Big Brother Australia 2026 rumours

[Kingston]

I never liked FNL, but I do recognise it was a big part of BBAU's success back in the day.

In 2026 it's unlikely to work unless it's heavily cut down to be much more rapid-fire. 90 minutes is a huge ask of people's attention spans these days. I also don't trust the current production crew to be able to do this live.

Plus, didn't Channel 7 era end up phasing out the physical challenges? Cos if people want to watch Survivor they will watch Survivor?

I don’t necessarily think the problem with the 7 era series was the challenges or the format but was more that they took the “Survivor in a house” tagline from BBUS/BBCAN too literal without looking at why the two shows can coexist on the same network airing pretty much back to back. If they are considering reviving FNL I really don’t understand why they aren’t making an honest attempt at a full hybrid format. Especially in a world where it looks like 4 to 6 week series are the standard.

 

[dasnico]

I don’t necessarily think the problem with the 7 era series was the challenges or the format but was more that they took the “Survivor in a house” tagline from BBUS/BBCAN too literal without looking at why the two shows can coexist on the same network airing pretty much back to back. If they are considering reviving FNL I really don’t understand why they aren’t making an honest attempt at a full hybrid format. Especially in a world where it looks like 4 to 6 week series are the standard.

The issue with the 7 era format was Australian audiences were/are not familiar with the strategic and gameplay aspect the US and Canada use(d). All previous seasons obviously didn’t have that. Completely flipping the format on a known show on its head was always going to be a gamble. It was a rapid change from A to Z. Not to even mention the poor implementation and pre-recorded nature of it.

I’d even begin to argue what we just saw on Ten was a hybrid, and a poorly executed one at that. It also certainly wasn’t OG. The editing structure felt quite BBUS/CAN. Ratings were high simply due to the nostalgia that Ten and ESA insincerely sold. Ratings will not hold if what we just saw is what is going to keep getting produced.

Honestly I just think they’re trying too hard to mess with the format now. Either go with one that’s tried and true, that a substantial number of their viewers are inherently familiar with, or let the show die and resurrect it under a new name and make all the changes under the sun that you want.

FNL is only being asked for because it’s familiar and nostalgic to most viewers. I could say the same for the whole OG argument many are making. Even if FNL, or a version of it, is resurrected, I’m not at all convinced this current team could pull it off.

 

[Kingston]

The issue with the 7 era format was Australian audiences were/are not familiar with the strategic and gameplay aspect the US and Canada use(d). All previous seasons obviously didn’t have that. Completely flipping the format on a known show on its head was always going to be a gamble. It was a rapid change from A to Z. Not to even mention the poor implementation and pre-recorded nature of it.

I’d even begin to argue what we just saw on Ten was a hybrid, and a poorly executed one at that. It also certainly wasn’t OG. The editing structure felt quite BBUS/CAN. Ratings were high simply due to the nostalgia that Ten and ESA insincerely sold. Ratings will not hold if what we just saw is what is going to keep getting produced.

Honestly I just think they’re trying too hard to mess with the format now. Either go with one that’s tried and true, that a substantial number of their viewers are inherently familiar with, or let the show die and resurrect it under a new name and make all the changes under the sun that you want.

FNL is only being asked for because it’s familiar and nostalgic to most viewers. I could say the same for the whole OG argument many are making. Even if FNL, or a version of it, is resurrected, I’m not at all convinced this current team could pull it off.

Given the ratings for 7’s first season stand by what I said. This isn’t the 2000’s and if the success of shows like The Circle and The Traitors are anything to go off of the is at least some appetite for character driven gameplay formats.

You’re also discounting that FNL owes its existence to BBUS. While Australian viewers generally shy away from the strategic gameplay for a show like Survivor they do enjoy the competitive aspect. Which again is why FNL became the institution it did.

It should be obvious that I’m really not arguing against the original format but I’m saying if this is the route they’re going down it’s really not helping them trying to have their cake and eat it too.

 

[Spectator O.O]

I personally can sit through them (as I'm binging a season of BB right now). Friday Night Live takes me back to the days of good old Aussie telly, featuring games and live performances - similar in some regard to Hey Hey It's Saturday.
There's not only games but also some commentary insight from the hosts about the housemates, and audience interaction sprinkled in. Plus it's only on once a week, it's not like it's on every day of the week. 4 Daily Shows + 1 FNL + 1 Eviction + 1 Noms worked well imo.

The Gen Z'ers (many people I know) and Boomers (like Terri or Facebook parents) both look at FNL rather fondly. And it will be back eventually for the nostalgia factor.

This is a little OT but there's a big gap between Gen z and boomers. You have Millennials and Gen X too. Please don't be calling them boomers FFS.

 

[Spectator O.O]

FNL only worked when it was fresh and ties to outcomes for the housemates. The problem with centring it was that they then gave advantages to a certain type of housemate and I think that goes against the ethos of OG BB. I think they could bring something back but they would have to be careful about how they do it.

IMO it is a bit like Survivor where they just started becoming boring as they repeated similar challenges and lacked variety. It also meant favouring certain physicality and not being about the everyday person which is a huge appeal in reality tv.

 

[insider06]

I’ve been MIA since the series basically finished. Has there been any actual official confirmation the show is returning in 2026 that I may have missed?

 

[beardymac]

I’ve been MIA since the series basically finished. Has there been any actual official confirmation the show is returning in 2026 that I may have missed?

Outside of the “let’s do it again next year?” on finale night - nothing that I’ve seen officially.

Which makes me wonder if they’re just going to do the one run again, at the same time next year.

It’s possible this is a lull period over Xmas and New Years, but back when Ten were running the show from April/May, the open casting would take place in Jan and we haven’t heard diddly about that yet

 

[BB12]

I can't remember where I posted about the doppelganger of Pete Cunningham, but this is a clearer image of him. Definitely not Pete.