Big Brother ‘royalty’ Reggie Bird, Tim Dormer to return for new season

Big Brother has big plans for its 21st season, pitting new faces against familiar favourites from previous series. Here’s who is coming back.

Australia’s favourite ever Big Brother contestant is making a return to the show that made her a household name.

Nineteen years after winning the third season in 2003, the now 47-year-old Reggie Bird is the first cast member revealed for the upcoming series that will see new faces take on eight contestants from previous years that they have referred to as Big Brother ‘royalty’.

Reggie Bird with host Gretel Killeen on Big Brother 2003.

Tim Dormer, who won in 2013, is also returning with more cast to be unveiled over the coming months.

Channel 7 made the announcement in a sales briefing today, spruiking the 21st season of the show that will air later this year.

“This may be a new game but I'm still the same old Reggie. Big Brother is in my blood,” Bird said in the presentation. “I just can't believe I’m here.”

The mother of two was regaled as a national hero when she won the series, and $250,000 prize money. She was celebrated as an everyday Australian for being down to earth with a strong work ethic running a fish and chip shop in Tasmania with her then husband Adrian.

Big Brother host Sonia Kruger with 2013 winner Tim Dormer. Picture: Paul Broben

Afterwards, Bird's health issues kept her in the spotlight. She suffers from a degenerative eye condition and is legally blind.

Bird also suffered a stroke in 2017 and her young son, Lucas, battles cystic fibrosis.

Financially, despite her winnings, Bird has also spoken of struggling after Big Brother, most notably being defrauded $40,000 by a man claiming to be a TV producer.

“I thought it was legit. He said he didn’t have money and asked to borrow five grand and another five grand and then it all snowballed.”

Other names tipped to appear in the new season of Big Brother include Trevor Butler, Layla Subritzky and Tully Smyth.

Originally published as Big Brother ‘royalty’ Reggie Bird, Tim Dormer to return for new season