WEBVTT - SONIA KRUGER TALKS BIG BROTHER'S 21ST BIRTHDAY 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:01.720 It's in the news today, but it was actually on 0:00:01.800 --> 0:00:05.080 TV Reload the podcast last week Neylight. Welcome back to 0:00:05.160 --> 0:00:08.559 TV Reload. My name's Benjamin Norris and on this podcast 0:00:08.640 --> 0:00:12.039 I go behind the scenes with the biggest players in television. 0:00:12.640 --> 0:00:15.280 Each episode you will get a front row seat with 0:00:15.440 --> 0:00:20.560 content makers like executive producers, writers, editors and casting agents, 0:00:20.760 --> 0:00:24.280 plus the talent that we see on our screens. TV 0:00:24.320 --> 0:00:27.760 Reload reloads the shows that you are currently watching and 0:00:27.880 --> 0:00:31.080 gives you a better insight at our television industry and 0:00:31.160 --> 0:00:35.199 streaming services today. On the podcast, I have Sonya Krueger 0:00:35.479 --> 0:00:38.400 back on TV Reload, and of course we're here to 0:00:38.479 --> 0:00:41.680 preview the new Big Brother series, which will see the 0:00:41.720 --> 0:00:45.520 biggest and the best housemates return to face up against 0:00:45.560 --> 0:00:49.199 a brand new breed of housemates from iconic winners like 0:00:49.240 --> 0:00:53.760 Reggie Byrd, Trevor Butler and Tim Dohmer, returning favorites like oats, 0:00:53.800 --> 0:00:58.000 Alalila and Estelle. They have found people who we in 0:00:58.040 --> 0:01:01.920 Australia are still talking about all these years later. I 0:01:02.000 --> 0:01:04.920 can't wait to see my friend Farmer Dave back on 0:01:04.959 --> 0:01:09.160 my television and then the drama of Tully and Drew 0:01:09.920 --> 0:01:13.440 buckle up Australia. This is gonna be epic. What has 0:01:13.680 --> 0:01:17.520 also impressed me is how well these new housemates hold 0:01:17.600 --> 0:01:22.399 up against these old returning favorites. The casting feels more evolved, 0:01:22.480 --> 0:01:25.920 and yet this time the housemaid's unique personality seem to 0:01:25.920 --> 0:01:28.200 shine a little bit more than what we've seen over 0:01:28.240 --> 0:01:31.640 the last two years. Sonya is always a great chat 0:01:31.680 --> 0:01:34.360 and who better to explain all the changes to this 0:01:34.480 --> 0:01:36.880 year's format. I mean, I like to think of it 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:40.479 more as what has Big Brother himself been planning, as 0:01:40.520 --> 0:01:42.800 the real magic of this series is that it's an 0:01:42.880 --> 0:01:47.680 ultimate social experiment, all being controlled by this one big Brother. 0:01:48.960 --> 0:01:51.440 I will ask a few of those questions that fans 0:01:51.440 --> 0:01:54.320 have been asking since the show returned in twenty twenty, 0:01:54.640 --> 0:01:57.440 but mostly today's chat is a celebration of what I 0:01:57.480 --> 0:02:01.440 already know, and that is this is a very series. However, 0:02:01.520 --> 0:02:04.640 let's get started with today's guest. I'd like to welcome 0:02:04.760 --> 0:02:06.800 Signa Krueger to TV Reload. 0:02:07.760 --> 0:02:11.840 I love that it has that nostalgic vibe to it. 0:02:12.080 --> 0:02:15.480 This year, it's my twenty first birthday. 0:02:16.360 --> 0:02:19.360 I'm totally here for the fact that house nominations are 0:02:19.360 --> 0:02:20.400 that and. 0:02:20.320 --> 0:02:25.640 I've invited housemates, both new and legendary. 0:02:26.440 --> 0:02:29.800 You see something slightly shady going on, you want to 0:02:29.800 --> 0:02:30.399 call it out. 0:02:30.520 --> 0:02:34.960 Will experience be enough to take on the next generation 0:02:35.120 --> 0:02:36.000 of housemates? 0:02:37.000 --> 0:02:40.120 Oh really? They said that? No way, that didn't happen. 0:02:40.240 --> 0:02:40.720 Surely not. 0:02:40.880 --> 0:02:44.680 And the new contenders out wit Big Brother Royalty. 0:02:45.560 --> 0:02:48.040 And I think the format changes to Big Brother in 0:02:48.080 --> 0:02:50.360 Australia have been inspired. 