Big Brother host Sonia Kruger addresses the COVID-19 scare on set

There was a coronavirus scare on the set of Big Brother last month, when production was forced to shut down for at least two days.  

And on Friday, host Sonia Kruger addressed the incident when she appeared on The Morning Show.

She was asked by co-hosts Ryan Phelan and Kylie Gillies if the shut down was because a cast member was exposed to COVID-19.

Sonia clarified: ‘One of our crew members had a brush with coronavirus and it actually shut down production for a couple of days before we got the all-clear.’

During her TV appearance, the blonde bombshell also addressed some speculation about the new series. 

When asked if a former housemate from a previous season will appear, she said the rumour was ‘totally fake.’

‘I did hear that rumour, and thought it was interesting, but it’s an all-new cast,’ she said.

She also confirmed that the new cast will also include a housemate aged in their 60s.

The former Voice host said that it would be a diverse group of people from ages 19 to 61, with the average age being over 30. 

When asked if The Morning Show host Larry Emdur was voicing Big Brother, Sonia laughed it off and called the speculation ‘fake news put out by Larry Emdur.’

‘We actually haven’t revealed the voice of Big Brother – but we’re doing that this Sunday in a special sneak peek on Seven, and on our social media channels,’ she said added.

Sonia also revealed that the Australian public will get a chance to vote for the winner. 

How the voting process will work, given that the show has already been filmed, is not yet known, but she did say the winner will go home with a big cash prize that is yet to be revealed. 

Back in March, TV Blackbox reported that production had shut down for at least two days in Sydney, while a crew member was tested for coronavirus. 

A spokesperson from Endemol Shine Australia clarified at the time to the publication, that the staffer was ‘exposed to someone who tested positive’ but was ‘showing no symptoms’ themselves.

They added in the statement that the site was in ‘lockdown’ as a ‘precaution,’ and that the health and safety of cast and crew was of upmost in importance. 

According to TV Blackbox, production was accelerated after the COVID-19 scare had caused the set to be shut down for 48 hours.

Production company Endemol Shine Australia then sped up the filming process so they wouldn’t have to halt shooting again.  

Meanwhile on Friday, Channel Seven released a cryptic teaser trailer that sent fans into a frenzy.

In a new teaser trailer, flashes of neon lights are interspersed with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it glimpses of the new Big Brother compound being monitored by high-tech cameras.  

It ends with a message to viewers: ‘Keep watching’.

While the cryptic video did not reveal much, it whetted the appetite of fans, who rushed to respond that they couldn’t wait for the new season.

‘I’m so ready!’ wrote one eager fan on Twitter.

Another added: ‘The perfect escape from isolation… watching people in isolation!’ 

Channel Seven is yet to announce an airdate for Big Brother.