Qld’s Big Brother contestants through the years: Where are they now?
From radio careers to TV returns, Queensland’s Big Brother contestants through the years have rarely stayed out of the spotlight. WHERE ARE THEY NOW
Big Brother is back in 2025, adding another chapter to a show that has delivered it all to our screens across more than two decades.
Queensland has had its share of star contestants along the way, from early champions to those who simply stole the headlines.
This is where Qld’s Big Brother contestants and personalities are now >>>
Michael Beveridge
A 2012 housemate from Brisbane, he moved into commercial radio and later wrote about how online abuse during reality TV prepared him for broadcasting and helped him grow as a creative.
He now runs Mike Bev Music, offering tailored lessons, performance work and conducting. In 2022 he shared news of his brother Darrell’s death, prompting tributes online.
“I don’t want to be writing this, I want to stay in bed and just try and stop feeling the hurt but these are the unbearable painful logistics of dealing with sudden death,” he posted on Facebook.
Ben Zabel
The 2013 fan‑favourite parlayed his notoriety into media, performing a one‑man show at Brisbane Powerhouse and picking up TV segments (including roving work for Studio 10).
After being evicted from Big Brother Zabel scored a regular spot on Nine’s Mornings, doing Ben’s Movie Wrap.
He co‑created the documentary Graceland Happiness Project with Tim Dormer and has been candid about depression and anxiety.
He still pops up in media/comedy and offers personalised videos through Cameo.
Chrissie Swan
While technically not a Queenslander, the 2003 runner‑up now hosts the national afternoon radio program The Chrissie Swan Show on the Nova Network.
In 2025 she was announced as host of a rebooted Healthy, Wealthy and Wise on Seven and 7plus, adding to a long list of TV credits.
Melbourne‑born and based she remains one of the franchise’s most successful alumni.
Ryan Ginns
The 2014 Big Brother winner took home $200,000 and has kept a relatively low profile since the show.
“We’re going to do a motorbike trip our winter coming up through India and raise some money for MS Australia,” he said weeks after winning the show.
He’s married to Sophie Ginns and the pair welcomed their second child in July 2022, sharing occasional family updates on Instagram.
Beyond sporadic retrospectives and winner lists, he’s stayed out of regular media headlines.
Bree Amer
After BB 2004, she co‑hosted Big Brother Friday Night Live (2005, 2007–08), Friday Night Games (2006) and Download, becoming a familiar TV face.
A doctor spotted a lump on her neck on air in 2006, leading to a thyroid cancer diagnosis and successful treatment.
Today she works as a celebrant, and in her personal life married TV producer Evan Wilkes in 2015 and has three children.
She was also at the centre of controversy in 2004 when host Gretel Killeen appeared via satellite to tell the contestants there’d been a mistake with voting calculations the previous night.
Reggie Bird
The 2003 champion who made history by winning again in 2022 lives on the Gold Coast and remains a fan favourite at media and reunion events.
She’s legally blind due to retinitis pigmentosa and has spoken publicly about raising her son, who has cystic fibrosis.
Reggie continues to engage with the franchise and local events following her second win.
She has also been spotted back on our screens in I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!
Trevor Butler
The 2004 winner — Big Brother’s only $1 million champion — co‑hosts Drive on Gold Coast station 102.9 Hot Tomato.
He famously proposed to his partner Breea live on stage and today lives in Tweed Heads with their two sons.
“It didn’t matter if I was coming out the second week or the third week. I had it in my head that it would probably be the best place for me to ask her to marry me,” he said in 2016.
Trevor returned for the 2022 “Royalty” season and still pops up across local media.
Skye Wheatley
The 2014 housemate has parlayed her TV profile into a Gold Coast‑based influencer career across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
She won I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here in 2024 and openly shares beauty and lifestyle content, including cosmetic‑procedure updates.
Skye is a mum of two and frequently collaborates with brands in the lifestyle space.
Camilla Severi
The 2006 runner‑up carved out a Brisbane radio career at B105 and Nova 106.9 before moving into a digital role in 2012.
“There was just too much negativity around me to do well this year. Not that I mind too much what people think – but sadly that’s how ratings are formed,” she said on Facebook after her 2012 dumping.
She later served as an ambassador/on‑air voice for DMG’s Koffee digital station and has kept a lower public profile in recent years.
She married and had children but has kept a low profile in recent years.
However she remains known as being the victim of the infamous 2006 “turkey slap”.
“At the time there was an enormous amount of hype, we had helicopters flying over the house with telephoto lenses and taking photos of me the day after the boys got taken off the show. That was scary, it was uncomfortable,” she said in 2020 on The Ben, Rob & Robbo Show’s Big Brother recap show.
Mike Goldman
The Gold Coast‑born voice of Big Brother remains one of the franchise’s most recognisable narrators and continues in screen and voiceover work.
He and his wife run a boutique accommodation side business in Brisbane while he maintains acting credits and industry projects.
In August 2025, Goldman, his wife, and their young son safely escaped a house fire in Bulimba, Brisbane.
The house suffered extensive damage, but they were physically unharmed.
He returned to the 2025 Big Brother reboot on Network 10.
Layla Subritzky
The 2012 runner‑up (who made a brief return in 2022) is now an Instagram‑first lifestyle creator based on the Gold Coast.
She posts fashion, beauty and fitness content and partners with brands across social platforms.
Layla remains connected to the Big Brother community and local influencer scene.
David “Farmer Dave” Graham
Hailing from Goondiwindi, the 2006 housemate (and 2022 returnee) is known for coming out on national TV and later building a career in youth work.
He runs the Rufftrack charity supporting young people and in 2024 donated his hair for cancer wigs while fundraising.