0:02:50.560 --> 0:02:54.399 This is Big Brother, Hi, sonya, how are you? 0:02:54.760 --> 0:02:58.040 I'm very well, all the better for speaking to you today. 0:02:58.280 --> 0:03:01.079 I think we can safely say that the Queen of 0:03:01.160 --> 0:03:03.399 Big Brother is back, which is you? 0:03:03.520 --> 0:03:08.440 I thought you're God, said Tim Dorner. Alreadie. We've got 0:03:08.440 --> 0:03:09.480 lots of queens. 0:03:09.200 --> 0:03:12.519 You know, celebrating twenty one years. Why do you think 0:03:12.520 --> 0:03:15.160 that Big Brother has had such longevity? 0:03:15.600 --> 0:03:18.960 You know? I asked myself this question a lot, because 0:03:19.000 --> 0:03:24.000 not many television shows do have that kind of history. 0:03:24.440 --> 0:03:27.799 And I think it was such an unprecedented show when 0:03:27.840 --> 0:03:31.560 it first started, and it's evolved and I think it 0:03:31.600 --> 0:03:35.240 continues to evolve, and that's probably why, you know, in 0:03:35.320 --> 0:03:39.400 twenty twenty two we're seeing it in this new format 0:03:39.720 --> 0:03:45.560 and about to see the Ogs versus the newbies and 0:03:45.920 --> 0:03:48.920 Big Brother Royalty coming back into the house. So I 0:03:48.920 --> 0:03:51.240 think it's just that evolution and the fact that you know, 0:03:52.080 --> 0:03:55.440 it's a great production. Have you seen any of this series. 0:03:55.680 --> 0:04:00.000 I'm up to episode three and it's it's it's more 0:04:00.320 --> 0:04:03.160 like the Big Brothers. It's a big mash up. It's 0:04:03.280 --> 0:04:04.960 like what we've seen for the last few years from 0:04:05.000 --> 0:04:10.280 Channel seven. But it absolutely reeks of classic Big brother 0:04:10.320 --> 0:04:11.400 as well, which is hard. 0:04:11.480 --> 0:04:15.840 It does. And I love that it has that nostalgic 0:04:16.120 --> 0:04:19.640 vibe to it because I know people who have said 0:04:19.640 --> 0:04:22.240 to me that they're going to watch this series purely 0:04:22.240 --> 0:04:26.880 because of people like Reggie and Tim and Tully and Drew. 0:04:27.400 --> 0:04:31.000 So I think we still have a lot of fondness 0:04:31.040 --> 0:04:34.039 in our hearts for them because we got to know them, 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:37.000 you know, as we did you on their own series 0:04:37.080 --> 0:04:39.560 of the show. And so it's like when you listen 0:04:39.600 --> 0:04:41.480 to a piece of music and it takes you straight 0:04:41.520 --> 0:04:45.159 back to those teenage years when you were footloots and 0:04:45.200 --> 0:04:47.440 fancy free, and you get that feeling all over again. 0:04:47.520 --> 0:04:49.479 You see these people, it's like having a reunion, a 0:04:49.520 --> 0:04:51.440 school reunion that you actually want. 0:04:51.240 --> 0:04:53.920 To go to, I know, and you know, for this milestone, 0:04:53.960 --> 0:04:56.799 what an amazing opportunity it has been to bring back 0:04:56.960 --> 0:05:00.400 some of the most iconic Big Brother house mate we've 0:05:00.400 --> 0:05:00.880 ever had. 0:05:01.120 --> 0:05:05.760 Yeah, exactly. I mean I actually didn't know what they 0:05:05.760 --> 0:05:08.400 were planning on doing with this series spent and so 0:05:08.680 --> 0:05:11.240 I turned up, you know, to the house. It was 0:05:11.279 --> 0:05:13.320 a couple of days before we started shooting it, and 0:05:13.360 --> 0:05:15.760 the producer said to me, you do know what we're doing, 0:05:15.800 --> 0:05:18.240 don't you? And I was like no, And they said, oh, well, 0:05:18.240 --> 0:05:21.080 we're bringing back Reggie and Tim and Tully and Drew 0:05:21.160 --> 0:05:25.279 and Farmer Dave and Laila, and I was like, shut up, 0:05:26.000 --> 0:05:32.240 that's fantastic. So and seeing them on that first night 0:05:32.680 --> 0:05:35.200 be so excited to go into the house, and seeing 0:05:35.360 --> 0:05:42.640 Reggie get excited about carpet, it's just worth it. Okay, 0:05:42.680 --> 0:05:46.120 do you want to guess carpet? Did you not have carpet? 