Before landing the role of host of Big Brother Australia, which premiered 25 years ago in 2001, Gretel Killeen thought she was both “too old” and not blonde enough.
In a new interview with the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About, the 63-year-old reflected on her game-changing role as the reality television series’ first host.
“To have a female hosting, that was unheard of. Not as a sidekick, but hosting a live show,” she told podcast host Sarrah Le Marquand.
“When I was first asked if I wanted to audition, I remember thinking, ‘I’m 38. I’ve got dark hair. And I’m a woman. There’s no way in the world they’re gonna want me …’
“Because I thought 38 was too old and you had to have blonde hair to be a host. Those were the parameters in those days.”
Listen to the full interview with Gretel Killeen on the Stellar podcast, Something To Talk About below:
Killeen told Something To Talk About that while she is aware of breaking down some barriers for women in media and entertainment, she also doesn’t want to discount those who came before her – nor the men working behind the scenes who advocated for her to get the job.
“It was the first reality TV experience of that size, but also with a live audience. It was very empowering for the country to be looking at any woman with that position and authority,” she said.
“There were other women who’d come before me, hosting shorter shows or maybe prerecorded. I don’t want to overlook the achievements of anyone.
“But that showed tremendous faith and feminist ways of the men that hired me.
“Because men had to support women to make those first steps, and there were men supporting me, who not only did that, but they weren’t hovering.”
Since leaving her role with Big Brother in 2007, Killeen has written numerous children’s books and will soon return to television as the new host of Network 10’s reality television show The Traitors, taking over in its third season from actor Rodger Corser.
Listen to the full interview with Gretel Killeen on the Stellar podcast, Something To Talk About below:
“In The Traitors, we give people permission to be a different version of themselves — the funny, the crazy.
“‘Come into this wonderland …’,” she said of the show’s contestants.
“I believe that people with vested interests encourage us to ignore that part of our lives.”
Killeen added that along with her TV return, she still has items to tick off her bucket list – like writing songs, singing and continuing her foray into painting.
“I’ve realised people don’t want perfection; they want imperfection,” she said.
“My generation was raised to be superwomen. We had to do it all, and really we were crumpled heaps.”
Listen to Gretel Killeen on a new episode of the Stellar podcast, Something To Talk About, out now wherever you get your podcasts. For more from Stellar, click here.