Farmer Dave continues advocacy and community projects alongside occasional media appearances.
He has also developed a large social media following.
Sonia Kruger
Born in Toowoomba, Sonia hosted Big Brother on Nine (2012–14) and again on Seven (2020–23), and remains a major TV presenter.
She currently fronts Dancing with the Stars and The Voice on Seven, with new projects flagged for 2025.
Sonia resides in Sydney following a high‑profile property purchase in Mosman.
She has also opened up on becoming a mum to Maggie McPherson after an IVF struggle with partner Craig McPherson.
“She smiles an awful lot at her daddy, and she smiles an awful lot at other people, but I feel like I have to perform to get her to smile; funny noises and funny faces,” Kruger said in 2015.
BIGGEST SCANDALS
‘Turkey slap’ incident
What happened:Two housemates were ejected after an alleged sexual assault on Camilla Severi during the live internet stream. Producers removed them within 24 hours and passed footage to Queensland Police; no charges followed.
Why it blew up: It ignited national outrage and political intervention.
Reaction: Camilla later said, “It was pretty scary” about the fallout and the attention that followed.
Then – Prime Minister John Howard urged Ten to “self‑regulate and get this stupid program off the air.”
Uncut/Adults Only censorship fights
What happened: Viewer complaints over sexual content on Big Brother: Uncut led to an ABA/ACMA probe and code breaches in 2005. In 2006 the show rebranded as Adults Only, but was pulled mid‑season amid political pressure.
Why it blew up: It tested the limits of broadcast standards and online streaming regulation.
Reaction: After investigating the 2006 stream‑only incident, regulators stated Big Brother was “cleared of breaching content laws” because the footage didn’t air on TV and wasn’t hosted as stored online content. ACMA/ABA actions and political pressure ultimately saw Adults Only axed.
Merlin Luck’s live “Free the refugees” protest
What happened: Evicted housemate Merlin staged a silent protest on live TV with tape over his mouth and a smuggled sign.
Why it blew up: It derailed the live eviction interview and thrust the government’s detention policy into prime‑time debate.
Reaction: In 2016 he admitted he went on the show just to make the statement.
“It was during the rise of reality television as a genre, so it was really about making a statement that putting 14 people in a mansion and plying them with alcohol isn’t reality,” he said.
2008 host switch backlash and cancellation
What happened:Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O replaced Gretel Killeen amid a revamp; ratings slumped to series lows and Ten axed the show after 2008.
Why it blew up: Fans and critics panned the tone shift, and the audience collapsed.
Reaction: Ten cited “audience erosion” as a key factor as the format struggled.
Tully Smyth–Drew Anthony affair
What happened: In 2013 Tully began an on‑screen romance with Drew while in a relationship outside the house; her partner, Tahlia Farrant, ended it publicly mid‑season.
Why it blew up: It became a tabloid‑fuelled morality play and social‑media pile‑on.
Reaction: Tahlia tweeted “#singlebabescomeatme” after Tully and Drew said “I love you” on camera, later calling their post‑show pairing “a sham” and saying, “after being on Big Brother you are a D‑list celebrity and you have to ride it … but when is it enough? It’s ridiculous.”
Lawson Reeves–Cat Law affair
What happened: Lawson’s 2014 on‑camera romance with Cat while he had a girlfriend outside the house dominated headlines; producers even toyed with bringing his girlfriend into the house.
Why it blew up: A near‑repeat of 2013’s scandal underscored criticism the show was courting personal damage for ratings.
“Mobbing” eviction of Gemma Kinghorn
What happened: A group‑vote eviction mechanic led to Gemma’s 2014 ousting in a way experts described as humiliating.
Why it blew up: It sparked an ethics debate about engineered bullying on reality TV.
Reaction: A bullying expert labelled the eviction “a form of violence.”
“I was numb. I could barely walk or breathe,” Gemma said in 2014.
2020 Seven’s format overhaul
What happened: The show returned pre‑recorded with competition‑style challenges; housemates nominated and voted to evict, with only the finale decided by the public.
Why it blew up: Long‑time fans argued the social‑experiment DNA was stripped out in favour of edited, strategy‑heavy reality.
Voting mistake
What happened: In 2004, jaws collectively dropped around the country and inside the Big Brother compound when host Gretel Killeen appeared via satellite to tell the contestants there’d been a huge mistake.
“Last night, there was an error with the voting calculations. This means that the wrong person was evicted,” she told the shocked housemates, as Bree Amer — head still spinning from her whirlwind eviction — was shunted back into the Dreamworld property.
Why it blew up: Serious questions were asked about how such a mistake could be made given the prizemoney on the line.
Reaction: In 2018 Amer described her shock at being hauled back into lockdown after an “entire eviction show”.
“They gave me a car, some phones, Gretel did the interview, and I got to see all the fabulous and embarrassing things I’d done,” she told Tim Dormer’s Popcast podcast.
Big Brother VIP casting storm
What happened: Seven’s celebrity edition in 2021 featured polarising names including Caitlyn Jenner, Omarosa, and Thomas Markle Jr, prompting criticism the franchise had become a stunt vehicle.
Why it blew up: Headlines focused on notoriety over the format’s core.
“House of Love” ratings crisis
What happened: Promoted with a dating‑show sheen and “sexy singles,” the 2023 season recorded the franchise’s lowest premiere and prompted a timeslot move; Seven then scrapped a 2024 season.
Why it blew up: Viewers rejected the Love Island‑style pivot as off‑brand.
Reaction: Two‑time winner Trevor Butler called it “a mistake” to make it the “House of Love,” blasting the focus on “pretty people” and “artificial drama.”
Originally published as Qld’s Big Brother contestants through the years: Where are they now?
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