0:05:46.120 --> 0:05:52.880 It was just boards and dust. And I can't believe 0:05:52.880 --> 0:05:56.800 there's a dishwasher and a toasting machine. 0:05:57.279 --> 0:06:00.760 You talk like you're you with a tin shed. We 0:06:00.760 --> 0:06:01.880 were deprived. 0:06:01.960 --> 0:06:05.359 We ours was one of the most deprived houses in history, 0:06:07.240 --> 0:06:08.360 That's true. 0:06:10.480 --> 0:06:10.680 You know. 0:06:10.880 --> 0:06:14.200 I mean, I don't know what all former housemates relationship 0:06:14.279 --> 0:06:17.320 is currently with the show. You know, first in last Out, 0:06:17.480 --> 0:06:19.960 or they've never watched the series, or they own their 0:06:20.000 --> 0:06:22.720 whole series on a box set. But you know, we 0:06:22.760 --> 0:06:27.640 are all intrinsically connected to the experience we've had, and 0:06:27.720 --> 0:06:31.320 we've all wondered at times what it would be like 0:06:31.400 --> 0:06:31.919 to return. 0:06:32.200 --> 0:06:36.400 Yeah. Absolutely, I'm surprised I didn't see you in there, 0:06:36.440 --> 0:06:39.880 I have to say, because I think your series was 0:06:39.920 --> 0:06:42.359 one of the most memorable for me anyway. 0:06:42.839 --> 0:06:45.400 You know, Sonya, they never asked me. People ask me 0:06:45.440 --> 0:06:47.240 all the time, you know, why did I say no? 0:06:47.880 --> 0:06:51.119 And I say, they never asked me. And I'm okay 0:06:51.160 --> 0:06:53.880 with that. I wish everyone all the best, And of 0:06:53.960 --> 0:06:56.200 course I'm jealous, but I don't. But don't think for 0:06:56.240 --> 0:06:59.760 one second, though that that my disappointment has diluted my 0:06:59.760 --> 0:07:01.280 fan And you know, like. 0:07:01.360 --> 0:07:03.680 Oh no, I know you, Ben, I know you, and 0:07:03.720 --> 0:07:07.560 I know that your passion for the show is bigger 0:07:07.600 --> 0:07:11.080 than any personal feeling you might have, But who knows. 0:07:11.160 --> 0:07:15.400 I mean, just say, for example, the audience really love this, 0:07:16.120 --> 0:07:20.520 you know, nostalgic look at and also you know the 0:07:20.560 --> 0:07:26.040 competition between the original housemates and the newbies. It could 0:07:26.160 --> 0:07:30.280 kick start, you know, even more of this type of programs. 0:07:30.480 --> 0:07:33.520 Who knows who knows, you know, it's one of those situations. 0:07:33.520 --> 0:07:35.640 We'll just have to wait and see. I guess well. 0:07:35.640 --> 0:07:38.080 I mean, I'm not a former housemate with any more 0:07:38.120 --> 0:07:40.960 ownership over this show than anyone else that's been in 0:07:41.000 --> 0:07:43.440 the house. So I hope the people that are listening 0:07:43.720 --> 0:07:46.160 to this now who might have been disappointed that they 0:07:46.160 --> 0:07:48.320 won't ask, because you know, there's hundreds of people that 0:07:48.360 --> 0:07:49.080 have done this show. 0:07:49.280 --> 0:07:53.040 Yes, I know, right, and you look back and you think, gosh, 0:07:53.040 --> 0:07:58.160 there's actually there's actually a huge pool of people that 0:07:58.280 --> 0:08:00.640 you can breathe is that you can go back and 0:08:01.360 --> 0:08:04.800 sort of revisit. So yeah, I mean, personally, i'd love to. 0:08:05.360 --> 0:08:08.200 I'd love to do it again because I've really enjoyed 0:08:08.240 --> 0:08:12.400 this series and catching up with, you know, the people 0:08:12.400 --> 0:08:14.600 who kind of were there right from the very start, 0:08:15.320 --> 0:08:19.520 like Reggie, like Trevor, Drew and Tully are super interesting 0:08:19.600 --> 0:08:25.440 because their love story just had everybody captivated at the time. 0:08:25.440 --> 0:08:28.880 I remember it clearly like it was yesterday watching them, 0:08:29.800 --> 0:08:32.439 you know, in the house, and you know, they were 0:08:32.440 --> 0:08:35.200 both so gorgeous and and it was just like the 0:08:35.280 --> 0:08:40.280 chemistry between them was palpable and interestingly, ten years later, 0:08:40.880 --> 0:08:43.440 it's still there. You know. I suppose you don't have 0:08:43.559 --> 0:08:46.840 that on again, off again relationship with someone and all 0:08:46.880 --> 0:08:50.040 those feelings just disappear, you know. I feel like they're 0:08:50.080 --> 0:08:52.040 still there, bubbling away under the surface. 