EXCLUSIVE: Big Brother Australia’s new house boarded up and deserted as the reboot wraps weeks early due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Channel Seven’s Big Brother Australia compound at Manly North Head in Sydney was boarded up on Saturday after the upcoming reboot wrapped several weeks early.
Daily Mail Australia’s exclusive pictures show the purpose built-set deserted with fixtures falling apart, just 24 hours after the remaining housemates moved out.
It’s believed that ‘production was accelerated’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after a coronavirus scare among the crew forced filming to stop for two days in March.
It’s a wrap: Channel Seven’s Big Brother Australia compound at Manly North Head in Sydney was boarded up on Saturday after the upcoming reboot wrapped several weeks early
The outdoor seating area, swimming pool and small gym set up on the perfect synthetically turfed lawn were eerily empty on Saturday.
All of the adjoining production units and storage facilities were void of any people.
Earlier in the day, members of the crew were spotted clearing out their things.
Ghost town: Daily Mail Australia’s exclusive pictures show the purpose built-set deserted with fixtures falling apart, just 24 hours after the remaining housemates moved out
Nothing to see here: The outdoor seating area, swimming pool and small gym set up on the perfect synthetically turfed lawn were eerily empty on Saturday
The compound’s front entrance, which the housemates used, had been boarded up.
Additionally, one of the circular plastic light panels, which lead up to the front entrance, had come loose and was flailing in the wind.
The entire production set up resembled a ghost town on Saturday.
No one around: It’s believed that ‘production was accelerated’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after a coronavirus scare among the crew forced filming to stop for two days in March
Closed: One of the circular plastic light panels, which lead up to the front entrance that the housemate’s used, had come loose and was flailing in the wind on Saturday
Quick thinking: According to TV Blackbox, production was accelerated after they experienced a COVID-19 scare that caused the set to be shut down for 48 hours in late March
According to TV Blackbox, production was accelerated after they experienced a COVID-19 scare that caused the set to be shut down for 48 hours in late March.
Production company Endemol Shine Australia then sped up the filming process on set so they wouldn’t have to halt shooting again amid the ongoing pandemic.
It’s also reported that filming wrapped with no winner, which will be decided via a live finale and public vote later in the year, once the series goes to air.
The reboot, which has been pre-recorded and will air at some point in 2020, is a completely fresh format and spin on the world-famous Big Brother franchise.
It will be hosted by Sonia Kruger once it does return to our screens.
Smart: Production company Endemol Shine Australia ‘sped up filming on set so they wouldn’t have to halt shooting again’ amid the ongoing pandemic. Pictured: Host Sonia Kruger
Coming soon: The reboot, which has been pre-recorded and will air at some point in 2020, is a completely fresh format and spin on the world-famous Big Brother franchise