The new season of Big Brother Australia is well and truly underway, and fans are nostalgic over the return of some familiar faces, including season three winner Reggie Bird, 2004 winner Trevor Butler, and more – as well as a slew of new contestants.
And while the past few seasons have seen some casual hookups, they’re nothing compared to the OG Big Brother romances.
Dancing Doonas ran amok, genuine connections were formed and how could we go past the drama of flings that started in less than ideal scenarios (seriously, how many of these people hooked up despite already being in relationships?)
WATCH: Big Brother Back To The Future – Tully and Drew.
From the original love affair of Pete and Christina to Tully and Drew, who made headlines for all the wrong reasons, take a look back at Big Brother Australia’s most iconic romances – and see what they’re up to now.
This story was originally featured on our sister site, New Idea.
Big Brother
PETE AND CHRISTINA: THEN
Pete Timbs and Christina “Ballerina” Davis were the OG housemate couple from season one who were responsible for introducing the term “dancing doona” into Australian vernacular after their late-night antics.
Big Brother
PETE AND CHRISTINA: NOW
Sadly, the formerly loved-up duo called it quits shortly after the show but they continued to shine on their own. Christina went on to enjoy a career in stand-up comedy while Pete worked in media and now lives in Byron Bay with his wife Camilla, where he runs a café.
Speaking on Channel Seven’s The Morning Show in June last year, the 48-year-old revealed he keeps in touch with co-stars Blair McDonough, Ben Williams, Johnnie Cass and Jemma Gawned – but made no mention of his ex, Christina.
Big Brother
JESS AND MARTY: THEN
Nathan “Marty” Martin may have had a girlfriend on the outside, but that didn’t stop the farm boy from falling madly in love with city girl Jess Hardy in season two. Their love looked set to last well away from the Dreamworld compound and the pair even had their own spin-off show in 2004, Marty & Jess: An Outback Wedding, where cameras rolled as they tied the knot.
Big Brother
JESS AND MARTY: NOW
Marty and Jess’s fairytale romance came crashing down when they divorced 15 months after their well-publicised wedding. Marty went on to remarry, and now has three children with his second wife Lexi.
Still single, Jess went on to focus on her career studying law and became a radio host. And as the 2020 reboot of Big Brother kicked off, Jess reflected on her and Marty’s relationship during an interview with Triple M’s Moonman in the Morning.
Speaking of her decision to become intimate with Marty on national TV, she remarked, “I’m not an exhibitionist, but you do kind of forget [about the cameras] and you like the intimacy, you feel like you’ve got an ally, you get a little cosy and before too long it’s the dancing doona all over again.”
Big Brother
JAMIE AND KATIE: THEN
In 2006 headband-wearing Jamie Brooksby and loud and proud virgin Katie Hastings became season six’s golden couple. The pair even went as far as staging a mock wedding while in the house before Katie was booted and Jamie went on to win the $426,000 prize money.
Big Brother
JAMIE AND KATIE: NOW
Speaking to TV WEEK, Jamie blamed himself for the split with Katie shortly after the whirlwind of fame following the show and admitted he hasn’t kept in touch.
“We haven’t spoken since shortly after we parted ways but I have no ill feelings whatsoever,” he said.
“I hope she’s living her best life. We shared something pretty surreal and memorable. It was an unforgettable experience that changed our lives.”
Big Brother
TRAVIS AND AISHA: THEN
Also kicking off their romance in the Big Brother house, Travis Lunardi and Aisha McKinnon were the genetically blessed pair to fall for each other in season 11, which aired in 2014. While Aisha was evicted on day 58, Travis made it all the way to the end and was runner-up behind winner Ryan Ginns.
Big Brother
TRAVIS AND AISHA: NOW
Despite the naysayers who thought they wouldn’t last beyond Big Brother’s walls, Travis and Aisha went on to date for another 18 months before eventually splitting. These days, Aisha has a healthy number of Instagram followers (327k to be exact) and is the founder of label BOYBYHER.
Meanwhile, Travis is living in Melbourne and working as a dive instructor. He recently went back to his reality TV roots in a celebrity showdown boxing match – and was up against the likes of The Bachelorette’s Ciarran Stott and Paddy Colliar as well as Love Island’s Eden Dally.
Big Brother
JAKE AND LISA: THEN
Sparks flew in the Big Brother house in season 11 for Jake Rich, who initially was interested in both Skye Wheatley and Lisa Clark, before he eventually struck up an in-house relationship with the latter
The couple confirmed they were in a relationship back in July 2015. “It’s official, we’re seeing each other. It’s good. It’s great,” Jake previously told the Daily Mail.
Big Brother
JAKE AND LISA: NOW
The pair went on to appear loved-up at a slew of red carpet events in 2015 following their stint on the show, but the relationship seems to have fizzled out shortly after.
Lisa would go on to find her happily ever after as she announced her engagement in April this year, while Jake looks to have moved on to a new relationship.
Big Brother
TULLY AND DREW: THEN
As one of the most controversial couples in Big Brother history, season 10’s Tully Smyth and Anthony Drew (know simply as “Drew”) hooked up despite Tully having a girlfriend on the outside. The scandal rocked the nation as Tully became one of the most hated women in Australia in 2013 thanks to her affair.
Big Brother
TULLY AND DREW: NOW
Like those who came before them, Tully and Drew didn’t last the distance. But plot twist: Tully and her ex-girlfriend Tahlia Farrant salvaged their broken relationship to become best friends.
Last year, Tahlia broke her silence about the betrayal. Spilling her side on Georgia Love’s podcast Everyone has an Ex, Tahlia revealed she ultimately opted to forgive Tully and leave behind the pain. Over the years, Tully has been linked to high-profile men such as Richie Strahan and Ciarran Stott.
Meanwhile, Drew has since moved on and in 2018 briefly dated Leah Costa from Matty J’s season of The Bachelor. The fling ended with a tearful Instagram video rant from Leah when he dumped her after she faked an engagement to him.
Big Brother
CAT AND LAWSON: THEN
On par with Tully and Drew in the level of controversy was season 11’s Cat Law and Lawson Reeves, whose relationship also started with infidelity.
Magician Lawson had been dating his girlfriend Candice Leeder for five years before entering the house, but decided to embark on a romance with midwife Cat anyway – much to the disgust of some of his fellow housemates.
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CAT AND LAWSON: NOW
Despite the scandalous start, Cat and Lawson continued to date after being evicted from the house – and remained committed for another four-and-a-half years but revealed their break-up in 2019.
“It was a relationship that wasn’t for TV or for ratings or for getting us further in the game,” Cat previously told Mamamia.
“It was something that developed unexpectedly and that’s why the relationship lasted outside the house as well, because there were genuine feelings there.”
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