0:08:52.400 --> 0:08:55.080 Oh and you know, just along with the rest of Australia, 0:08:55.120 --> 0:08:56.680 I just can't wait to see what's going to happen 0:08:56.760 --> 0:08:58.640 with that relationship. I mean, I know that Tully's got 0:08:58.640 --> 0:09:00.840 a boyfriend on the outside, and I know that Drew 0:09:01.040 --> 0:09:03.400 easily falls in love with a hat So I don't 0:09:03.559 --> 0:09:07.880 you know it's gonna play out well. And I'm in 0:09:07.920 --> 0:09:11.880 their audience, you know, and I'm cheering everyone on. I'm excited, 0:09:11.920 --> 0:09:14.560 from Reggie to Estelle, you know, from Tim to Tully. 0:09:15.040 --> 0:09:17.720 You know, I hope they I hope everyone knows how 0:09:17.760 --> 0:09:20.080 proud I am as a super fan and as a 0:09:20.080 --> 0:09:22.800 former housemate, and you know, no matter what has happened, 0:09:23.240 --> 0:09:25.440 I actually feel oddly protective of them. 0:09:26.000 --> 0:09:28.839 Yes, yeah, you know, housemates. 0:09:28.320 --> 0:09:31.080 We have a sibling relationship. You know, we fight and 0:09:31.120 --> 0:09:33.680 we get jealous of each other, but I like to 0:09:33.760 --> 0:09:36.640 believe that we've all got each other's back, you know, 0:09:36.679 --> 0:09:39.480 in private chat rooms and behind closed doors and you know, 0:09:39.520 --> 0:09:40.240 to the fandom. 0:09:40.800 --> 0:09:44.680 Yes, exactly. I think because it's that common experience that 0:09:44.720 --> 0:09:48.480 you've all had and and nobody can take that away, 0:09:48.720 --> 0:09:50.880 you know that that will be their life. So yeah, 0:09:50.920 --> 0:09:53.640 I think it's a really lovely bond that all the 0:09:53.679 --> 0:09:54.360 housemates have. 0:09:54.840 --> 0:09:59.360 Unbelievable, unbelievable, you know. I think it's important to you know, 0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:02.000 for everyone to go back and just celebrate it, you know, 0:10:02.040 --> 0:10:02.720 for what it is. 0:10:05.280 --> 0:10:11.760 This year, it's my twenty first birthday, and I've invited 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:17.959 housemates both new and legendary to help celebrate. 0:10:18.640 --> 0:10:20.880 Hey, you brother, did you miss me? 0:10:23.840 --> 0:10:26.080 You know, before you were the host of the show, 0:10:26.520 --> 0:10:29.480 So because we are celebrating former housemates before you were 0:10:29.480 --> 0:10:32.720 the host, did you ever have a favorite Big Brother housemate? 0:10:33.000 --> 0:10:36.960 Gosh, I'm just trying to think. Oh, because I did 0:10:37.040 --> 0:10:40.160 watch how many series did Gretel do? Quite a few? 0:10:40.360 --> 0:10:43.400 At ten? And I watched right from the very beginning 0:10:43.640 --> 0:10:47.200 of you know, the inception of the show, right through 0:10:47.840 --> 0:10:51.079 until it was rested and then it came back at nine. 0:10:51.400 --> 0:10:54.720 A favorite housemate? You know, it's so hard to say. 0:10:54.800 --> 0:10:58.880 I remember going down to Tasmania to interview Reggie for 0:10:59.000 --> 0:11:02.720 Today Tonight after she had a Big Brother, and that 0:11:03.120 --> 0:11:06.960 was quite That was quite amazing because I got to 0:11:07.000 --> 0:11:09.960 see Reggie in her natural habitat in this fish and 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:13.600 chip shop, you know, and to see, yeah, to see 0:11:14.080 --> 0:11:17.400 her life before Big Brother and then her