Channel Ten has found itself at the centre of a growing controversy after viewers discovered that one of the contestants on the newly rebooted Big Brother Australia had previously appeared on another of the network's programmes.
Reality TV Crossover Sparks Backlash
The controversy emerged when eagle-eyed fans recognised Vincent, a 21-year-old barber from Victoria, who had previously competed on Deal Or No Deal earlier in 2024. The young hairstylist had made an impression on the Grant Denyer-hosted game show, where he was supported by his grandmother and revealed his motivation for competing was his extraordinarily large family.
During his Deal Or No Deal appearance, Vincent told a stunned Denyer: 'There's 108 great-grandchildren in my family!' The episode saw him facing a nail-biting decision when offered $18,800 to walk away from two remaining cases containing either $50,000 or just $75.
Social Media Reaction
Viewers quickly took to social media platforms to express their disappointment upon recognising Vincent in the Big Brother house when the 2025 season premiered on Sunday night.
One person commented: 'Omgg I remember him lmaoo, someone posted him on TikTok and the girls were going absolutely feral over him. Knew I recognised him.' Another added sarcastically: 'If I had a penny for every time someone who has previously been on Deal or No Deal was cast on a reboot of Big Brother.' A third simply described the casting decision as 'lame'.
The criticism highlights growing viewer fatigue with what some perceive as recycling reality TV personalities across different programmes.
Stormy Start to Big Brother Reboot
The casting controversy comes after Big Brother's highly anticipated return to Channel Ten faced production challenges during its live launch on Saturday night. A violent storm lashed the Gold Coast Dreamworld set, forcing producers to halt filming midway through the event.
Wild lightning, booming thunder and torrential rain pummelled the outdoor stage just as the first four housemates were being introduced. The studio audience was forced to evacuate as conditions worsened, with filming delayed for two hours.
A crew insider revealed: 'They had to call it off halfway through because the storm got too dangerous. There was no proper roofing over the stage, and with that much lightning around, it just wasn't worth the risk.'
According to production sources, concerns about the lack of roof protection had been raised weeks earlier, but budget constraints prevented Endemol Shine from constructing one.
About Vincent
Vincent, who was born and raised in regional Victoria, brings his outgoing and flirty personality to the Big Brother house. Described as passionate about making and eating delicious Italian food with his family, he now lives in Melbourne and is expected to become a crowd favourite despite the controversy surrounding his previous television appearance.
The revamped season marks Big Brother's return to Channel Ten for the first time since 2008, with the network promising a throwback to the show's early 2000s glory days featuring live nominations, evictions and a 24-hour streaming feed. More than 20,000 applicants vied for a spot on the reboot, which boasts one of the most diverse casts in the show's history.
