Big Brother VIP: First look inside hotel where celebrities are staying

The custom-built hotel was made from materials from previous Big Brother houses, including furniture and set pieces. See the pictures.

Forget the Big Brother house, it is a whole hotel this time.

The Sunday Telegraph has been given a sneak peek inside the Big Brother VIP set where a raft of mostly familiar faces will battle it out over 22 days with the aim of winning $100,000 for their chosen charity.

“Big Brother’s Hotel is where five star luxury meets Fawlty Towers,” host Sonia Kruger said. “Let’s just say there’s more to Big Brother’s Hotel than just front of house. It’s all top notch but my favourite part is the red velvet lounge room. It’s the perfect place for the VIPs to talk tactics, but it’s so luxurious. I just want to go sit in there and have a cosmopolitan with Caitlyn (Jenner).”

One of the outdoor areas.

Inside the Big Brother VIP hotel. Picture: Nigel Wright

The luxury lounge area of the hotel. Picture: Nigel Wright

The bathroom. Picture: Nigel Wright

Big Brother is watching. Picture: Nigel Wright

Producers opted for a different ­location for the celebrity series, choosing Sydney Olympic Park where the custom-built hotel was made from materials from previous Big Brother houses, including redressing furniture and set pieces to reuse and recycle where possible.

It is all new for the housemates, ­including American reality star Jenner, retired NRL player Matt Cooper and Meghan Markle’s estranged brother, Thomas Markle Jr.

The bedroom. Picture: Nigel Wright

The pool area. Picture: Nigel Wright

The dining area. Picture: Nigel Wright

The hotel was custom-built. Picture: Nigel Wright

The kitchen. Picture: Nigel Wright

The rest of the cast includes actor Bernard Curry, model Imogen Anthony and Donald Trump’s former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman.

“International celebrities, personal revelations and plenty of global headlines,” Kruger said when asked what to expect from the season that will premiere on Seven next month.

“There are some pretty big egos going into the hotel and probably not enough champagne in the world to keep them all happy.”

Some 80 cameras will monitor contestants’ every move, from showering to sleeping, while roughly 10km of audio and video cabling was laid throughout the hotel.

Guests had to do their own washing and cleaning and were allowed to bring just one suitcase with them as they live off basic food rations and compete in challenges to get through each stage of the competition.

Rounding out the cast of 12 are Danny Hayes, Dayne Means, Ellie Gonsalves, Jessika Power, Josh Carroll and Luke Toki.

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Originally published as Big Brother VIP: First look inside hotel where celebrities are staying