life after 0:11:17.440 --> 0:11:21.160 Big Brother, you know, after winning, was just fantastic. And 0:11:21.200 --> 0:11:23.839 I think we're all probably aware that Reggie's had some 0:11:24.000 --> 0:11:27.319 challenges in the last few years, health challenges with you know, 0:11:27.360 --> 0:11:30.720 her eyesight, she's this failing and she has a son 0:11:30.760 --> 0:11:34.040 assistic bibrosis, so she's really been up against her And 0:11:34.320 --> 0:11:37.040 I think the thing with Reggie is that there's a 0:11:37.080 --> 0:11:42.640 lot of public love for her. Big Brother is. 0:11:42.720 --> 0:11:45.920 Very different this time round. Back in my day, we 0:11:46.000 --> 0:11:47.880 didn't have all these challenges like. 0:11:47.880 --> 0:11:48.760 It is now. 0:11:49.320 --> 0:11:51.079 But all I can say is, I'm going to give 0:11:51.080 --> 0:11:54.400 it a red hot crack going into Big Brother this 0:11:54.520 --> 0:11:55.840 time around. I've got more. 0:11:55.960 --> 0:11:56.960 Fire in my belly. 0:11:57.440 --> 0:12:00.880 I'm still a fighter, I'm still a battler, and nothing's 0:12:00.960 --> 0:12:01.600 changed there. 0:12:04.800 --> 0:12:06.960 You know. She's just one of those people that, as 0:12:07.000 --> 0:12:09.480 you say, we want to protect and we kind of 0:12:09.480 --> 0:12:12.000 want to look after her, and everybody wants to rally 0:12:12.040 --> 0:12:16.680 around Reggie, perhaps not the newbies in the house. Perhaps 0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:19.520 Reggie has a bit of a target on her back 0:12:19.720 --> 0:12:25.080 because they know how loved she is by Australia. So yeah, 0:12:25.120 --> 0:12:28.880 it's an interesting dynamics that forms there because I think 0:12:29.400 --> 0:12:31.840 they're all very nervous about who's going to be in 0:12:31.840 --> 0:12:35.880 that final three. But who pulls the trigger with Reggie? 0:12:36.240 --> 0:12:38.480 Oh you know that that's what's your pa. 0:12:38.720 --> 0:12:44.000 That's exactly all of you, all the crew, all the producers, 0:12:44.360 --> 0:12:47.600 you know, Lisa and Keeley watch out. You know, it's hard, 0:12:48.160 --> 0:12:50.000 it's a hard brand to deal with. You know, there 0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:53.200 was a lot of moments in the first few episodes 0:12:53.200 --> 0:12:56.040 that I realized, you know, flashbacks. Do you know where 0:12:56.400 --> 0:12:58.600 they dug up that footage from? Because I want to know, 0:12:58.679 --> 0:13:02.120 is there an official Big Brother underground archive library somewhere? 0:13:02.559 --> 0:13:04.760 Oh you know what you'd have to ask Kearly that 0:13:04.960 --> 0:13:07.720 the executive producer. Yeah, I'm glad you brought you brought 0:13:07.720 --> 0:13:11.000 her up. Actually, you know the thing with Big Brother, 0:13:11.200 --> 0:13:14.520 Emilia Fisk has done an incredible job you know at 0:13:14.600 --> 0:13:17.720 endemol Shine and putting this show together, and then Keeley 0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:20.760 took the rains in this last series and yeah, I 0:13:20.920 --> 0:13:23.120 just you know, I personally as a woman, when I 0:13:23.160 --> 0:13:27.600 see other women producing this caliber of show, and it 0:13:27.760 --> 0:13:31.440 really is. The production of this show is incredible. The 0:13:31.600 --> 0:13:34.160 editing that even I don't know if you notice things 0:13:34.240 --> 0:13:37.480 been like the music that they use. There are certain 0:13:37.520 --> 0:13:42.120 moments where it just has this fantastic comedic quality to it, 0:13:42.640 --> 0:13:45.000 but then the emotion is there as well, and I 0:13:45.000 --> 0:13:48.280 think to be able to span all those feelings for 0:13:48.360 --> 0:13:53.160 the audience, to get everything into those episodes, they're just 0:13:53.200 --> 0:13:55.400 going doing an incredible job. I mean, I'm up to 0:13:55.440 --> 0:13:57.640 episode