Big Brother Australia first! Housemates are put on COVID-19 lockdown for THREE DAYS as emotional calls home spark ruthless tactics in pursuit of $250,000 prize
In a series first for Australia, Big Brother production was halted for three days after a ‘crew member came into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case’.
While the crew abandoned the set awaiting COVID-19 test results on Sunday’s episode, the remaining housemates were put in touch with their loved ones.
The severity of the outbreak quickly dawned on the stars as they became more determined to outsmart and outplay their rivals for the show’s $250,000 prize.
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Big Brother Australia first! Housemates (PICTURED) were put on COVID-19 lockdown for THREE DAYS on Sunday’s episode as emotional calls from home spark ruthless tactics in pursuit of the show’s $250,000 prize
Footage of cameras being removed from the walls showed the crew were forced to make a quick exit amid the COVID-19 scare, leaving the housemates alone in the compound while the game was temporarily suspended.
Each housemate was updated on the global crisis, and some took it more seriously than others.
Former AFL player Daniel Gorringe was warned by girlfriend Ana Cannon that a recession was likely and they really needed to win the prize money to start their life together on the outside.
‘I will throw people under the bus if I have to. When we leave this place, we aren’t going back into a normal world. It’s a very different place,’ he told Big Brother.
‘We aren’t going back into a normal world’: Former AFL player Daniel Gorringe (pictured) was warned by girlfriend Ana Cannon that a recession was likely and they really needed to win the prize money to start their life together on the outside
International model Chad Hurst was also told that with international borders closing he should forget about any upcoming shoots – and therefore modelling income.
He said: ‘It’s put my modelling career on hold. Coronavirus has raised the stakes of the game. Everybody is going to start doing big moves.’
‘I have one chance to win $250,000, and I bloody need it,’ Chad added.
‘Coronavirus has raised the stakes of the game’: International model Chad Hurst feared he would lose a lot of modelling income with international borders closing amid COVID-19
‘Start cutting deals?’ Dan decided to make a ruthless deal with Chad and ‘girlfriend’ Sophie Budack to secure a secret pact while promising to blindside his own friends to get to finale
Later, Dan decided to make a ruthless deal with Chad and ‘girlfriend’ Sophie Budack to secure a secret pact to make it the final four with Mat Garrick.
‘Start cutting deals? Us four until as long as we can?’ Dan pitched to Chad and Sophie during the musical chairs nomination challenge.
Proving that he was serious about winning at all costs, he voted strategic player and friend Xavier Molyneux off the show during the eviction ceremony.
‘I will throw people under the bus if i have to’: Proving that he was serious about winning at all costs, Dan voted friend Xavier Molyneux (pictured) off the show during the eviction
The COVID-19 scare came weeks after the housemates were informed off camera by producers in March about the escalating pandemic.
Under normal circumstances, Big Brother stars are kept in the dark about the outside world, but an exception was made in this case.
Until that point, the contestants had no idea what was going on because they had entered the secure compound when the global health crisis was in its early stages.
There are now only eight housemates left vying for the $250,000 cash prize.
Big Brother Australia continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Seven
Tune in: Big Brother continues Monday from 7:30pm on Channel Seven. Pictured: Big Brother host Sonia Kruger