saturday night
which was screened tonight.

Production was delayed twice at the Dreamworld complex due to members of the audience
streaming the recording live onto the internet.

The website Behind Big Brother also posted profiles of the housemates, stealing a small
amount of Big Brother's thunder for the big launch.

A show's spokesman confirmed that three young men were removed during filming because
they were taking live footage of the show.

The show's host Gretel Killeen said one of the men had "been welcomed into our rehearsals"

during the afternoon, and was ejected before it was demanded that all mobile phones be
turned off.

But regardless, Big Brother was back. On the surface though, little had changed from
previous years despite a number of promises during the hype-filled lead-up.

Killeen had said this year's contestants would be more beautiful on the inside than
out, while producers had promised a more worldly cast.

That was in response to the criticism which followed some unsavoury action in the house
last year, including the "turkey slapping" incident which saw two male contestants kicked
off the show.

But as the female contestants who were introduced to the house first lined up on a
couch it looked like a scene straight out of a central casting audition: Aleisha (Vic),
20, the cute hairdresser from a small country town; Emma (NSW), 24, a personal trainer;
Hayley (Vic), 24, a former champion body sculptor and lawyer; Kate (Vic), 25, a champion
debater; Rebecca (QLD), 23, a Life Be In It coach and Mormon; and Theresa-Jane, or TJ,
(NT), 22, a barmaid and the only non-blonde.

Then came the men: Jamie (Vic), 29, a self-confessed nerd, karaoke host and orphan;
Bodie (WA), 24, an electrical designer and former underwear model; Andrew (Vic), 28, a
fireman; Joel (SA), 24, a restaurant manager and Young Liberal Party member; Thomas (WA),
27, a real estate agent with a degree in chemistry and human biology; and Travis (Vic),
a 32-year-old father of one.

The Big Brother team had again promised a number of trademark twists.

Killeen told the audience she couldn't reveal the identity or nature of a mystery individual
labelled Mr X but she did confirm to the live audience that contestants would not start
with any prize money - the assumption being that they will have to compete for it during
the course of the series.

Also, it was revealed that there are two sets of two people in the house who share
a previous relationship that at least one of the pairs may not know about.

An extra six potential housemates were also introduced, two of whom home viewers will
choose to enter the house.

As for the promise of a "green" house, Big Brother didn't disappoint, even including
a bicycle-powered washing machine.

No reference was made to the dramas of 2006 which prompted Communications Minister
Helen Coonan to launch an inquiry into reality TV.

While producers haven't delivered on the promise for a wider age gap or less model-like
contestants, a source guaranteed deeper conversation, saying this year's contestants had
been "around the block and back" with no shortage of skeletons in their closets which
will be revealed throughout the show.

It is believed Big Brother is saving its biggest secret for Monday night.

AAP mdg/cp/cdh

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