Corus Entertainment, parent company of Global News, announced the reality competition series will no longer air. The show’s 12th season, which aired on Global TV, came to a close last month.
Story continues below advertisement
“The series has been a leader in the reality TV space, always prioritizing the rich diversity of Canada in front of and behind the camera, and Corus is extremely proud of its unprecedented success across our platforms over the last 12 seasons,” a memo from Global and Corus reads.
In the statement, Corus said it considered many factors in the decision, including “audience trends, available support from sponsors and advertisers, and production and licensing costs.”
Big Brother Canada was one of several international spinoffs of the original Dutch show and featured contestants, known as “houseguests,” living together for weeks at a time and cut off from access to the outside world.
Big Brother Canada: Anthony explains losing for the second time
Contestants’ mental, physical and emotional strength were put to the test in weekly competitions, where they would battle each other for prizes and the coveted “Head of Household” and “Power of Veto” awards. The final houseguest remaining at the end of the season would walk away with a large cash prize.
“Today as we say goodbye to the beloved series, we celebrate the great success and impact Big Brother Canada has had in our country and in the Canadian media landscape for over a decade,” Troy Reeb, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Corus Entertainment said in a statement. “Global will always be proud to have been home to Big Brother Canada for 12 seasons.”
On Instagram, the official Big Brother Canada account shared the news, calling the cancellation “the end of an era.”
“Season after season, each group of Houseguests delivered their own unique dynamic and iconic moments that we will never forget,” they wrote. “But most of all, we are so thankful to have been able to go on this journey with you, the incredible Big Brother Canada fans.”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
If you’re a BB superfan, you may want to know how to watch Big Brother Canada in the US to see the version that’s considered one of the best Big Brother shows in the world. Plus, season 12 just started, so there’s plenty of drama to catch up on.
Big Brother Canada, a spinoff of the Dutch reality TV series Big Brother, premiered in 2013 on the Canadian network Slice before it moved to Global TV in season three. The show follows the same format as other versions of Big Brother, where around 15 contestants live in a house together with no communication with the outside world as they compete for a cash prize. On Big Brother Canada, that prize is $200,000 Canadian Dollars. While in the house, the contestants—who are called “Houseguests”—are filmed 24/7. Viewers used to be able to watch the contestants on live feeds, but in February 2024, it was announced that live feeds would not be returning for season 12. “Digital Dailies,” which launched in season 11, are back this season. Fans can see uncut footage from the house on a weekly basis. These videos are available to watch on the show’s website. The contestants compete in challenges for power and safety as they vote out each other one by one until two Houseguests remain. The eliminated Houseguests, who form a jury, vote between the two finalists for the winner of that Big Brother season.
In an interview with Mike’s Bloggity Blog in 2013, Big Brother Canada host Arisa Cox revealed what the show often looks for in contestants they want to cast. “We saw such diverse personalities in the house, I don’t think you should try to be like anyone else. Just be yourself. I spoke with the casting director who does a lot of the U.S shows and she said it was so refreshing that in Canada not everyone is trying to be an actor,” she said. “Our people have actual jobs and just love the game. So I think they want to see people more like that, a dentist, a firefighter. I think that’s what they want.
Season 12 of Big Brother Canada kicked off on March 5, 2024 and features 14 Houseguests. Twelve are brand-new to the show, while the remaining two have appeared on the show before. This pair of “all-stars” are sure spice things up in the house. Plus, you’ll notice the house just got an upgrade!
So how can Americans watch Big Brother Canada in the US? Read on for how to stream Big Brother Canada season 12 in the United States to see which Canadian Houseguest wins the C$200,000 prize.
Global TV.
When does Big Brother Canada air?
Big Brother Canada season 12 airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. EP/MT (9 a.m. ET), Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. EP/8MT (10 a.m. ET), and Sundays at 9 p.m. EP/10MT (8 a.m. ET) on Global and GlobalTV.com. Past episodes are available to stream for free on GlobalTV.com and BigBrotherCanada.ca. The Big Brother Canada live feed is also available to stream for free on BigBrotherCanada.ca.
