Channel 7 to resurrect X-rated Big Brother spin-off show 17 years after controversial program was ax

CONTROVERSIAL X-rated program Big Brother Uncut is returning to Australian screens after a 17-year hiatus.

The Australian show was scrapped in 2006 following complaints it was too raunchy for commercial television.

Occasionally referred to as "Big Brothel" in the press, the series was rebranded Big Brother Adults Only for its final season, which was cancelled early due to continuing controversy.

Big Brother Uncut, originally slated to return to screens next month, will form part of Channel Seven's 2024 programming line-up along with a new season of Big Brother.

Sonia Kruger will again host the show, which will be available to stream on digital platform 7plus sometime next year, Seven announced on Wednesday.

Much of the fury surrounding Uncut, when it aired late at night between 2001 and 2006 on Channel Ten, related to concerns it went beyond what was suitable for Australian commercial television.

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It featured explicit content ranging from a song about sexual fetishes to housemates appearing to have sex in a sauna.

Housemates were broadcast showering in the nude, enjoying a "bondage" party where a dominatrix displayed some of her sexual festishes, and getting intimate with each other.

Network Ten pulled the series in June 2006, stating it was "putting unfair pressure on our team".

Just a few weeks later, two male housemates were removed from the Big Brother house for allegedly sexually assaulting a female housemate.

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She later declined to press charges.

Backlash to the series became so significant people as high-profile as then-prime minister John Howard had something to say about it.

He demanded at the time: "Here's a great opportunity for Channel Ten to do a bit of self-regulation and get this stupid program off the air."

Big Brother aired for another two years on Channel Ten before taking a four-year break then returning on Channel Nine for two seasons.

Channel Seven has aired the program since 2020.

The network is also set to premiere new reality show Made in Bondi, a show based on popular UK series Made in Chelsea, next year.

Old favourites including Farmer Wants A Wife, The Voice, Dancing With The Stars, Australian Idol, My Kitchen Rules, and SAS Australia will also return.

It comes after Big Brother Australia revealed it will feature "hot sexy singles" in a major shake-up which should make for the "spiciest season yet".

A first-look promotional video released this month showed fans what they could expect from the fresh batch of contestants.

The change will see 15 gorgeous housemates not just compete for the $100,000 prize, as they have done in previous seasons, but also for love.

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