Contestants on the revived Big Brother Australia are facing an unexpected and deeply personal dilemma, centring on the surprisingly public shower facilities within the Dreamland compound. The setup, which offers minimal privacy, has left the housemates divided on whether to strip down for their on-air washes.
The Shower Setup Causing Controversy
The communal bathroom area features three shower stations positioned side-by-side. While a small barrier separates each section, the cubicles are conspicuously lacking doors, leaving anyone showering exposed to both their fellow contestants and the ever-watchful cameras broadcasting to the public.
This open-plan design has sparked significant concern among several of the show's stars. Allana, 45, confessed to news.com.au, 'I'm terrified... I still haven't decided yet,' regarding her fears about showering nude. Taking a firm stance, Jane, 67, stated, 'I'll be showering in swimwear. I am sure not many people are interested in watching a grandmother shower.'
Echoing this sentiment, Emily, 30, declared, 'No way! Bikinis in the shower at all times!' However, not all housemates share these reservations. Others, including Vinnie, Colin, and Coco, have reportedly expressed no such concerns and are perfectly comfortable showering naked despite the potential for millions of viewers to see them.
Viewer Backlash Over Live Footage
This shower controversy emerges hot on the heels of a separate incident that angered fans of the show. Viewers recently blasted Channel Ten for airing live footage of contestant Abiola getting dressed. Thanks to popular demand, the rebooted franchise has returned to its original format this year, reinstating a 24/7 livestream alongside live nominations and evictions.
However, this week, audiences became alarmed when they noticed Abiola was captured in a state of partial undress on the live feed. One fan commented online, 'Poor Abiola was getting changed in bed with the lights off, but the night vision was on and everybody could see... no camera change or anything.'
Another user remarked, 'That's the time the camera should have gone to the laundry,' with the original commenter agreeing, 'Absolutely, the second she started changing the camera should have moved.' A third fan criticised the inconsistency, noting, 'So ridiculous. They take us to the laundry when someone says 'f**k' more than once, but won't for that.'
A Promise of Family-Friendly Content
This incident appears to clash with pre-season assurances from host Mel Tracina, who promised fans this season would be family-friendly. 'We're keeping it PG,' she told News Corp, confirming that while the livestream is available, all content 'will be moderated to make sure that everything broadcast is up to broadcast standards.'
Speaking to Daily Mail about the benefits of the livestream, Mel highlighted that it allows viewers to see the true nature of the housemates, saying, 'You don't have to worry about getting a bad edit, or being the 'season villain', because viewers can log in at any time and see what the [housemates] are up to.'
This modern approach stands in stark contrast to the show's heyday in the early 2000s, which was known for pushing boundaries. The adults-only companion show, Big Brother Uncut, aired late at night and featured uncensored content including nudity and raunchy conversations. Its notoriety was cemented by the 2006 'turkey slap' incident, which caused national outrage and led to significantly tighter broadcasting regulations across Australia.