How to watch Big Brother Canada in the US
How can Americans watch Big Brother Canada in the US? Big Brother Canada airs on Global and GlobalTV.com. To watch the show in the US, however, Americans will need a VPN (virtual private network), a service that allows users to set their computer’s location to another country and access websites that would otherwise be restricted by location. The most popular VPNs are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, AtlasVPN, and PureVPN, all of which offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Keep on reading ahead to find out how to sign up for them to watchBig Brother Canadain the US.
Watch Big Brother Canada in the US with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN services, and the one we recommend above all others for a simple reason. The service—which allows users to set their location to more than 160 locations in 90 countries with unlimited bandwidth—offers a 30-day-money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN also has a current deal where users can subscribe for $6.67 per month with three months free for 12 months. Without any deals, ExpressVPN costs $12.95 per month for its monthly plan and $9.99 per month for its six-month plan. Each plan includes a 30-day-money-back guarantee.
Express VPN—which takes about five minutes to set up—also promises lightning-quick connectivity, 24-hour live-chat support and allows users to connect to any device, from computers to phones to tablets. Of course, users can do more than watch international events and shows in the US with a VPN. VPNs also allow users to access international versions of Netflix, Disney Plus and HBO Max (which have different content than in the US) as well as stream international services like Hayu, which has access to programs like the Real Housewives, Below Deck, The Bachelor and hundreds of other reality TV shows.
Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Big BrotherCanada in the US with ExpressVPN.
Log into your ExpressVPN account and click “Download” on the “Dashboard” or in “Set Up Your Devices”
Once you’ve installed ExpressVPN, enter the “Activation Code” from the “Dashboard” or in “Set Up Your Devices”
Once ExpressVPN is set up, change your location to “Canada” by clicking the connect icon to read “Connected” and selecting the country in the “Smart Location” menu
To watch Big Brother Canada episodes for free, visit BigBrotherCanada.ca and click “Full Episodes” or visit GlobalTV.com and click “Shows” and “Big Brother Canada.”
To watch Big Brother Canada live, visit GlobalTV.com and click “Sign in” and log in with your TV provider.
Watch Big Brother Canada in the US with AtlasVPN
AtlasVPN—which offers a 30-day-money-back guarantee—costs $11.99 per month for a monthly plan, $3.29 per month for a yearly plan, and $1.64 per month for a two-year plan with an extra six months free. AtlasVPN offers more than 1,000 high-speed VPN servers, unlimited devices, 24/7 support, WireGuard protocol and passwordless login. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Big Brother Canada in the US with AtlasVPN.
Once finished, click “Go Premium” which will direct you to the downloads page
Click “Get Atlas” for the platform of your choice
Click “Download Now”
Locate the file on your computer and follow the prompts to install AtlasVPN
Click “Connect”
Once AtlasVPN is set up, change your location to “Canada”
To watch Big Brother Canada episodes for free, visit BigBrotherCanada.ca and click “Full Episodes” or visit GlobalTV.com and click “Shows” and “Big Brother Canada.”
To watch Big Brother Canada live, visit GlobalTV.com and click “Sign in” and log in with your TV provider.
Watch Big Brother Canada in the US with NordVPN
NordVPN is another popular VPN service recommended by YouTubers like PewDiePie, Casey Neistat and Philip DeFranco. The service—which offers a 30-day-money-back guarantee—costs $12.99 per month for a Standard monthly plan; $4.49 per month for a Standard one-year plan, with three extra months free; and $2.99 per month for a Standard two-year plan with three extra months free. Along with access to more than 59 countries, NordVPN also allows users to connect to multiple devices (from computers to phones to tablets) and offers 24-hour live-chat support. Read on for step-by-step instructions for how to watch Big Brother Canada in the US with NordVPN.
Log into your NordVPN account and click “Downloads” on the left-side menu
Once you’ve installed NordVPN, log into your account
Once NordVPN is set up, change your location to Canada by clicking “Quick Connect” or searching the country in the menu.
To watch Big Brother Canada episodes for free, visit BigBrotherCanada.ca and click “Full Episodes” or visit GlobalTV.com and click “Shows” and “Big Brother Canada.”
