Big Brother EXCLUSIVE: Housemate-turned-producer Bree Amer reveals the biggest problem with Seven’s reboot – and why it’s so different from her season in 2004
She rose to fame on the 2004 season of Big Brother Australia, and later returned in subsequent seasons as the host of its spin-off series, Friday Night Live.
And now Bree Amer has given her honest verdict on the popular reality show’s reboot on Channel Seven.
In a wide-ranging interview with Daily Mail Australia, Bree explained that while the refreshed format was a smart choice, she felt there was one thing lacking.
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EXCLUSIVE: Former Big Brother housemate-turned-producer Bree Amer (pictured in 2007) has revealed what she believes is the biggest problem with Seven’s reboot
The 37-year-old believes that viewers would have rejected Big Brother if it had returned unchanged.
‘It needed to come back refreshed. [The old format] was a bit tired and we’re a bit past that. Reality TV has progressed so much,’ she explained.
But the problem with the revamped version, she said, is that fans haven’t been able to get to know the housemates as well.
‘I don’t feel as connected to any of those housemates. I don’t care about them as much’: The 37-year-old claimed fans would have rejected Big Brother if it had returned unchanged, but the reduced amount of airtime has made it harder to be invested in the stars’ lives. Pictured: Angela Clancy and Sophie Budack
During Bree’s season 16 years ago, episodes were aired almost seven days a week, in addition to live-streaming on the Internet.
This round-the-clock coverage made viewers feel like they really ‘knew’ and were ‘friends with’ the contestants.
‘I think because we do only see a little bit of it [in the new series], I don’t feel as connected to any of those housemates. I don’t care about them as much,’ she said.
Flashback! Bree was one of the most memorable contestants from the 2004 season of Big Brother Australia. Pictured with host Gretel Killeen (left) and winner Trevor Butler (right)
Providing an example, Bree continued: ‘When Sophie [Budack] jumped into bed with Chad [Hurst] and kissed him, I was like “What?! Where did that come from?”
‘Because you don’t have the context or the hours to binge beforehand.’
She said her main problem with Seven’s reboot is the lack of content – but this is ‘probably a good problem’ because it means the viewers are being left wanting more.
‘You don’t have the context or the hours to binge beforehand’: Bree said as the reboot moves so quickly and only airs three times per week, major plot lines can sometimes lack context. Pictured: Sophie Budack and Chad Hurst
!['The problem [with Seven's reboot] is, there's not enough of it - which is probably a good problem,' Bree joked that the season leaves her wanting more, which is a positive thing](https://i1.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/25/02/30028066-8457637-image-a-9_1593047410103.jpg?resize=634%2C423&ssl=1)
‘The problem [with Seven’s reboot] is, there’s not enough of it – which is probably a good problem,’ Bree joked that the season leaves her wanting more, which is a positive thing
Speaking on the On The Mike podcast in October 2018, Bree explained how she had been able to transition from a reality TV contestant to a behind-the-scenes producer.
‘I started as low down as I possibly could. I was just always interested in producing,’ she said.
She worked in street casting for the show World’s Strictest Parents, before being hired to find contestants for My Kitchen Rules.
Family life: Bree and her husband, fellow TV producer Evan Wilkes, are now proud parents to three-year-old son Hunter and 11-month-old daughter Harlow (all pictured)
Bree helped produce five seasons of MKR and has also worked on The Bachelor, Zumbo’s Just Desserts and Bringing Sexy Back.
Her husband, Evan Wilkes, recently produced Channel Seven’s Bride and Prejudice.
Bree and Evan are now proud parents to three-year-old son Hunter and 11-month-old daughter Harlow.
Tune in: Big Brother Australia continues on Sunday from 7pm on Seven