Big Brother (Australian TV series) season 4 explained

Season Number:4
Bgcolour:
  1. FE6F7B
Module1:
Presenter:Gretel Killeen
Num Days:86
Num Housemates:16
Winner:Trevor Butler
Runner Up:Bree Amer
Network:Network Ten

Big Brother 2004, also known as Big Brother 4, was the fourth season of the Australian reality television series Big Brother, and was aired on Network Ten, starting on Sunday 2 May 2004,[1] with the housemates entering the day before, and ended on Monday 26 July 2004, lasting 86 days. The season was billed as "back to basics, but with one small secret". In a return to the basic format of Big Brother 1 and Big Brother 2 that had been eschewed in favour of twists and surprises in Big Brother 3, all housemates were let into the house together and former surprise elements such as swimming pools and gym equipment were all exposed from the beginning.

The only main twist of the series was the prize money - which was raised from $250,000 to $1,000,000, but this was kept hidden from housemates until later in the season. Evicted housemates also received larger prizes than any season before, with every evictee receiving a top of the range Mitsubishi Lancer VR-X.

Two Intruders entered the house later in the game, and Miriam Rivera, the transgender star of the show There's Something About Miriam, entered as a houseguest near the end.[2] The two Intruders were some of the least liked in all the four seasons, with Violeta being chosen for eviction by every single housemate, and then Monica, who already had a boyfriend outside, immediately started falling for Ryan, and she and Bree developed rivalry towards each other. When Monica was finally up for eviction, she was evicted with a large percentage of the votes. Mid-season, the housemates were able to see the unofficial premiere of The Day After Tomorrow.

The final contestants in 2004 were Bree Amer and Trevor Butler. Trevor won, and then proposed to his girlfriend on stage. The winner announced of the finale was watched by 2.864 million Australian viewers.[3]

Opening sequence

The opening sequence was similar to the 2003 opening sequence with some minor sound changes. The background colour is more gradient than the previous season. A scene of a green backyard appears between the diary room and kitchen scenes. The diary room chair is orange instead of red, and the evicted housemate in the titles was changed to blue. Lastly the 84 days was changed to the series 86 days.The theme also was slightly remixed with the introduction of a guitar component.

Housemates

NameAgeDay enteredDay exitedResult
Trevor Butler30086
Bree Amer210
65
64
86
Paul Dyer31085
Ryan Fitzgerald27083
Catherine Tremolada33078
Ashalea McWalters19071
Monica de Balso325571
Wesley Dening20068
Violeta Black205559
Kane Dignum20057
Terri Mann31050
Merlin Luck23043
Elle Quartermaine22036
Krystal Ince20029
Igor Vurmeski27022
Aphrodite Vuitton25015

Nominations Table

The first Housemate in each box was Nominated for Two Points, and the second Housemate was Nominated for One Point.

Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6Week 7Week 8Week 9Week 10Week 11Week 12Nominations
points
received
IntrudersNominationsDay 83Day 85Finale
TrevorIgor
Terri
Igor
Paul
Paul
Ashalea
Paul
Ashalea
Merlin
Paul
Terri
Ashalea
Wesley
Ashalea
VioletaPaul
Ashalea
No
nominations
Paul
Catherine
Paul
Bree
No
nominations
Winner
(Day 86)
10
BreeTerri
Igor
Terri
Igor
Terri
Kane
Terri
Paul
Terri
Paul
Wesley
Ryan
Kane
Paul
Violeta Paul
Wesley
No
nominations
Paul
Ryan
Paul
Ryan
No
nominations