To watch Big Brother Canada live, visit GlobalTV.com and click “Sign in” and log in with your TV provider.
Watch Big Brother Canada in the US with PureVPN
Another popular VPN service is PureVPN, which offers a 31-day-money-back guarantee. PureVPN’s Max plans cost $20.45 per month for a monthly plan, $4.96 per month with three extra months free for a one-year plan, and $3.44 per month with three months free for a two-year plan. Pure VPN offers more than 6,5000 servers in over 78 countries across the world, as well as 24-hour live-chat support. Read on for step-by-step instructions for how to watch Big Brother Canada in the US with PureVPN.
Once you’ve created your account, scroll to the bottom of PureVPN’s homepage and select the VPN that fits your device: Windows, MAC, IOS, etc.
Click “Download the app”
Once you’ve installed PureVPN, log into your account
Once PureVPN is set up, change your location to Canada by searching for the country in the right bar
To watch Big Brother Canada episodes for free, visit BigBrotherCanada.ca and click “Full Episodes” or visit GlobalTV.com and click “Shows” and “Big Brother Canada.”
To watch Big Brother Canada live, visit GlobalTV.com and click “Sign in” and log in with your TV provider.
Global TV.
Who’s in the Big Brother Canada cast?
Here’s a full list of the Big Brother Canada season 12 cast:
Anthony Douglas (from Big Brother Canada season 7) – 36, energy compliance supervisor, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Avery Martin – 26, videographer, Selkirk, Manitoba
Balyeigh Pelham – 34, bartender, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Lexus Jackson – 24, dental hygienist, Toronto, Ontario
Matthew Wong – 27, kinesiologist, Surrey, British Columbia
Todd Clements – 31, general contractor, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Tola Eam – 40, fiber optic technician, Ottawa, Ontario
Victoria Woghiren (from Big Brother Canada season 9) – 30, social worker, Hamilton, Ontario
Vivek Sabbarwal – 25, software developer, Saint John, New Brunswick
Global TV.
Who is the Big Brother Canada host?
Arisa Cox hosts Big Brother Canada and has done so since the start of the show in 2013. She has also been an executive producter of the show since season 9. While the Canadian television and radio personality is most known for her time on Big Brother Canada, she has additionally acted in a handful of television shows and movies and has been a creative producer, entertainment, and weather reporter for multiple television stations in Canada.
Casting for the 12th season of Big Brother Canada is underway and now’s your chance to apply.
Interested Canadians are encouraged to apply online for a chance to become a Big Brother Canada houseguest and battle it out in the new season, which returns to Global in Spring 2024.
Fans can also nominate friends on social media by tagging @bigbrotherca and using #FutureHOH for a chance to get noticed by the casting team.
Story continues below advertisement
Competing for a grand cash prize, each week the houseguests battle in a series of gruelling challenges, voting each other out of the house until the fate of the final two is decided by a jury of fellow houseguests.
Season 10 winner Kevin Jacobs told Global News that authenticity means a lot when applying to be a houseguest — he says the casting team is quick to suss out anyone who’s trying to be someone they’re not.
“You have to be who you are because they’re going to find out if you’re pretending to be some big villain and you’re not, or you’re pretending to be some hero when you’re not. They’ll know who you are. They’ll cut through it. So you have to know who you are and maintain that the entire time,” he said.
Jacobs also said that interested applicants should not be afraid to have fun during the casting process.
Story continues below advertisement
“This is fun. You’re applying to a show, it’s not a job interview. Enjoy it. Lean into that and that’ll be contagious on your video.”
The casting announcement comes after an explosive 11th season of the reality sensation, which can be streamed with the Global TV App and STACKTV. Ahead of Season 12, fans can also tune into Season 25 of Big Brother, currently airing three nights a week on Global and STACKTV.
Apply in three simple steps:
1. Record a short video of yourself explaining why you have what it takes to be one of the next houseguests on Big Brother Canada 2. Visit the official casting site at BigBrotherCanada.ca 3. Upload a photo of yourself, along with your video and some basic information
To qualify, houseguest hopefuls must be 19 years of age by February 1, 2024 and submit their applications by November 15, 2023. For more information, including a full list of rules and eligibility, head to BigBrotherCanada.ca.
