Thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus pandemic, there is one major twist for the revamped Big Brother format — it will not be live.
That does not mean every move of the 20 contestants was not captured, with 65 cameras covering all angles in the purpose-built Big Brother house at Manly’s North Head.
AAA has been given an exclusive first look inside the reality-TV compound, where more than 100 crew worked around the clock over recent weeks ahead of the much-anticipated show launching on Seven at 7.30pm on Monday.
In another twist, contestants look like they have their work cut out for them, doing their own washing, cleaning and recycling, as well as living off basic food rations.
In a first for the format, in its 12th season in Australia, producers have set up an area called The Basement — think Survivor meets I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! and Ninja Warrior — where housemates compete in challenges for privileges, rewards and nomination power.
Production halted for just a couple of days because of COVID-19 when a crew member working in the art department came into contact with someone who had been diagnosed with the virus.
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Oblivious to what was going on in the outside world, housemates were brought up to speed on the pandemic and tested themselves before filming got under way again.
There will be evictions each night, starting on the premiere episode.
Ultimately, though, the decision will be up to viewers in a live finale next month, when fans will choose a winner from the top-three remaining housemates.
