As you read this Big Brother will be watching - sorry listening.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In what has been billed as “reality radio” five Dubbo residents will brave the weather and put themselves on show to the public for five days, emulating the hit show.
The contestants will enter a scissor-lift located at the front of the Dubbo City Centre at half-hour intervals from 6am this morning.
The people of Dubbo have been invited to call a number to vote out the person they least want in the lift, according to Star FM presenter Liam Renton.
Every morning a contestant will be evicted until one remains on Friday.
The lucky winner will take home a prize package which includes a seven-night holiday to the Gold Coast with tickets to the Big Brother eviction party.
The contestants were chosen after an interview process which canvassed the many people who called the radio station to enter the competition.
“We were looking for a variety of ages, personality types and to cover most aspects of people in Dubbo,” Liam said.
Included among the five is “Rambo” Ronnie Gibbs, who is better known for his feats on the football field than for braving the public eye. On Friday a confident Gibbs, who entered at the urgings of his children despite never having watched Big Brother, said he expected the contest to be much easier than a game of rugby league.
At 17 years of age Tracey Bonham, a student at Dubbo South High School, will be the youngest contestant and the only female.
While she has been dubbed as Dubbo’s Sarah Marie, Tracey said there would definitely be no ‘bum dances’ on her part.
“But everyone’s been asking me about that,” she said with a laugh.
Even before the contest began it achieved a cult following.
Last Friday after the contestants were announced Star FM was inundated with calls asking for information on the Big Brother Finale, Liam said. The contestants also began garnering support - none more visible than Nigel Smith who has a “save Nige” sign adorning the back windscreen of his car. The contestants said they entered for a variety of reasons including “the challenge” and “the prize”.
However for Dave Petty, a local sign writing business proprietor, the reason was more selfish.
“Promotion of my business and band ,” he said. Star FM will be crossing to Dubbo City Centre for live updates throughout the week, while listeners will entertained by a variety of challenges organised for the participants.