—
‘Big Brother Canada,’ Global TV and Global News are all properties of Corus Entertainment.
SPOILER ALERT: If you still haven’t watched tonight’s episode of “Big Brother Canada” on Global, you are forewarned that spoilers lie ahead.
The clock is ticking down to the “Big Brother Canada” season finale on Thursday, May 11, and Wednesday night’s episode proved to be a nail-biter.
In the penultimate episode, it all came down to to the showmance versus the remaining “Crown” member.
During the most imporant Power of Veto competition of the season, PEI’s Claudia Campbell won the POV and took herself off the block. As a result, this forced Anika to become the replacement nominee — pitting against her ally, Toronto’s Daniel Clarke.
As the sole voter, Claudia decided to evict Anika, making her the season’s eighth jury member and the 10th houseguest voted off of the 11th season of “Big Brother Canada”.
Big Brother Canada Season 11
“To be very honest, when I walked through those doors I was not expecting much,” Anika told host Arisa Cox in her exit interview.
“I really only wanted to survive the first couple weeks, but very soon I found out that I was stronger than I thought I was,” she added. “I could set my emotions aside and make game decisions, create alliances, and I’m very proud of the game that I played.”
This leaves Claudia, Daniel and Toronto’s Terrell “Ty” McDonald as the final three, competing for the win in an epic three-part HOH competition that will take place in Thursday night’s two-hour season finale.
Big Brother Canada Season 11
The winner of the 11th season of “Big Brother Canada” will be revealed on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global, with the victor taking home the grand prize of $100,000 cash, $10,000 towards a brand-new wardrobe — courtesy of Winners — and $10,000 worth of Shark and Ninja products.
Voting for Canada’s Favourite Houseguest continues on bigbrothercanada.ca, with the winner of the fan vote receiving a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Winners, to be announced at the end of the season finale.
Watch Global’s ‘The Morning Show” Thursday morning at 9:35 a.m. ET to catch Anika’s first broadcast interview, in addition to ET Canada at 7:30 p.m. ET on Global.
No houseguest was safe in tonight’s dreaded double eviction on “Big Brother Canada”.
As alliances begin to crumble and tensions continue to rise, viewers weren’t sure who’d be safe and who was headed to jury when host Arisa Cox shocked the houseguests with an unexpected double eviction.
Ultimately, Victoria’s Queen Kuzivakwashe “Kuzie” Mujakachi and Shanaya “Naynay” Carter were dethroned and sent packing from the “Big Brother Canada” Manor.
Kuzie and Anika await first eviction, “Big Brother Canada” Season 11
— Photo credit: Global TV
Queen Kuzie became the night’s first evictee and the sixth jury member when her fellow houseguests united to eliminate a strong player.
Earlier this week, Renee Mior, from Vaughan, Ontario, rose to first-time competition winner at an integral time in the game as she became the new Head of Household. When her appointed nominee, Terrell “Ty” McDonald, secured his third POV win of the season and took himself off the block, Mior decided to make a resume move and named the replacement nominee- Queen Kuzie. Though Kuzie campaigned hard, the numbers were stacked against her and she was evicted by a vote of 3 to 1.
Ty wins the Power of Veto, “Big Brother Canada” Season 11
— Photo credit: Global TV
“I told myself I fear no one in this house,” said Kuzie. “I came alone, I came to prove a point, and I hope that everyone who is watching me has seen the great in me rather than the bad.”
Kuzivakwashe “Kuzie” Mujakachi exits the BBCAN Manor, “Big Brother Canada” Season 11
— Photo credit: Global TV
Immediately after Kuzie’s departure, the remaining houseguests feared their fate after Cox announced the unexpected double eviction.
Shanaya’s fate was then revealed, making her the seventh houseguest to join the jury house.
