Anyone watching Big Brother Australia?

[In the Drunk Tank]

I'm not but I heard the series started really well and then they've had some appalling twists like a random viewer had the power to evict a housemate and then an evicted housemate was able to nominate people. They've also made the series really short and were doing letters from home in week 2.

Interested to hear any views from people who have been watching because the series was initially being called a great success

[Ashsleigh]

I've been watching, and up until this point it was hitting all the right notes...

They haven't done letters from home yet I don't think, though one housemate received a phonecall from their children as part of a task. The series is apparently ending after just four weeks which is disappointing, but I suppose they can hardly run over the Christmas period, and I don't think they could start it any earlier because of building works and all that.

The tasks have been a lot more interesting than ITV's amateur conceptions... and to add to that, a very dynamic cast bringing a lot of natural drama, and some interesting discussions, too. You definitely get the 'original social experiment' feel that BBUK failed to capture. The 'head housemate' twist itself was nicely executed too - they're able to save someone from eviction but rather than nominating someone in their place (the save & replace twist needs to burn), the housemate with the next highest amount of nominations automatically replaces them. They also get to assign roles to different housemates for the week which has caused the bulk of the drama this past week.

The latest eviction twist is a huge disappointment because the series was doing incredibly well. It's a shame, as with BBUK, that there's this underlying constant need to deliver shocking twists (that end up hindering the show more than helping it) rather than just letting the material speak for itself. Good things never last etc...

[Macie Lightfoot]

Eh, I think this has been slightly above average the whole time. I never understood the hype it was getting from the start because it really isn't a back to basics season at all? The whole thing is cheap and feels more like a Channel 9/Channel 7/Love Island hybrid, Mel Tracina is kind of a shitty host, and the whole thing is cheap beyond belief when you look at the fact that there's no roof above the eviction studio, they don't have seating for the eviction interviews, and the ceiling of the house isn't even finished and the HMs can see the rafters.

That being said, it's been moderately enjoyable and I don't regret watching it! The episodes are CLEARLY pushing Colin and Coco as the fan favorites and so much of the cast is getting ignored on a daily basis, but the episodes are still light and entertaining enough. The Grand BB Hotel is an all-time Shopping Task considering it broke up a showmance and turned the whole house fully against another. Holly Young is a national treasure and I'm afraid of how dull the last week is going to be without her.