What Even Is the Point of Big Brother in 2025?
Twenty-four years ago, voyeurism alone was a fascinating and unique selling point. The question now is whether the return of Big Brother can truly succeed in the modern era.
Last night, a familiar voice asked,
“Are you ready to come home?”The voice belonged to Mike Goldman, renowned for narrating Big Brother Australia during its original Channel 10 era and later the Channel 9 revival.
That single phrase set the tone for the new version of Big Brother, signaling its aim to recapture the essence of the early 2000s — a time when the show was a major cultural event. It was when audiences first met personalities like Chrissie Swan, saw Sara-Marie’s bunny dance, the famous dancing doona, and even the controversial "turkey slap" moment.
For a while, Big Brother dominated Australian pop culture. It gave ordinary viewers a nightly window into the private lives of others, observing how people acted when they momentarily forgot about being watched or broadcast to the world.
Yet, the pressing question remains: can the show, or its viewers, truly return to that original sense of wonder? The series first launched in Australia in 2001, following its debut in the Netherlands, and took its title from the authoritarian symbol in George Orwell’s timeless novel 1984.
Author’s Summary
Big Brother’s revival in 2025 seeks to revive the thrill of early 2000s voyeurism, but questions linger about whether its nostalgic appeal can still resonate today.