She was tearfully chosen as a replacement nominee by Claudia Campbell, who was forced to nominate one of her fellow “Girlie Pops” alliance members for eviction after the reigning “Smashpots” Veto champ, Ty, smashed his way to victory. Ty used the Power of Veto to save Anika Mysha, whom Claudia had initially nominated in addition to him.
Ty wins the “Smashpots” Veto competition, “Big Brother Canada” Season 11
— Photo credit: Global TV Ty uses the Power of Veto to save Anika, “Big Brother Canada” Season 11
— Photo credit: Global TV
With only three voters left in the house, the numbers weren’t in the “Girlie Pops’” favour, as their ally Shanaya received a 2 to 1 vote, sending her to jury.
“Anything can happen in this house,” said Shanaya. “But I’m truly heartbroken for her [Claudia] and for me.”
Shanaya “Naynay” Carter exits the BBCAN Manor, “Big Brother Canada” Season 11
— Photo credit: Global TV
See who becomes the new Head of Household when “Big Brother Canada” returns Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Global or STACKTV. Fans can also stream season 11 live and on demand with STACKTV or theGlobal TV App.
“Big Brother Canada” season 11 airs three nights a week featuring new episodes every Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET/PT (Head of Household), Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT (Power of Veto) and Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/PT (Eviction).
“Big Brother Canada” “Whodunnit Week” was full of twists and mysteries. For the second time in BBCAN history, an invisible HOH was on the loose. Santina Carlson nominated two major risks for eviction: Terrell “Ty” McDonald and Dan Szabo.
‘Big Brother Canada’ Season 11. Photo – Global TV
Despite the nominees’ arduous campaigning, DJ Dan Szabo’s BBCAN party finally took a beating as he was eliminated from the house by a unanimous vote and became the first jury member of the season.
“I started off by deciding if I was really ready to commit to jumping sides of the house,” said Dan. “I felt like my back was against the wall and I thought that might be the only way to get Kuzie, Anika and Daniel to vote for me because the people closest to me were Naynay (Shanaya) and Ty, and they were going to vote to keep CC (Claudia).”
‘Big Brother Canada’ Season 11. Photo – Global TV
Santina, the second-time HOH winner, blindly hit the winning number in a tiebreaker to become the invisible HOH and started to work focusing on her goals as soon as “Whodunnit?” took over the BBCAN Manor. Santina used her invisibility skills to put threats Ty and Dan S. up for eviction after telling Jonathan Leonard, a friend, about her newly acquired power.
‘Big Brother Canada’ Season 11. Photo – Global TV
The nominees argued their cases, but in the end, DJ Dan was deemed to pose the greatest threat within the house and was transported directly to the jury house.
Being the Invisible HOH isn’t always smooth sailing 😶
Roberto “Rob” Lopez is the latest Houseguest to be shown the door in the new season “Big Brother Canada”, and he opened up with ET Canada’s Britnee Blair about what led to his eviction.
Blair, a “BBCAN” alum herself, asked Lopez whether he evolved his strategy as the game progressed.
“I think I really tried to do a good job of just staying true to myself,” replied Lopez of being the second eliminated Houseguest of Season 11.
“There wasn’t a competition where I didn’t give it my all,” he continued. “I was a great social player. I did get along with everyone. So I don’t think my strategy really changed because my strategy was to be myself.”
In fact, Lopez believes it was his skillfulness at the game that ultimately led to his eviction when he was “targeted because of my strengths.”
“Maybe I should have lay low a little bit longer or maybe not have played with so much emotion,” he admitted. “But other than that, honestly, I don’t regret the way I played the game.”
During the interview, Lopez also opened up about his relationship with Santina, and whether it might continue outside the walls of the BBCAN house.
“There’s definitely a lot of showmance in the house,” he said. “I left having a really good relationship with Santina. I believe that [she] and I connected on a different level, and she was an influence on how I played the game, for sure. And if I stayed, it might have blossomed into something. And I guess we’ll just have to see.”
So who does he envision making it to the finish line? “Obviously, I hope Jonathan wins, or Hope wins,” he shared. “But you know, Queen Kuzie is playing a hell of a game, and I think she’s going to fly under the radar for a long, long time. And she’s going to shock a lot of people when it gets to the to the final, final group.”
