The sixteenth season of the Australian reality television series Big Brother, also known as Big Brother 2025, marked the return of the program to original broadcaster Network 10 after the network concluded production of the show following its eighth season in 2008.
The season introduced Mel Tracina as host, and featured the return of narrator Mike Goldman. Production of the series returned to the original location at Dreamworld for the first time since the eleventh season in 2014. It premiered on 9 November 2025 and concluded on 8 December 2025, making it the shortest regular season on Channel 10 to date. The winner of the season was Coco Beeby, who won a total of A$135,000.
Format Like other seasons of the show, the series revolves around a group of strangers living in a house together with no communication with the outside world. Referred to as "housemates", the group is constantly filmed during their time in the house and are not permitted to communicate with those filming them, except with the titular "Big Brother" – an embodiment of the show's producers.
Unlike seasons 12 to 15, which aired on Seven Network, this season featured the original format, which emphasised the show as a social experiment and did not emphasise competitive aspects. Although promoted as a return to the original format, the revival only partially restored the traditional live elements; the live format returned, but the show remained highly edited with producer-guided narratives instead of the looser, continuous style of the early years. Every week, the housemates vote who they wish to leave the house, with those receiving the most votes being nominated for eviction. The Australian public votes to save their favourite nominee with the housemate receiving the least save votes being evicted during a live show. This process continued until only one housemate remains to win the grand prize. Additionally, the show returned to being filmed live, as opposed to being pre-recorded, as was the case when the show was on the Seven Network.
Production On 16 September 2024, it was confirmed that Big Brother would be returning to its original broadcaster Network 10, which aired the show from its inception in 2001 until 2008, for its sixteenth season in 2025, after reacquiring the rights to the show following its cancellation on Nine Network and Seven Network in 2014 and 2023 respectively. Comedian, Nova radio host and The Cheap Seats showbiz correspondent Mel Tracina was announced as the new host, taking over from Sonia Kruger. Mike Goldman returned to the program as narrator, having previously narrated seasons 1-11 on 10 and Nine. The promo advertising the return noted the series' return to its original format with 24-hour live streaming (which would be hosted on 10's online streaming service, as a Pluto TV channel hosted on the app), live nominations and evictions and prominently featured footage from the original Network 10 iteration of the series. On 27 July 2025, it was confirmed that the new house will return to Dreamworld and be constructed inside of the Exhibition Centre, with the announcement also coinciding with the opening of the casting call for the new series.
An updated promo for the series, featuring Mel Tracina and advertising a November airdate aired during the finale of Australian Survivor: Australia V The World in September. A second promo began airing in early October, featuring "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish and announcing the 9 November launch date. The launch show was recorded the day before premiering on 8 November. Due to weather conditions, filming was paused during the recording after several housemates had already entered, however was completed later that day. Gold Coast-based voice artist Pete Cunningham (who had served as the co-deputy Big Brother in 2012 and 2013 seasons) provided the voice of Big Brother after Leon Murray (who had served as the deputy Big Brother in the 2008 and 2012–2014 seasons) was replaced at the last minute.
On 8 December 2025, Tracina teased during the season finale that the series will return for a 17th season in 2026.
Housemates The 12 original housemates were revealed and entered on the Launch Night.
Name Age on entry Residence Occupation Day entered Day exited Result Coco Beeby 30 Scotts Head, New South Wales Early education0 30 Emily Dale30 Perth, Western Australia Primary school teacher0 30 Colin Ridley 21 Wollongong, New South Wales Aspiring MMA fighter0 30 Bruce Dunne 25 Sunshine Coast, Queensland Tradesman0 30 Allana Jackson 45 Gold Coast, Queensland Social worker0 30 Conor Maysey 31 Gold Coast, Queensland (originally from United Kingdom) Disability advocate0 29 Edward Doak 30 Adelaide, South Australia Sales manager0 27 Vincent "Vinnie" Brigante 21 Melbourne, Victoria Barber0 24 Holly Young 31 Perth, Western Australia Model0 22 Abiola Sanusi 24 Melbourne, Victoria Singer and musician0 20 Mia Wijewardene 23 Melbourne, Victoria Hardware shop assistant0 15 Jane Marshall-Doherty 67 Melbourne, Victoria Retired215 Michael Downs 49 Sydney, New South Wales Publisher08 Notes
Former potential housemates On Launch Night, a vote opened for two potential housemates, 67-year-old Jane Marshall-Doherty and 36-year-old Mitchell "Mitch" Miletic, who faced Australia's vote to become the 13th housemate. NameAgeOccupationResidence Mitchell "Mitch" Miletic 36 Dealer Melbourne, Victoria
Twists Prize money This season, the prize money started at $100,000. However, housemates can add money to (or remove money from) the prize pool by successfully completing various tasks and dilemmas, similar to the format in season 7.
