Serious claims have emerged from within the Big Brother Australia production, alleging housemates colluded with staff while microphones and cameras were switched off.
The concept of Big Brother is simple – a house full of people are filmed 24/7 and viewers watch what happens.
Yes, there is expected manipulation from producers – from introducing intruders to adding competitions throughout the run of the show, but viewers might be shocked to learn how far the manipulation goes.
A car giveaway during this years finale of Big Brother Australia was intended to add a bit of drama to draw out the final result. What it ended up doing was exposing the manipulation behind the scenes that went much further than a bad edit.
Production insiders have revealed to TV Blackbox that producers from Endemol Shine spoke specifically to Allana Jackson and Bruce Dunne before the finale, telling them to say ‘yes’ to any challenge that came up during the live broadcast.
Apparently, producers were keen to make sure there was more than one contestant vying for the car.
Allana and Bruce were both unaware each had been told to take part.
One person who was told NOT to take part was Coco Beeby. Producers knew she was winning the overall vote and made sure the viewers favourite would not be eliminated before the votes were announced (the winner of the car had to leave the house, making themselves ineligible to win).
If the competition had not been manipulated, as claimed, then it is possible Emily Dale could have won the $135,000 prize pool if Coco had decided to take part in the car challenge and won.
The direct interference by producers has possibly affected the outcome of the competition.
What’s concerning about this is the discussions housemates had with producers off mic while they were meant to be under 24/7 surveillance.
TV Blackbox has been told no recordings exist of the conversations because mics and cameras were turned off in the diary room while a member of the team went inside and spoke with those affected.
The conversations did not take place with a voice over a speaker, a production member went into the diary room to manipulate the outcome.
While this might be standard industry practice on reality TV shows, Big Brother is meant to be the exception – it is meant to be a show where housemates react in real time to situations and viewers ride along for the journey.
But when producers are manipulating in person with mics turned off, the ‘reality’ of Big Brother is questioned.
It should be noted Channel 10 is not accused of any wrongdoing, we understand this was specifically decisions and actions made by the team at Endemol Shine Australia.
++UPDATE++
Despite multiple attempts to obtain a statement from ESA (including the delay of publishing this article), no comment was supplied before the publishing of this article.
Since then the following has been provided to TV Blackbox:
“The claims made regarding the production of Big Brother Australia are false. Interactions in the diary room are limited to standard production, safety, and housemate welfare. The integrity of Big Brother and its results were never compromised.”
When I pushed back, asking if the claims had actually been investigated I recieved no response.
I believe this statement to be false.
The control room, audio and post production teams are aware private conversations have taken place. Audio had to mute the mics and the control room turn the cameras away to allow the producer to talk in private.
Additionally, post-production teams are aware there is no recording of these conversations taking place when housemates have gone into the diary room.
My sources for this story are trusted and reliable.
There’s also the fact the housemates have been openly telling other housemates what happened.
I will have more to say about this interaction with Endemol Shine when Media McKnight returns in mid January.
Meanwhile, TV Blackbox can also exclusively reveal that reports from within production that Workplace Health and Safety Queensland had been investigating the show have now been confirmed.
Importantly for production company Endemol Shine Australia, that investigation has concluded with no breach identified by the state workplace regulator.
A spokesperson for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland told TV Blackbox:
“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) received a complaint and responded accordingly to the workplace in Coomera, Gold Coast.
As a result of the inquiries no breaches of WHS legislation were detected.
It was widely understood within production that an investigation was underway before the finale, with several crew members questioned, amid concerns relating to demanding work conditions and extended shifts under the lean production model.
Additional reporting by Kyle Laidlaw.
Darryl Brew
All these shows are ” Rigged”
That was the worst by a mile
Do one with trannies
Emmy Palmer
SERIOUSLY
PEOPLE ARE JUST REALISING, ALL REALITY SHOWS ARE RIGGED
Dosent surprise me
Rigged really” next thing you’ll be saying is The Chase and Deal or No Deal are too
Gus Warde 100% rigged
This season of big brother made me so angry I didn’t ban anyone for a whole minute! I was just so angry that I couldn’t concentrate.
