What even is the point of Big Brother in 2025?
Twenty-four years ago, voyeurism alone was a strong and unique selling point. Can Big Brother’s return truly succeed?
Last night, a familiar voice asked, “Are you ready to come home?” This was Mike Goldman, the narrator known from Big Brother Australia’s original Channel 10 run and the Channel 9 revival. With this line, the new version of Big Brother clearly signaled its aim to return to its roots.
The show aims to recapture the spirit of the early 2000s when it became a cultural phenomenon in Australia, introducing memorable moments like Chrissie Swan, Sara-Marie’s bunny dance, the dancing doona, and the infamous turkey slap.
“Are you ready to come home?”
For a time, Big Brother was a cultural landmark, offering viewers a nightly opportunity for sanctioned voyeurism and insight into human behavior when cameras were always watching. But the question remains: can the show truly recreate that magic today?
Big Brother originally launched in Australia in 2001, shortly after the format premiered in the Netherlands. Its name references the oppressive and watchful figure from George Orwell’s novel 1984.
“Big Brother” takes its name from the pernicious, totalitarian figurehead in George Orwell’s seminal novel 1984.
The show’s revival seeks to blend nostalgia with the original appeal of observing raw, unscripted human moments.
Author’s summary: Big Brother’s 2025 revival strives to reclaim its early 2000s cultural impact by inviting viewers back to the original voyeuristic experience, questioning if such appeal holds strong today.