Big Brother’s disastrous ratings this season continued on Monday as Channel Seven’s “sexy” new edition managed just 134,000 ratings in major metropolitan areas.
And now one of the series’ former winners has weighed in on why the franchise went so horribly wrong this year.
Trevor “Big Trev” Butler, who won $1 million on “Big Brother” in 2004, says producers angered the show’s fanbase by focusing on “hot singles looking for love” rather than filling the house with regular ones people to fill.
“I think it was a mistake to make it the House of Love this year,” Butler told New Idea.
“They’ve got all these pretty people in there, a whole bunch of glamorous influencers, and they seem to be going for the Survivor MAFS vibe with all the fake drama and excitement. “That’s why it’s going so badly.”
Big Brother legend Trevor Butler speaks out about the former fan favorite, who is sinking to a new low in the ratings. Pictured: Trevor Butler and Bree appearing on Big Brother 2004
Trevor “Big Trev” Butler, who won $1 million on “Big Brother” in 2004, says producers angered the show’s fanbase by focusing this season on “hot singles looking for love” – instead of that Filling a house with ordinary people. Pictured: The latest season of Big Brother
Butler says in the latest issue of New Idea that House of Love’s focus on Big Brother is costing the show its audience who would rather watch “normal people.”
He added that Australians like the “social aspect” of the Big Brother format, which used to be about watching “normal people” try to get along – or not.
Butler, 50, a presenter who now appears on the Gold Coast’s Hot Tomato, made headlines 19 years ago after becoming the show’s only contestant to win $1 million.
Meanwhile, Seven has relegated the once-reliable Monday to Wednesday ratings winner from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
The show was beaten down by MasterChef spin-off Dessert Masters on Monday night, a rare appearance for Channel 10.
Hosted by Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon, the show attracted 449,000 viewers in metropolitan areas.
ElChannel 10 scored a rare win on Monday with its MasterChef spin-off Dessert Masters. The show, hosted by Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon (pictured), attracted 449,000 viewers in the metropolitan areas
A scene from Dessert Masters
Over on Seven, Home and Away ends the 2023 season in strong form, reaching 429,000 viewers in major theaters and 364,000 in the 8 p.m. slot.
Meanwhile, the final of Channel Nine’s My Mum Your Dad ended its season with 335,000 metro viewers.
Channel Seven ended the evening in first place overall with an audience share of 28 percent, while arch-rivals Nine came a close second with 26.5 percent.
The ABC had the third highest audience share with 19.5 per cent, while Channel 10 was close behind with 18.6 per cent of available viewers.