Australia's BB's secret: There's no cash

CONTESTANTS diving into the Big Brother fishbowl in hope of landing the million-dollar prize pool will be hit with a rude slap - and it's worse than a turkey.

As the Channel 10 reality TV juggernaut prepares to launch its seventh season on Sunday night, the program's producers yesterday announced that, for the first time, there will not be a cash prize for this year's winner.

In addition to throwing away the cash, there will not be any cars given to the housemates on their exit from the compound at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.
"We are launching series seven with no prize money for the winner," executive producer Tim Toni said yesterday.

"It's simply to keep ahead of the game with the housemates."

The selected contestants for the program flew to the Gold Coast yesterday and are now in lockdown, unaware of the tightened rules - and wallets - of the well-played reality game.

Stripping the inmates of their inflated cash cow - the exact reason why many bother persevering through all those stifling weeks in the house - is not the only measure producers are taking to revive viewer interest and amp up the ratings of the fairly tired formula.

In another "Australian first", viewers will be able to choose two additional housemates from a secondary group who will assemble next to the selected contestants during Sunday's season premiere.

"It will enable viewers to control the game - it will be the biggest number of housemates ever assembled on stage," the spokesman said.

I wonder how many gay boys will be in this years BB House. Over the years it has been the gay boys that have made the show worth watching.... well only to help you sleep at night rather than all those shocking quiz mania shows we love to HATE !