Big Brother Australia 2001 was the first series of Big Brother Australia. The season ran from 23 April 2001 until 16 July 2001, a duration of 86 days.
The series was hosted by Gretel Killeen, who remained as the host until 2008. Potential contestants in the show were required to send video applications to the show's producers, in which they sold themselves as entertaining housemates.
When compared to the more complex arrangements and many twists that emerged in later series, this season presented a rather basic set-up and formula which stuck closely to the traditional Big Brother concept. The main twist was the entrance of two Intruders about halfway through the series.
The winner of the series was Ben Williams, and the runner-up was Blair McDonough, who later got a role in Network Ten's daily soap opera, Neighbours.
It was the only series where housemates were allowed to nominate fellow housemates without a reason (something that is enforced strongly in later seasons).
Big Brother 2001 was the subject of a book by University of Queensland academic Dr. Toni Johnson-woods entitled Big Bother: Why Did That Reality TV Show Become Such a Phenomenon?. While specifically focusing on Big Brother 2001, it was the first book to examine Big Brother as a world wide pop culture phenomenon.
Most of these contestants featured in a special Big Brother edition of The Weakest Link shortly after the Big Brother season ended.
Read more about Big Brother Australia 2001: Highlights, Housemates, Nominations Table, Bibliography
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