Big Brother finale smashes ratings with 146 per cent surge for Channel Ten

Big Brother’s latest reboot has been hailed a success as record ratings are matched with claims the series has returned to its true home.

• Big Brother scandals over the years

Big Brother is back with a bang, with the show’s live grand final surging 146 per cent on last year’s TV ratings.

In the highest rating final since 2021, Monday night’s episode also set a new record for Channel Ten’s most-watched live-streamed episode.

The season also became 10’s biggest reality series since 2023, drawing more than 730 million streaming minutes and generating a massive 161 million social media views across all platforms.

According to VOZ data, Monday’s live grand finale attracted more than 1.105 million viewers nationwide.

NSW single mum Coco, 30, emerged victorious as the winner of Big Brother Australia, picking up a $135,000 cash prize for her efforts.

Ppresenter Mike Goldman claimed the Sunshine State has once again proven why the franchise belongs here. Picture: Nigel Hallett

With the show returning to Queensland’s Dreamworld, presenter Mike Goldman claimed the Sunshine State has once again proven why the franchise belongs here.

Speaking to The Courier-Mail moments after stepping off stage, the veteran announcer recalled how he had been “running around like a maniac before the show, corralling all those crazy fans, all the friends and family of the housemates, pumping up the crowd, giving away prizes.”

He said the emotion inside the arena packed with hundreds of fans was unlike anything the show had seen in years.

“They feel like these people inside the Big Brother house are their family because they’ve been watching them 24/7,” he said.

Big Brother host Mel Tracina on finale night. Picture: Photography By Brobes

That passion has fed extraordinary online engagement.

“Millions of people all over the world watched this… I can’t believe the social media feed is like 50 or 60 million views, like only in the last 20 days… it’s been nuts,” he said.

When asked whether Queensland’s live-show success has reshaped the franchise, Goldman didn’t hesitate.

“It’s brilliant for Queensland because there’s about 250 people who work on this show, maybe more,” he said.

Mike Goldman spotted in the crowd for the Big Brother season finale. Picture: Photography By Brobes

“And they’ve all got jobs for at least three months to make this show happen.”

He said Dreamworld is “pumping like it hasn’t pumped in such a long time”, proudly adding that Queensland is showing Australia “how a show should be done.”

The production support has impressed him too.

“Screen Queensland do a brilliant job… we should have a plaque on the side saying thank you to Screen Queensland and the people of Queensland for getting behind this freaking awesome show,” he said.

The question now is whether Big Brother will return.

“I hope so. I think so… it’s just been incredibly successful,” Goldman said.

As for next year, he is clear on what he wants to see.

“Funny people, entertaining people, people who have different opinions… finding the middle ground… I think we need to see way more of that in society,” he said.

Then came the closing line that sums up the entire night. “That, ladies and gentlemen, is why Big Brother is the most important show on the planet.”

Originally published as Big Brother finale smashes ratings with 146 per cent surge for Channel Ten