(Day 86)
24
PaulAphrodite
Igor
Elle
Merlin
Merlin
Krystal
Elle
Trevor
Merlin
Catherine
Ashalea
Catherine
Trevor
Bree
VioletaTrevor
Bree
No
nominations
Trevor
Ryan
Ryan
Trevor
No
nominations
Evicted
(Day 85)
37
RyanIgor
Aphrodite
Igor
Terri
Krystal
Terri
Terri
Ashalea
Catherine
Terri
Bree
Terri
Ashalea
Bree
VioletaAshalea
Paul
No
nominations
Catherine
Bree
Bree
Paul
Evicted
(Day 83)
17
CatherineAshalea
Igor
Igor
Terri
Paul
Ashalea
Paul
Terri
Merlin
Trevor
Terri
Ryan
Kane
Ryan
VioletaPaul
Ashalea
No
nominations
Ryan
Bree
Evicted
(Day 78)
15
AshaleaIgor
Paul
Elle
Merlin
Elle
Trevor
Elle
Kane
Merlin
Kane
Wesley
Kane
Wesley
Ryan
VioletaRyan
Catherine
No
nominations
Evicted
(Day 71)
40
MonicaNot in
House
NominatedAshalea
Bree
No
nominations
Evicted
(Day 71)
N/A
WesleyAphrodite
Krystal
Ashalea
Krystal
Ashalea
Bree
Elle
Ashalea
Bree
Catherine
Bree
Catherine
Ashalea
Catherine
VioletaRyan
Catherine
Evicted
(Day 68)
9
VioletaNot in
House
NominatedAshalea
Bree
Evicted
(Day 59)
N/A
KaneElle
Catherine
Krystal
Elle
Krystal
Terri
Elle
Terri
Ashalea
Catherine
Ashalea
Terri
Bree
Ashalea
Evicted
(Day 57)
11
TerriIgor
Catherine
Igor
Bree
Merlin
Krystal
Bree
Ryan
Bree
Ashalea
Ashalea
Kane
Evicted
(Day 50)
37
MerlinIgor
Terri
Igor
Terri
Paul
Terri
Paul
Terri
Paul
Terri
Evicted
(Day 43)
15
ElleIgor
Kane
Igor
Terri
Ashalea
Krystal
Ashalea
Ryan
Evicted
(Day 36)
19
KrystalIgor
Aphrodite
Igor
Terri
Terri
Merlin
Evicted
(Day 29)
13
IgorKrystal
Ashalea
Elle
Kane
Evicted
(Day 22)
32
AphroditeTerri
Paul
Evicted
(Day 15)
6
Nomination notenone, none
Against
public vote
Aphrodite,
Igor,
Terri
Elle,
Igor,
Terri
Ashalea,
Krystal,
Paul,
Terri
Elle,
Paul,
Terri
Bree,
Catherine,
Merlin,
Paul,
Terri
Ashalea,
Bree,
Terri,
Wesley
Ashalea,
Bree,
Kane,
Wesley
Monica,
Violeta
Ashalea,
Bree,
Catherine,
Paul,
Ryan,
Trevor,
Wesley
All
Housemates
Catherine,
Paul,
Ryan
Bree,
Paul,
Ryan
Bree,
Paul,
Trevor
Bree,
Trevor
EvictedAphrodite
45%
to evict
Igor
47%
to evict
Krystal
41%
to evict
Elle
36%
to evict
Merlin
46%
to evict
Terri
41%
to evict
Kane
36%
to evict
Violeta
7 of 7 votes
to evict
Bree
falsely evicted
Monica
43%
(out of 7)
to evict
Catherine
41%
to evict
Ryan
37%
to evict
Paul
Most votes
to evict
Bree
Most votes
to evict
Wesley
23.3%
to evict
Ashalea
24%
(out of 6)
to evict
SavedIgor
35%
Terri
20%
Terri
35%
Elle
18%
Paul
32%
Terri
21%
Ashalea
6%
Terri
34%
Paul
30%
???
19%
???
18%
???
13%
???
4%
???
24%
???
21%
???
14%
???
28%
???
19%
???
17%
Monica
0 of 7 votes
Bree
18.4%
???
17.4%
???
15.4%
???
14.2%
???
7.4%
???
3.9%
???
22%
???
21%
???
16%
???
14%
???
3%
???
33%
???
26%
???
35%
???
28%
Bree
Trevor
Trevor
Fewest votes
to evict

Notes

Special shows

The Secret Revealed

Gretal Killeen hosts the launch show of Big Brother Australia where a brand new house says hello to 14 brand new housemates but what they don't know is big brother's big secret, what is it?

Housemate Secrets

Gretal Killeen hosts a special where the housemates play a game of 2 lies and a truth, what is the truth? and will the housemates guess the secrets? Plus, daily show action including the morning after the night before of Igor and Aphrodite's argument.

Meeting Miriam

Meeting Miriam was a Special Live Show shown on Day 41, where Miriam Rivera entered the Big Brother House to help the Housemates with their Salsa Dancing Task.

The Secret's Out

Gretel Killeen hosts a live special where the housemates play a series of games with the winner being the first to learn Big Brother's secret and then will be able to tell a friend but must keep it a secret or face a massive price. Who will be first to learn the secret?

The Intruders

Gretel Killeen hosts the much anticipated live show where the introduction of the 2 intruders has arrived, how will the house react to their new playmates? Plus, house psychologist Carmel Hill puts in what the house is really going through.

Intruder Eviction

Gretel Killeen hosts a live show where the 2 intruders are facing the boot and whose journey will end - the housemates will decide but who will go: Monica or Violeta?