five. I'm like, hurry up and start on air 0:13:57.760 --> 0:13:59.480 so I can catch up and just be watching it 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:01.080 with the rest of the country. You know. 0:14:01.480 --> 0:14:03.000 The best thing about it, and I have to say, 0:14:03.040 --> 0:14:05.839 it's addictive television, you know, which I feel like we've 0:14:05.920 --> 0:14:08.600 missing a lot of that. You know, addictive television where 0:14:08.640 --> 0:14:11.320 it is finishing and you are immediately wanting more, like 0:14:11.360 --> 0:14:14.840 it's an addiction. Yes, you know, you've been in TV, 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:16.720 You've been in the TV game for quite some time, 0:14:16.800 --> 0:14:19.720 and you've seen things change you yourself have adapted along 0:14:19.760 --> 0:14:22.400 the way. You know. What are your thoughts on reality 0:14:22.440 --> 0:14:25.920 TV in twenty twenty two. How far have we come? 0:14:26.560 --> 0:14:28.720 I think we've come a really long way, and I 0:14:28.720 --> 0:14:31.960 think the format changes to Big Brother in Australia have 0:14:32.080 --> 0:14:36.680 been have been unique and inspired, and it's something I 0:14:36.760 --> 0:14:39.200 think that the rest of the world are sort of 0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:42.800 now looking at so that they can adopt, you know, 0:14:42.840 --> 0:14:45.400 these changes in their own countries. And I'm looking at 0:14:45.440 --> 0:14:49.760 places like the UK where you know, Big Brother. Every 0:14:49.840 --> 0:14:52.280 show has to keep changing, and it has to keep 0:14:52.520 --> 0:14:58.000 constantly being refreshed and constantly evolving, because otherwise the audience 0:14:58.040 --> 0:15:00.040 grows tired, as they should. You know, you don't I 0:15:00.160 --> 0:15:02.240 want to watch the same thing, you know, year in 0:15:02.360 --> 0:15:06.320 year out. We need this freshness to keep us interested. 0:15:06.360 --> 0:15:09.600 And I just think in Australia we're leading the way. 0:15:09.680 --> 0:15:11.960 If you look at some of the local productions that 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:16.280 are now being run on international streaming services like Big 0:15:16.320 --> 0:15:19.640 Brother Australia, Big Brother of the ip RAN in the 0:15:19.760 --> 0:15:22.280 UK is currently I think Big Brother is currently running 0:15:22.320 --> 0:15:26.080 in America Canada. So the fact that our programs are 0:15:26.120 --> 0:15:29.320 being picked up and run internationally is a real feather 0:15:29.520 --> 0:15:31.920 in the caps of the producers. I'm not taking any 0:15:31.920 --> 0:15:33.720 credit for that because I don't have anything to do 0:15:33.800 --> 0:15:36.080 with it, but I really get to work with some 0:15:36.560 --> 0:15:40.800 incredibly talented people, and I think we should recognize that 0:15:41.080 --> 0:15:44.200 in our country that we've got some great people making 0:15:44.240 --> 0:15:46.120 television who are really gifted. 0:15:46.280 --> 0:15:49.240 Really gifted. I mean, as you mentioned, like Keighley and 0:15:49.280 --> 0:15:52.680 Amelia and Lisa and so many others, they're just doing 0:15:53.280 --> 0:15:57.040 It's just brilliant television coming out of Endemols Shine Australia. 0:15:57.200 --> 0:15:59.240 You know, one question that I get asked a lot, 0:15:59.280 --> 0:16:01.640 and I'm assuming you do too, is do you think 0:16:01.720 --> 0:16:04.880 The Big Brother will ever be live again? That's what 0:16:04.920 --> 0:16:07.760 people ask all the time people stop in the supermarket. 