Premiering March 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global and STACKTV, Big Brother Canada will surveil the houseguests as they live and compete alongside each other in an effort to secure the $100,000 grand prize.
But it looks like there could be some fresh surprises in store for the guests, with the show teasing mysteries hidden behind secret passageways and devious twists designed to stoke paranoia throughout the house.
Story continues below advertisement
This year’s houseguests (manorguests?) include a glamourous 911 operator from British Columbia, a driven mom of four and yoga instructor from Alberta, a determined investment adviser from Saskatchewan, a boisterous graphic designer from Ontario, an optimistic marketing coordinator from Prince Edward Island, a charming father and fisherman from Newfoundland and more.
Who has what it takes to uncover the mysteries of the Big Brother Canada Manor and come out on top? Check out Season 11’s houseguests below.
Amal Bashir
Age: 28 Pronouns: She/Her Hometown: Toronto Occupation: Superfan About: This superfan has a big personality and an even bigger heart. Staying focused on the grand prize, Amal plans to outwit her house mates and stay true to herself.
Anika Mysha
Age: 28 Pronouns: She/Her Hometown: Saskatoon Occupation: Investment Adviser About: Typically the loudest person in the room, Anika is a force to be reckoned with. Her strategy is to win people over by building tight bonds and playing a fair game. But be careful, she isn’t afraid to stir the pot!
Claudia Campbell
Age: 25 Pronouns: She/Her Hometown: Kensington, P.E.I. Occupation: Marketing Coordinator About: Representing P.E.I to the fullest, Claudia is a great example of good things that come in small packages! But don’t underestimate her strength, as she plans to dominate in competitions and bring a strong social game.
‘Big Brother Canada’ alums Brittnee Blair and Jedson Tavernier join ET Canada
Daniel Clarke
Age: 33 Pronouns: He/Him Hometown: Toronto Occupation: Graphic Designer About: This loud and proud superfan plans to play between alliances to help further his game. Although he can’t keep a secret to himself and loves to gossip, Daniel will use his cheerful outlook and fierce determination to bring home the big win.
Dan Szabo
Age: 28 Pronouns: He/Him Hometown: Niagara Falls, Ont. Occupation: DJ About: With a carefree attitude and good looks to match, Dan plans to charm everyone in the #BBCAN11 house. His strategy involves being part of a large alliance that allows him to make big moves without getting dirt on his hands.
Hope Agbolosoo
Age: 23 Pronouns: He/Him Hometown: Milton, Ont. Occupation: Skills Coach About: It’s always good vibes when Hope steps into a room. His megawatt smile and captivating energy will draw the houseguests in without a doubt. He’s calm, cool and collected when he needs to be, but when it’s show time, he plans to turn into a comp beast.
Age: 33 Pronouns: He/Him Hometown: Paradise, Nfld. Occupation: Fisherman About: Being a dad and fisherman has taught this small town Newfoundlander patience, which he will need to bring home the biggest catch of the year — the title of #BBCAN11 Winner.
Age: 28 Pronouns: He/Him Hometown: Bradford, Ont. Occupation: Project Manager About: John Michael is bright, extroverted and a happy-go-lucky guy. While appearing unthreatening, he will mask his competitive nature behind a colourful charm to deceive all the houseguests and to take himself to the end.
Kuzivakwashe “Kuzie” Mujakachi
Age: 29 Pronouns: She/Her Hometown: Victoria, B.C. Occupation: 911 operator About: Kuzie is a master manipulator. She knows how to read a room and will align herself with the strongest players in the house. Her social game will influence the vote to her liking and she has no problem twisting the truth to suit her best.
Roberto Lopez
Age: 30 Pronouns: He/Him Hometown: Toronto Occupation: Gym Manager About: Beauty, brains and brawn, Roberto has the three main ingredients to win the game. More than just a pretty face, throwing comps will sway the houseguests to underestimate his intelligence and athletic abilities, keeping him under the radar and off the block.