This season of big brother made me so angry I didn’t ban anyone for a whole minute! I was just so angry that I couldn’t concentrate.
All these so called reality shows are totally rigged
Well that is how they get show results I’m pretty sure all shows are like that well the reality ones.
It seemed pretty obvious when watching the lives.
I watched on tik tok + only way I could watch it. They will be talking then it would have no sound, then you’ll see the fish.
Heidi Meinzer that’s because they were saving the good interesting stuff for the evening televised show. The advertising money pays better.
Trevor C Walters I prefer the old BB they did a lot more.
Heidi Meinzer the original was the best. But too controversial for these soft newbies.
Trevor C Walters Not sure I agree with the way you put it, but you have a point
It was pretty obvious if you watched the livestreams.
Mira Ns I wasn’t able to watch much of the live streams but a few ppl have said this, could you elaborate so I know what everyone is talking about please?
Ange Rogers the show portrayed Coco as this wonderful person but on the livestream she was constantly negative about the others. They didn’t show any of that.
Coco was so outspoken about Holly and Colin being together but then she was doing the exact same thing with Bruce!
Mira Ns oh, I picked up on her being a massive hypocrite, that’s for sure. I think she just got the single mum votes tbh, cos all she ever talked about was how she’s a single mum
Luke Makepeace
Bloody joke
Does not surprise me
So what? It was good TV!
I did think that producers were mean with that hotel task, always using the same people to do the shit jobs – and where were the intruders?
I think that picking on the intellect of the most vulnerable was a cheap use of reality TV
the guy was clearly upset – obviously your Producers are way too young to understand that.
Treat your talent with respect.
I mean, nobody knows the voting results except the production, so it could be manipulated all the way along really.
Of course it is rigged. They never share the voting numbers with viewers and have a disclaimer voting is for entertainment purposes. Who cares that is what producers do.
100%! One or more of the producers really wanted her to win!
Think most people knew there was a shit ton of manipulation going on
Yuk
Well they made the voting free this year. Previous years you had to pay to vote. By making it free to vote, they can basically do anything they want as there is significantly less regulation.
It was definitely rigged. I don’t make accusations based on feelings. I’ve read people comment that they tried to save Emily many times and it wouldn’t work, but when they immediately tried to vote for Coco next, it worked straight away. When they politely enquired with Big Brother social media admin, the question was ignored and deleted. As far as I’m concerned, this is proof that the finale was rigged.
So many allegations. So few sources referenced, as in none. The finale was definitely rigged, but this article hardly provides the proof.
Oh no Really
Voting was for entertainment purposes only. Such a load of ****.
No betting agencies offering odds was a dead giveaway they knew the show was NOT based on public voting.
was pretty obvious who the producers wanted to win
just bullshit coco didn’t deserve to win
They seriously messed up this year and Poor Emily was ripped off from being the true winner that Australia chose because she was the only honest person and you can not tell me she flew under the radar because she haf my attn right from the start with her straight talk and calm demeanour
There were a few glitches with the voting however i dont think it was rigged and the person won who got the most votes. Obviously people who wanted Emily to win there were not enough of you, so she didnt win.
They rewarded trash for being trash
Sam Verhoeff
These allegations are very serious. If Endemol Shine is found to have done what is being alleged, Ten should tear up any and all contracts they have with them, and find new production partners to work with. While this would undoubtedly throw Ten’s plans and schedules for 2026, and potentially 2027 into complete chaos, that is a small price to pay for ensuring that competition formats retain some degree of integrity, and are not manipulated so brazenley by those who work on them. Some manipulation is, sadly, to be expected with these formats. But this is a bridge too far!
Philip Conrad Rodriguez
Anyone watching the live new this