Production wraps weeks early for Big Brother Australia reboot amid casting issues and coronavirus concerns
Big Brother Australia wrapped filming on Friday after rushing to finish production before they were shut down due to coronavirus.
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 sped up the filming process on set so they wouldn’t have to halt shooting again amid the ongoing pandemic.
Struggles: Filming wraps for Big Brother Australia after a ‘disappointing’ cast, restaged eviction and a COVID-19 scare. Pictured: host Sonia Kruger
After production was shut down for two days amid fears a crew member had been exposed to COVID-19, an emergency cleaning team was drafted in on Monday.
The cleaners spent the day driving around the compound in Manly, Sydney, scrubbing each production unit with disinfectant before filming continued.
Things certainly haven’t been smooth sailing for the new formula of Big Brother, with production allegedly ‘disappointed’ with the new cast.
Celebrations: Big Brother Australia wrapped filming on Friday after rushing to finish production before they were shut down due to coronavirus (previous season pictured)
According to TV Blackbox, Endemol Shine Australia have been ‘forced to work overtime’ in order to make the show more engaging, after the cast under-performed once on camera compared to in their auditions.
It comes after one of the evictions wasn’t even recorded, so production were forced to re-stage what was meant to be a candid moment.
A crew member apparently ‘stuffed up’ by not pressing record and the scene had to be filmed again.
Not the same: Things certainly haven’t been smooth sailing for the new formula of Big Brother, with production hugely ‘disappointed’ with the new cast (previous season’s cast pictured)
The evicted housemate was sent back inside and had to act surprised by their elimination for the cameras.
‘The biggest stuff up in Big Brother history has happened where they haven’t recorded an eviction,’ TV Blackbox editor Rob McKnight said on Friday.
While the season’s filming has concluded, the finale is set to be broadcast live to allow viewers to vote.
Whoops! Channel Seven’s Big Brother has been rocked by a major ‘stuff-up’ during the first eviction after a crew member forgot to press record. Pictured: host Sonia Kruger
No air date has been announced by the show’s broadcaster Seven so far.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Endemol Shine and Seven for comment.
As of Saturday morning, there have been 5,350 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 28 deaths.
As of Saturday morning, there have been 5,350 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 28 deaths