Renee Mior
Age: 24 Pronouns: She/Her Hometown: Vaughan, Ont. Occupation: Law Student About: Renee believes her goofy and bubbly personality will either land her an alliance with the other women in the house or a flirty showmance. Either way, her innocent appearance and sharp tongue will make her presence known in the game.
Canadian voice actor Eric Bauza on becoming the voice of ‘Bugs Bunny’
Santina Carlson
Age: 29 Pronouns: She/her Hometown: Edmonton Occupation: Aesthetician About: Santina is determined and motivated to win big as a comp beast. Her strategy is to stay low-key when it comes to her competitive side until it’s time to make her move.
Shanaya Carter
Age: 27Pronouns: She/HerHometown: Victoria, B.C.Occupation: BartenderAbout: Shanaya will use her witty humour and no-holds-barred attitude as a distraction to manipulate the houseguests from the sidelines. Being vulnerable and authentic will win everyone over in no time and carry her to the end.
global
Terrell “Ty” McDonald
Age: 28 Pronouns: He/Him Hometown: Toronto Occupation: Personal Trainer About: Ty knows he comes off as a physical threat and has a feeling his intelligence will be underestimated. Once this personal trainer’s cover is blown as the comp beast, Ty plans to dominate the game by making alliances with the outcasts. Plus, a showmance or bromance along the way couldn’t hurt!
Vanessa MacTavish
Age: 42 Pronouns: She/Her Hometown: Calgary Occupation: Yoga Instructor About: This driven mom, wife and yoga instructor is unapologetic and always authentically herself. She will be the shoulder to cry on in the #BBCAN11 house, yet also will keep the houseguests in line.
Zach Neilson
Age: 34 Pronouns: He/Him Hometown: Ottawa, Ont. Occupation: Startup Senior Vice President About: Zach is a man with a calculated plan. With tricks up his sleeves he hopes to rule the #BBCAN11 house by dominating comps and building strong connections with his housemates.
—
Story continues below advertisement
This season, ‘Big Brother Canada’ will air three nights a week featuring new episodes every Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET/PT (Head of Household), Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT (Power of Veto) and Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/PT (Eviction).
Global TV and Global News are both properties of Corus Entertainment.
It’s been a big year for Kevin Jacobs, the winner of the 11th season of Big Brother Canada.
After using a fake marriage to his advantage on the show, Jacobs is looking forward to a real marriage — he proposed to his girlfriend, Jillian, and they’re busy planning summer 2023 nuptials.
Story continues below advertisement
He’s also looking forward to watching a new group of houseguests battle it out on the upcoming season of Big Brother Canada, and encourages anyone interested to send in their application by Friday, Nov. 11.
Jacobs shared with Global News some of his tips and tricks on how to make a Big Brother Canada application stand out, and shared some of his insights on life in the house.
Global News: What was your casting experience like for the show? What angle did you use to set yourself apart? Kevin Jacobs: I was always a fan of the show, but when I first thought of applying I was looking for something that would make me seem like something I wasn’t. That approach really didn’t work for me. What actually did end up working was taking a second, looking at my life and trying to find what would stand out against other contestants. So for me, my job in tech was not particularly unique in my eyes, but it wasn’t something that we’d never seen on the show before, and that helped me get through the first step and actually get a callback from casting.
Tell us a little bit about the first steps of the casting process. The casting team is really good. They’ve been doing this for years and years, and they’re going to look at everything about you. But step one is just getting that callback. The first step for potential contestants is getting the casting team curious enough about you. You have to be who you are because they’re going to find out if you’re pretending to be some big villain and you’re not, or you’re pretending to be some hero when you’re not. They’ll know who you are. They’ll cut through it. So you have to know who you are and maintain that the entire time.
Kevin Jacobs celebrates with ‘Big Brother Canada’ host Arisa Cox after his Season 11 win.
Global TV/Corus
When you apply to Big Brother Canada, you’re applying online. You’re submitting a video under a couple of minutes and you’re just talking about yourself. Some people want to put every single detail of their lives into the video, but that’s not neccessary. I said “Hey, I’m a sales engineer. I have to do sales and I have to be really smart about it, like an engineer. Here’s how it applies to the show,” and that was enough for me to get a callback.
