Australia’s Most Likeable Broadcast Personality, Mel Tracina, is bringing Big Brother back to its live eviction glory, channeling the spontaneous energy and nostalgic moments that made fans fall in love with the show. Armed with reality TV expertise from The Cheap Seats, she tell us she is ready for anything!

Congratulations on being voted Most Likeable Broadcast Personality in the Australian Talent Index. Has life changed since that was announced?

I mean, massively! I’m getting stopped in the street and roses thrown at me! It’s been a life-changing moment for me.

When you were first approached to take on the hosting gig for Big Brother what did you think?

I just thought, straight away, about how much I love the show and how nostalgic it would be to be part of it, seeing as I grew up watching it. That was pretty much the first thing that came to mind, and how much fun it would be to be a part of it.

We’re excited to have the show returning to its original glory with live noms and live evictions – but is that also a lot more pressure for you?

I mean, there’s always that adrenaline and that nervous energy about going live, just because you don’t have the safety of an edit. But I think that’s what makes it so interesting, and that’s why we loved it in the first place. Just watching, and that adrenaline you feel, even as a viewer, you feel at home on your couch, not knowing where something’s going to go. That possibility of something going a bit off script, I think it’s exciting! Nerve-racking… and exciting!

Does the unpredictability of the live evictions make you feel nervous, or do you thrive on that sort of energy?

I think everyone thrives on it, right? It’s that idea of not knowing what’s going to be thrown your way that is what’s so amazing about Big Brother and the housemates. You don’t know what they’re going to do. I mean, no one saw Merlin preparing to come out with tape on his mouth, but it happened, and it was a moment, and everyone was in that moment watching it unfold. I think that’s what makes it so special, knowing that literally anything could happen.

Have you been doing any prep or planning in the lead-up to the premiere?

I’ve had so many people talk to me about their favourite Big Brother moments and housemates, which has been really cool. I’ve been trying to watch some of the UK version and a little bit of the American version. Big Brother Australia has also been uploading previous seasons onto their YouTube channel, so I’ve been watching that, and it’s been fun stepping back into that nostalgia.

Have people been reaching out with tips and advice?

A lot of the tips and advice have just been to enjoy it and have fun. It’s been really great whenever I’ve bumped into previous housemates; they all just say how much they loved the experience and the show. They’re excited to see new seasons and new housemates as well.

You watch a lot of Reality TV for your role on The Cheap Seats, do you think that made you well-equipped for the hosting gig?

I’d like to think that it has! We’ll all find out on November 9, but I’d like to think so. I’m probably a little bit too well-versed in reality TV.

Have you always been a big Reality TV fan, or did joining The Cheap Seats force you into watching more?

I mean, I grew up in the noughties when reality TV was in its prime. I did spend a lot of time watching it. Becoming part of the Cheap Seats, I then started watching different formats of reality shows I never thought I would watch, and found myself loving them.

Can you give us any intel on new rooms/features of the new house?

Ohh, the house! They’ve been doing TikTok livestreams of the build, and also on socials, being able to choose colours and different things for parts of the house. Physically, I’ll be stepping into the house during the week, which I’m excited about. I haven’t quite gotten in there, yet.

And what CAN you tell us about the cast?

It’s secret squirrel business, but I’ve been kept in the loop. Big Brother – if you ever watched previous seasons – is people stepping into the house that you don’t know and, by the end of it, they’re household names and they’re people that you love and are obsessed with and maybe using some of their sayings in your own everyday vocab.

This year, the housemates are a range of Australians, a cross-section of Aussies. It’s basically like people I don’t even think you’d see on a train carriage together living in a house, which I think is so exciting. It’ll be diverse and it’ll open itself up to different conversations that we’ll get to eavesdrop on and see how they get tested in their own ways with the tasks and challenges that Big Brother hands them.

Who would be your dream housemate?

I’d want them to be someone who stirs the pot in a way that’s enjoyable for us to watch, even though the housemates might find them annoying. I mean, I love someone who can bring the humour and with that just a little bit of pot stirring, just a little bit!

Did you ever want to be a housemate?

No! I never had the desire to be a housemate, and I think it’s because I knew I’d be really annoying. You know when people are like, ‘Yeah, I could win Big Brother!’ No, I’d definitely be first eliminated. I think I’m annoying! Living with me would just be taxing…