Event Offered +/- Running total Possible Prize Week 1 Initial amount $100,000 $100,000$100,000 Ranking shopping task $60,000 +$25,000 $125,000$160,000 Week 2 Temptation phone call $25,000 $0 $125,000$185,000 Week 3 Christmas bribe -$15,000 –$15,000 $110,000$185,000 Week 4 Stack or steal $25,000 +$25,000 $135,000$210,000
Head Housemate After each eviction, the evicted housemate could appoint a housemate as the "Head Housemate". The Head Housemate would be able to allocate household chores for each housemate, sleep in the queen bed in the bedroom, receive personal luxuries, and control the weekly shop for the house.
They would also be immune from eviction and have the power to save a housemate from eviction, with the next highest voted housemate or housemates being nominated in their place.
Following Vinnie's eviction, this position was abolished.
Evicted Housemate Appointed Head Housemate Week 2 Michael Holly Week 3 Jane Allana Week 4 Holly Colin Notes
Weekly summary The main events of the sixteenth season are summarised in the table below. Week 1 Entrances During the Launch, Colin, Allana, Coco, Conor, Abiola, Vinnie, Emily, Bruce, Holly, Edward, Mia and Michael entered the house. On Day 2, Jane entered the house after being voted by Australia to be the 13th housemate. Tasks During the Launch, housemates brought their suitcases with them, but were instructed to leave them outside prior to entering. Unbeknownst to them, the contents of their luggage were confiscated and placed in the "BB Bargain Basement." Throughout the course of the week, housemates gained the opportunity to "purchase" their personal belongings from the store. On Days 1 and 2, housemates participated in their first shopping task, where they ranked themselves from most to least in six different categories, trying to match who the public voted as the "most" and "least" in that category. Each correct answer earned $50 to the shopping budget and $5,000 to the overall prize fund. They got 5 out of 12 answers correct, earning $250 for the shopping budget and $25,000 to the prize money. On Day 1, as a result of being voted as the most deserving of a new wardrobe in the shopping task, Emily was granted access to "shop" in the "BB Bargain Basement" for 30 seconds, however, she could only pick other housemates' personal belongings. On the same day, Colin was also granted access to the "BB Bargain Basement" for 30 seconds as a consolation prize from the shopping task. He was also given clean underwear and fresh dental kits for the entire house. On Day 2, housemates were given a chance to "buy" two items each from the "BB Bargain Basement". On Day 4, housemates, except for Jane, were given a last chance to get their belongings back by begging for them at "BB's Bargain Bin". On Day 5, Abiola and Emily were given a secret task to setup a secret party in the party room by gathering items around the house. They succeeded the task and thus earned the house with an "unforgettable" party. Twists On Day 2, upon entering the house, Jane was given a secret mission to hide from the original housemates for 90 seconds in one of Big Brother's hiding spots. If she successfully hid from the housemates, she would receive immunity from the first eviction. If she was caught before time was up, she would be automatically nominated for the first eviction. She failed the task after being caught by Conor with only five seconds left, making her nominated for the first eviction. Nominations On Day 4, housemates nominated for the first time. Holly and Michael received the most points (21 and 13 points respectively) and thus, faced the public vote this week alongside Jane. Exits On Day 8, Michael became the first housemate to be evicted, after receiving the fewest votes to save. Week 2 Twists On Day 8, following his eviction, Michael named Holly as the first Head Housemate. On Day 9, as part of the "BB Eatz" task, a phone was installed in the house. This phone was also used for various other mini-tasks and dilemmas during the rest of the week. On Day 13, as the result of answering the phone, Vinnie was asked to either receive $10,000 for himself or add $25,000 to the prize money. He chose to receive $10,000 for himself, and must justify the reasons for his choice immediately to the other housemates. Nominations On Day 9, housemates nominated for the second time. Jane, Mia, and Allana received the most points (14, 13, and 10 points respectively) and are nominated for eviction this week. As Head Housemate, Holly decided not to use her power to save a nominee, therefore leaving the nominations intact for this week. Tasks On Days 9 and 10, housemates participated in their second shopping task of "BB Eatz", where housemates had to run a takeaway shop and deliver food to the diary room. They will be given a star rating for each order they completed. They must reach an average star rating of 4 to pass the task. Housemates failed the task after receiving an average of 2 stars, therefore, receiving only the basic shopping budget of $120 for the week. On Day 11, housemates got a phone call from "BB FM", where they participated in the "Housemate Hot Seat" game. In the game, each housemate were given 5 seconds to answer a question, related to their time in the house and themselves. Each correct answer would award them $20 for the luxury shop. They answered 5 out of 12 questions correct, and thus earned $100 for the luxury shop. On Day 12, housemates were given a VIP party. However, Holly had to choose 4 people to serve as staff members of the party, rather than attend it. She chose Conor and Vinnie as bathroom attendants and Edward and Mia to be security. Punishments On Day 11, as the result of answering the phone, Edward had to be chained to Jane, who was voted by the public, until further notice. Exits On Day 15, Jane became the second housemate to be evicted, after receiving the fewest votes to save. On Day 15, Mia became the third housemate to be evicted, after a phone call to save Allana from a fan. (Bec from Queensland) Week 3 Twists On Day 15, following Jane's eviction, she named Allana as the second Head Housemate. On Day 15, following Mia's eviction, she was given a power to nominate like everyone else. Unlike usual nominations, these were revealed publicly to the housemates.