Story continues below advertisement
Do you think that having a strong social media presence plays a role in getting cast these days? I think social media plays some role, but I wouldn’t fake it if you don’t have it. If you have a big social media presence, yeah, share that with the team. But if you don’t, I don’t think it’s a dealbreaker by any means. When I applied to the show, I had absolutely no social media. I hadn’t posted a picture online in two years and that didn’t affect anything. I think it comes back to being who you are and not trying to put up a front of any kind.
What are some other tips and tricks you share about setting yourself apart and really getting the casting team interested in you? I’ve got a few tips and tricks up my sleeve. One is, have a good time. This is fun, you’re applying to a show, it’s not a job interview. Enjoy it. Lean into that and that’ll be contagious on your video. Second is, show don’t tell. So if you say, “Hey, I’m a really funny person,” then back it up with a funny story or anecdote, instead of just stating that you’re funny. Third is, speak to the people in your life. See what they say about you, and then try to include that in your application. The casting team wants to know how you interact with others and what other people have to say about you, because that will inform them on how you will act and react in the house.
Do you feel like there’s a big difference between the houseguests chosen for Big Brother Canada versus the contestants chosen for other iterations of the show, in other countries? People in Canada are there to play. You’re probably going to get a house filled with people who are there for that moment and not for anything else. And for me, I think that’s amazing. Everyone is in it for themselves. It’s terrifying, but it’s also incredible.
How did you get along with everybody in the house? What was the overall vibe while you were there? This is an adventure. It is an experience you will never get anywhere else, and a part of that is being in a house where you’re living with 15 people from across Canada who you might never otherwise meet. As a big fan of the show, I knew that there would be some people that I wouldn’t get along with and I was kind of looking forward to that. A lot of those people are now my good friends, but I think part of the adventure is meeting those people that you would never otherwise encounter in your regular life.
Were there any preconceived notions you had about the Big Brother Canada experience that were shattered once you were inside the house? I thought I’d go on Big Brother Canada and I would have a relaxing time. I’d have a bed, I’d have tons of food and it would be so easy. Surprisingly, I actually found the first couple of weeks physically challenging. Some of that was sharing a room with seven other big personalities. Some of that was trying to find my way into a kitchen that we all shared. You’re in a new place, you’re living in a new environment and that can be a lot to get used to, not to mention you’re playing this challenging mind game. Adjusting to sleeping and living and breathing in that house took me a little bit of time.
What other ways has the Big Brother Canada experience changed you? When I left the house, I appreciated the things I had before way more. I also became less risk-averse. Being on the show was actually very scary — yes, I played this confident villain role, but what you didn’t see was that I was terrified going into the house. Outside of the house, I’m ready to take some risks because I learned that it pays off.
Story continues below advertisement
What would you say to people who are on the fence about applying? If you’re sitting at home and you’re making up some excuse about not getting time off work or it’s the wrong time in your life or something like that, here’s your sign. Go take that risk because it might be the adventure of your life.
I often get people saying to me, “Hey, I’m not that interesting. I’m boring. I don’t have this and that.” That’s just not true. Every single person has something that would make them interesting to watch. Take a second. You know yourself better than anyone. Figure out what that thing is and work it. On Big Brother Canada, you get real people in a real house living their very real lives. Even if you think you don’t have a chance, you might end up on the show.
[This interview has been edited and condensed.]
Casting call for Big Brother Canada
—
Story continues below advertisement
Canadians can apply online at BigBrotherCanada.ca for their chance to become a houseguest. Fans can also nominate friends on social media by tagging @bigbrotherca and using #FutureHOH for a chance to get noticed by Big Brother Canada’s casting team.
Apply in three simple steps:
1. Record a short video of yourself explaining why you have what it takes to be one of the next houseguests on Big Brother Canada 2. Visit the official casting site at BigBrotherCanada.ca 3. Upload a photo of yourself, along with your video and some basic information
To qualify, houseguest hopefuls must be 19 years of age by Feb. 1, 2023, and submit their applications by Nov. 11, 2022. For more information, including a full list of rules and eligibility, head to BigBrotherCanada.ca.
