After months of anticipation, Big Brother Australia officially returned to our screens last night, and all eyes were on its new host, Mel Tracina.
The television and radio personality made her Big Brother debut on Channel 10 as the face of the revamped reality juggernaut, filmed at its original home of Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.
From the moment she stepped on stage, Tracina’s signature warmth and quick wit set the tone for what’s shaping up to be a new era for the series.
If the name sounds familiar, there’s a good reason. Between her weekday radio show on Nova (where she’s on air from 9am to 2pm) and her sharp, satirical takes as The Cheap Seats’ Cultural Correspondent, Tracina has quietly become one of Australia’s most recognisable voices.
She’s also appeared as a guest panellist on Have You Been Paying Attention?, bringing her signature humour to the quiz show’s chaotic charm.
When Network 10 announced it was reviving Big Brother Australia, Mel Tracina was the first to admit she’d been a fan from the very beginning.
“The show has such a loyal and passionate fan base, and I am excited to help bring back the show’s original spirit,” she said in a statement ahead of the premiere.
The new host added, “I was one of the millions of Aussies captivated by Big Brother when it launched on Channel 10 in the early noughties.”
The original Big Brother Australia host, Gretel Killeen, led from 2001 to 2007 before Jackie O, Kyle Sandilands and later Sonia Kruger took over. Now, Mel Tracina ushers in a new era.
At 35, Tracina embodies the modern media all-rounder, witty, warm and deeply attuned to her audience. If last night’s premiere is anything to go by, Big Brother has found the perfect host to lead the franchise into its next era.