The Recount

The Recount was a Special Live Eviction Show which it aired on Day 68.

The Countdown Begins

Gretel Killeen hosts the final nominations show joined by evictee Catherine where the final 4 will nominate for a surprise eviction but who will face the chop next? Plus, Gretel talks to the final 4 one on one.

Surprise Eviction

Gretel Killeen hosts a surprise eviction where the final 4 is about to become the final 3 but who will not make it to the final days: Paul. Bree or Ryan?

The Final Sunday Eviction

Gretel Killeen hosts the final eviction show before the final but which of the final 3 will not make it to the final day and miss out on the million: Paul, Bree or Trevor? Plus, Ryan returns on stage and has a big reunion.

Controversy and incidents

Housemate Merlin Luck staged a protest at his live eviction show. Upon entering the arena, he revealed a makeshift banner which read "Free Th Refugees". The letter E had fallen off and it was intended to read "Free The Refugees" in reference to Australian Government policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers. Merlin placed gaffer tape over his mouth and refused to speak during the live show. The following night, when he returned to appear as a guest on the Nomination show, he apologised to Killeen for putting her on the spot and making her job difficult by refusing to speak during the eviction show. On this show Merlin spoke about his actions in the highest rating show of the timeslot for that night.

The producers were criticised for making a deal with housemate Ryan Fitzgerald who was permitted to wear a T-shirt that was branded with "MLS" (acronym for Massive Loser Squad). The T-shirts were being sold while the show was running and Ryan's friends admitted that a proportion of the profits was going towards votes to keep him in the house, thus giving him what was perceived to be an unfair advantage. However the producer pointed-out that many housemates had companies or local communities rally support for them, which was little different, and that there was nothing stopping any other housemate's supporters doing a similar thing to Ryan's friends. Ryan has instead insisted on his radio program that his friends were not using the money to buy votes and instead spending it on alcohol.[4]

Housemate Bree Amer was incorrectly evicted instead of Wesley due to a vote counting error. The error was discovered after the Sunday night eviction show. Bree had already met up with friends and family. She was returned to the house the following night (Monday).[5] Wesley was evicted in a special show on the following Thursday.

Reception

Australian TV ratings

MONDAY - FRIDAY DAILY SHOW

WEEKSydneyMelbourneBrisbaneAdelaidePerthTOTALWEEKLY
RANK
01 356,000 343,000 256,000 137,000 152,000 1,243,000 46
02 299,000 281,000 222,000 115,000 145,000 1,062,000 58
03 312,000 268,000 199,000 110,000 148,000 1,037,000 70
04 , 000 , 000 , 000 , 000 , 000 , 000
05 311,000 296,000 208,000 121,000 146,000 1,082,000 65
06 325,000 278,000 195,000 116,000 148,000 1,063,000 66
07 341,000 294,000 221,000 132,000 131,000 1,119,000 49
08 289,000 272,000 233,000 126,000 133,000 1,052,000 65
09 302,000 287,000 242,000 135,000 133,000 1,100,000 57
10 309,000 322,000 234,000 141,000 132,000 1,138,000 45
11 328,000 302,000 231,000 143,000 121,000 1,124,000 53
12 357,000 307,000 249,000 100,000 124,000 2,191,000 46

Notes and References

  1. News: Dale . David . Reality TV feels the pain . 11 January 2013 . . 17 May 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140620135033/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/16/1084646071172.html . 20 June 2014 . dead . dmy .
  2. News: Buttner . Claire . Merlin's silent protest . 2004-06-14 . Sydney Morning Herald . 2009-11-22 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100823051134/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/14/1087065042010.html . 2010-08-23.
  3. Web site: TOP 20 PROGRAMS SHOWN ON TELEVISION, 1998–2009. Screen Australia. https://web.archive.org/web/20170721073855/https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/fact-finders/television/industry-trends/in-the-archive/top-programs/top-20-programs-1998-2009. 21 July 2017. live. 23 May 2018.
  4. News: Bucklow . Andrew . 2018-07-18 . Nova's Fitzy reveals why the Big Brother executive producer threatened his mum . news.com.au . live . 2021-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190406150806/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/flashback/novas-fitzy-reveals-why-the-big-brother-executive-producer-threatened-his-mum/news-story/af48c30d16d2f57bcdbbe38b911d8ddd . 2019-04-06.
  5. News: Bree to re-enter Big Brother. 5 July 2004. The Age. 18 July 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071105041728/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/05/1088879414515.html. 5 November 2007. live. Fairfax Media. Australian Associated Press (AAP).