0:16:08.640 --> 0:16:13.360 Well, we will be having a live grand finale, Ben, 0:16:14.160 --> 0:16:17.760 and I'm excited about that because the last couple of 0:16:17.880 --> 0:16:22.000 years have been tough in COVID to do anything live. 0:16:22.160 --> 0:16:26.520 As you know, it's just we're constantly presented with challenges 0:16:26.880 --> 0:16:29.880 whether each time we've attempted to do it we've had 0:16:30.080 --> 0:16:32.720 you know, audience restrictions. In the last finale we had 0:16:32.840 --> 0:16:36.080 no audience at all. I'm really looking forward to this 0:16:36.160 --> 0:16:39.080 year and touch Wood, we will be able to have 0:16:39.560 --> 0:16:44.440 you know, that party that we need to have for 0:16:44.480 --> 0:16:48.520 the twenty first finale. So yeah, as I say, touch Wood, 0:16:49.280 --> 0:16:52.240 I really hope that you know, we get to have 0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:54.640 a great night and really get to send this one 0:16:54.640 --> 0:16:57.720 off with a bang as in live live. I mean, 0:16:57.720 --> 0:17:01.120 I think you can never say up with these things, 0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:04.520 and television is cyclical, and I think once we get 0:17:04.680 --> 0:17:08.119 post past the uncertainty of COVID and we're still in it, 0:17:08.560 --> 0:17:10.879 that's a bit of a problem for us. It's still 0:17:10.920 --> 0:17:13.800 there's a lot of risk involved with live television at 0:17:13.800 --> 0:17:17.080 this point because you just don't know what's going to happen. 0:17:17.240 --> 0:17:19.280 Excuse me for one second, but I'm just going to 0:17:20.080 --> 0:17:23.320 I've just got a call coming through funny. Oh brother, 0:17:23.560 --> 0:17:28.440 I'm sorry, BB, can't talk to you right now. Very gay, 0:17:28.480 --> 0:17:34.040 he's gone, He's what its Yeah, it's constant. Then you've 0:17:34.040 --> 0:17:34.720 got no idea. 0:17:35.000 --> 0:17:38.280 Really, are the Big Brother fans, from your perspective, the 0:17:38.320 --> 0:17:41.399 most passionate out of all the shows that you work on. 0:17:41.600 --> 0:17:44.879 I mean, what makes them different? To say the voice 0:17:44.920 --> 0:17:47.760 fans like a Big Brother fans? Yeah, the most. Are 0:17:47.760 --> 0:17:48.720 they the most passionate? 0:17:49.000 --> 0:17:52.600 Yeah? They look they they're certainly the most invested. I 0:17:52.640 --> 0:17:57.440 think they are on this ride lock stock and two 0:17:57.480 --> 0:18:01.080 smoking barrels. They it's like they people are watching the 0:18:01.520 --> 0:18:03.880 true fans of the show are watching it, and it's 0:18:03.920 --> 0:18:06.359 like they are imagining themselves in the house and they 0:18:06.400 --> 0:18:09.280 are playing the game with the housemates, and I love 0:18:09.320 --> 0:18:12.200 the fact that they are so passionate about it. And 0:18:12.240 --> 0:18:14.760 you would know this because you're one of those people. 0:18:15.200 --> 0:18:18.240 And I think, you know, you kind of get into anything, 0:18:18.840 --> 0:18:20.600 get out of anything what you put into it. And 0:18:20.600 --> 0:18:24.399 I think that's why our Big Brother super fans just 0:18:24.560 --> 0:18:26.640 you know, have such a great time watching the show 0:18:26.680 --> 0:18:29.600 because they are totally invested in it. With other shows, 0:18:29.640 --> 0:18:31.600 you know, like The Voice has a lot of fans. 0:18:31.640 --> 0:18:34.119 It's a very successful show, but it's more of a 0:18:34.160 --> 0:18:36.800 sit back and watch a concert type of vibe, you know, 0:18:37.520 --> 0:18:41.080 and watch it as pure entertainment. But Big Brother because 0:18:41.119 --> 0:18:43.960 of the strategy involved, because we get to know these 0:18:44.000 --> 0:18:46.199 people so much. I would say, it's kind of like 0:18:46.640 --> 0:18:49.560 these people in the house become your friends by proxy, 0:18:49.680 --> 0:18:52.880 don't they. We're also you know, we go to work, 0:18:52.920 --> 0:18:55.919 we come home, we relax a bit by watching some TV, 0:18:56.000 --> 0:18:58.399 and we probably see more of the housemates and we 0:18:58.480 --> 0:19:02.040 do our own friends family. So when we're spending every 0:19:02.119 --> 0:19:04.800 night in our living room with them, then you can't 0:19:04.800 --> 0:19:06.960 help but become super invested. 