What even is the point of Big Brother in 2025?

What Even Is the Point of Big Brother in 2025?

Twenty-four years ago, voyeurism alone made Big Brother a compelling show. The new season’s return raises the question: can it still work today?

Last night, a familiar voice asked, “Are you ready to come home?” This voice belonged to Mike Goldman, the narrator for Big Brother Australia during both its original Channel 10 run and the Channel 9 revival. With that line, the new Big Brother made its intentions clear—it aims to revisit its early 2000s heyday.

During that era, the show became a pop culture sensation, introducing audiences to moments like Chrissie Swan, Sara-Marie’s bunny dance, the dancing doona, and the infamous turkey slap. Big Brother once held a large place in culture as a nightly window into people’s behavior when they forgot they were being filmed and broadcast worldwide.

The Australian version launched in 2001, shortly after the format appeared in the Netherlands. Its name references the totalitarian figure in George Orwell’s novel 1984.

“Are you ready to come home?” — Mike Goldman, Big Brother Australia narrator

Big Brother’s return in 2025 is a test of whether the original magic of voyeuristic reality TV can still resonate in today’s media landscape.

Author’s summary: Big Brother Australia’s 2025 revival aims to recapture early 2000s cultural impact through its original voyeuristic appeal, but its relevance in modern media remains uncertain.

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The Nightly The Nightly — 2025-11-10

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