Leading up to the first episode of the fourth series of Big Brother, viewers were droned and zoned into mildly guessing at what the elusive "secret" would be. Teaser advertisements proclaiming a new twist to the fish-bowl reality TV show stressed at the impact it might have on the nominations and/or votes for the housemates. Revealing a $1 million first prize for the last standing housemate failed to elicit any sort of reaction beyond the shock of the live audience in what host Gretel Killeen half-wore for the broadcast.
An airtight lock down of the compound trapping the housemates while a deadly mist of sarin gas claimed the lives of contestants was one of the calls placed on short odds. Punters who placed bets on the big secret of BB4 being such lost out. Similar strains which included the unleashing of a deadly virus and a litre of hemlock in one of the bottles too claimed the gambler's money.
The producers also made mention of a "return to basics" for the concept of the show. From initial looks it mirrors the early colonial invasion of Australia wherein a Caucasian/Anglo-saxon mob surround an extracted black man. Housemate Trevor being that lone figure. While this is not the first time a non-Anglo-saxon/white Australian has appeared, as was the case of Lisa Standing in the first, it does represent a major crank of the melanin levels seen in the Gold Coast share house.
Written on Monday, 3 May 2004