0:19:07.480 --> 0:19:10.119 People talk to me like I've their cousin everywhere I go. 0:19:10.200 --> 0:19:12.680 It's so weird. And I know straight away if they're 0:19:12.680 --> 0:19:15.280 a big Brother fan, because the way that I don't 0:19:15.280 --> 0:19:17.320 know who they are, and you would get that a 0:19:17.320 --> 0:19:19.560 lot as well. But they're already talking to me and 0:19:19.640 --> 0:19:23.680 sharing the most intimate details about their life. And I'm 0:19:23.720 --> 0:19:27.000 still gobsmacked nearly ten years later. You know that people 0:19:27.000 --> 0:19:29.760 are so willing to tell me their most appalling secrets, 0:19:29.840 --> 0:19:32.479 just straight off the straight off the back, you know, Sonya. 0:19:32.640 --> 0:19:35.600 My favorite thing about this new version is how much 0:19:35.920 --> 0:19:38.399 you get to be involved and how much you're in 0:19:38.480 --> 0:19:41.120 control in the interview process. You know, when it comes 0:19:41.119 --> 0:19:43.680 to sort of interrogating them as we get close to 0:19:43.720 --> 0:19:46.960 the eviction, how much of that are you in control of? 0:19:47.040 --> 0:19:48.840 And how much is that the producers telling you what 0:19:48.920 --> 0:19:49.280 to say. 0:19:50.920 --> 0:19:53.720 Oh, it's definitely a little bit of both. I mean, 0:19:54.040 --> 0:19:56.639 you know, the thing is that I have Keeley. Keeley 0:19:56.680 --> 0:19:59.080 will be in my ear because there might be something 0:19:59.080 --> 0:20:01.320 that's happened in the house I'm not fully aware of 0:20:01.400 --> 0:20:04.119 because I don't get to watch them twenty four to seven. 0:20:04.600 --> 0:20:07.480 So something comes up that I'm not really across. A 0:20:07.520 --> 0:20:09.440 lot of the time, I'll just get them to explain 0:20:09.480 --> 0:20:11.520 it to me. Tell me what happened like I didn't 0:20:11.520 --> 0:20:15.120 see that what happened or what transpired, and then they 0:20:15.119 --> 0:20:17.080 start sort of reliving it. But if Keiley needs to 0:20:17.119 --> 0:20:20.399 give me specific information or get me to ask a 0:20:20.400 --> 0:20:22.560 certain question, she will jump in my ear and I'll 0:20:22.560 --> 0:20:26.280 ask that question. It's a funny role because I feel 0:20:26.280 --> 0:20:28.760 like I'm part prosecutor. I feel like I'm part friend, 0:20:28.800 --> 0:20:33.560 but I'm part prosecutor. Well, do you have any idea 0:20:33.920 --> 0:20:37.159 how you're going to vote tonight? Yes, I do, to 0:20:37.280 --> 0:20:41.199 your mind is made up. I'm sure now when you 0:20:41.280 --> 0:20:47.080 were tossing up between I wass up. It's fun. I 0:20:47.240 --> 0:20:50.879 can't lie. I do enjoy it. There's something about putting 0:20:50.880 --> 0:20:53.760 people on the spot, and it's you know, it's interesting, 0:20:54.000 --> 0:20:58.040 especially I think when you see something slightly shady going on, 0:20:58.320 --> 0:21:00.520 you want to call it out, you know, but you 0:21:00.600 --> 0:21:02.800 also walk a fine line bend because you don't want 0:21:02.840 --> 0:21:04.840 to blow anyone's cover and you don't want to blow 0:21:04.920 --> 0:21:08.800 anyone's game plan. So really, I see myself as more 0:21:08.800 --> 0:21:12.520 of a facilitator, bit of a mediator. And if there's 0:21:12.840 --> 0:21:15.040 things that people want to get off their chest, that's 0:21:15.119 --> 0:21:18.360 the right forum to do it in, and they do 0:21:18.440 --> 0:21:19.720 it right off the bat. 0:21:19.920 --> 0:21:20.040 Too. 0:21:20.119 --> 0:21:22.000 I don't know if you noticed in the very first 0:21:22.200 --> 0:21:27.160 and second evictions, it's quite heated, and I was even 0:21:27.280 --> 0:21:29.240 I was shocked. I was a little bit like, wow, 0:21:29.320 --> 0:21:33.320 there's no grace period here, is there. It's like everybody's 0:21:33.359 --> 0:21:35.160