US network CBS has announced that one of the housemates in its upcoming season of Big Brother will be 75-year-old great grandfather and former Marine Jerry - a contestant almost 25 years older than Terri, the oldest ever Australian housemate.
Jerry is more than 50 years older than the youngest contestant in the US series, 22-year-old bodybuilder Jessie.
The US Big Brother traditionally uses gimmicks to pique audience attention: past seasons have features housemates who are couples, housemates who are former couples, and housemates who are long-lost enemies.
However, the next season - the 10th - will take a "back-to-basics" approach with no stunts. "We are going old-school and returning to the original [Big Brother] concept," said executive producer Allison Grodner, who added that the housemates are "the most diverse group ever".
They include a 53-year-old beautician, a 35-year-old rodeo champ and a 25-year-old "mixologist".
And while the Australian Big Brother house is known for its bright colours and ultra-modern furniture, the new US house has the "traditional look" of an all-American home - complete with a 50's-themed kitchen and '60s-themed bedroom.
