The secret’s finally out! Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald reveals what fans NEVER knew about Big Brother… after starring on the show 16 years ago
Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald has revealed a bizarre secret about Big Brother Australia.
The 43-year-old radio host, who starred on the reality show in 2004, revealed on Nova FM’s Fitzy & Wippa on Tuesday that producers worked quite literally around the clock to keep up with the show’s rapid turnaround.
Staffers were under so much pressure to produce a new episode every single day, they would sleep on the site and work 20-hour shifts.
‘I’m not joking’: Radio presenter Ryan Fitzgerald, who placed fourth on Big Brother in 2004, said on Tuesday that producers on his season worked 20-hour shifts and slept at their desks
Ryan told co-host Michael Wipfli: ‘I’m not joking, there were executive producers who have to watch and get a storyline every 24 hours to show what’s going on.
‘They’d sit in front of screens for 20 hours a day, and only sleep for three or four.’
Producers would also throw in as many housemates as possible at the start of each season so they could ‘kick the idiots out’ early and maximise drama, Ryan added.
Tiring work: ‘They’d sit in front of screens for 20 hours a day, and only sleep for three or four,’ he said on Fitzy and Wippa. Pictured: Ryan after his elimination on July 23, 2004
Big Brother is returning to Channel Seven with a new format in the coming months, and the footage has been pre-recorded for the first time in the show’s history.
Production was also ‘accelerated’ in response to a coronavirus scare on set.
‘I don’t know if it was fully finished before they were kicked out with coronavirus,’ he said, sounding skeptical about the reboot.
Ryan placed fourth on Big Brother’s fourth season in 2004, behind winner Trevor Butler and runners-up Bree Amer and Paul Dyer.
Coming soon: Channel Seven offered viewers their first look inside the new Big Brother Australia house in a colourful teaser trailer on Sunday, ahead of its June premiere
Spacious: The house features a very vibrant interior and large dining table
According to TV Blackbox, production company Endemol Shine Australia sped through the series due to fears of a looming COVID-19 shutdown.
The entire season has been pre-recorded except for the finale, which will be the only live episode and will feature a public vote to decide the winner.
Channel Seven revealed on Sunday that Big Brother will premiere in June with Sonia Kruger as host.
Exciting: The trailer teased what looks to be this year’s diary room chair
Luxury: The ‘house’ is purpose-built inside a warehouse at Manly’s North Head in Sydney