The secret’s finally out! Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald reveals what fans NEVER knew about Big Brother… after starring on the show 16 years ago
Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald has revealed a bizarre secret about Big Brother Australia.
The 43-year-old radio host, who starred on the reality show in 2004, revealed on Nova FM’s Fitzy & Wippa on Tuesday that producers worked quite literally around the clock to keep up with the show’s rapid turnaround.
Staffers were under so much pressure to produce a new episode every single day, they would sleep on the site and work 20-hour shifts.
‘I’m not joking’: Nova’s Ryan Fitzgerald discussed his stint on Big Brother in 2004 on Tuesday’s Fitzy & Wippa, saying producers worked 20 hour shifts and slept on-site outside of the house
Ryan told co-host Michael Wipfli: ‘I’m not joking, there were executive producers who have to watch and get a storyline every 24 hours to show what’s going on.
‘They’d sit in front of screens for 20 hours a day, and only sleep for three or four.’
He also said producers purposely put so many housemates in at the start of each season just so they can ‘kick the idiots out’ early, creating plenty of drama.
‘They’d sit in front of screens for 20 hours a day, and only sleep for three or four,’ said Ryan, who placed fourth on Big Brother Australia’s fourth season in 2004 (pictured then)
Sharing his thoughts on Channel Seven’s upcoming reboot, he said he was unsure how it would work, having been pre-recorded and sped up due to COVID-19.
‘Well I don’t know if it was fully finished before they were kicked out with coronavirus,’ he mused, after production abruptly ended earlier this month.
The radio presenter came fourth on Big Brother’s fourth season in 2004, placing behind winner Trevor Butler, and runners-up Bree Amer and Paul Dyer.
Coming soon: Channel Seven offered viewers their first look inside the new Big Brother Australia house in a colourful teaser trailer on Sunday, ahead of its June premiere
Spacious: The house features a very vibrant interior and large dining table
According to TV Blackbox, producers Endemol Shine Australia raced through the new series before COVID-19 forced production to completely stop.
The entire season has been pre-recorded, except for the finale. This is will be the only live episode, with the public voting a winner from the last two housemates.
Channel Seven revealed on Sunday that the series will premiere in June.
They shared the first look at the new house, which is purpose-built inside a warehouse at Manly’s North Head in Sydney.
It boasts a colourful interior, mysterious games and challenge rooms and a huge swimming pool in the garden, custom made just for the show.
Exciting: The trailer teased what looks to be this year’s diary room chair
Luxury: The ‘house’ is purpose-built inside a warehouse at Manly’s North Head in Sydney