It’s the sound every Australian reality fan can recognise in a heartbeat – deep, commanding and loaded with nostalgia.
But after more than two decades as the voice of Big Brother, Leon Murray has been dramatically silenced. Â
Daily Mail can reveal that the veteran voice artist was axed from Network Ten’s reboot of the series just days before the show’s highly anticipated return, sparking turmoil behind the scenes and fury among long-time fans.
Leon, who voiced both the original Channel Ten and later Channel Nine versions of the show, had become synonymous with the franchise’s most famous phrase, ‘Big Brother is watching you.’
So when his unmistakable tones featured in Ten’s promo campaign earlier this month, fans assumed it was confirmation that the man behind the mic was officially back.
But according to production insiders, the excitement was short-lived.
After more than two decades as the voice of Big Brother, Leon Murray (pictured) has been dramatically silenced after producers decided to drop him from the series last minute
‘He thought he was in. Everyone did. The ads were already out and the fans were ecstatic,’ said one source. ‘Then everything fell apart.’
What should have been a simple homecoming for one of television’s most recognisable voices quickly unravelled over a clash of egos and contracts.
After preliminary meetings and recording promotional material, negotiations reportedly stalled when Network Ten baulked at Murray’s fee, estimated at $800 per recorded voice segment.
Each line, insiders claim, would be billed separately every time Big Brother spoke.
‘The numbers started to look scary for the network,’ an insider admitted. ‘Leon was asking for rates that reflected his legacy, but the production wasn’t prepared to pay that kind of money.’
Murray is also understood to have pushed for greater creative involvement and a producer credit, along with the right to publicly promote himself as the voice of Big Brother.
Executives flatly refused. ‘They wanted the voice to stay mysterious, not a known figure with a brand,’ a source explained.
‘That’s part of the magic – Big Brother isn’t supposed to be a celebrity.’
Leon, who voiced both the original Channel Ten and later Channel Nine versions of the show, had become synonymous with the franchise’s most famous phrase, ‘Big Brother is watching you.’ Pictured: Host Melissa Tracina
After preliminary meetings and recording promotional material, negotiations reportedly stalled when Network Ten baulked at Murray’s fee, estimated at $800 per recorded voice segmentÂ
With negotiations collapsing, producers quietly turned to a familiar face, Gold Coast-based voice artist Pete Cunningham, who once trained under Murray.
Cunningham has been instructed to deliver his lines in a near-identical style, sparking concern from loyal staff who worked on earlier versions of the show.
‘Pete was trained under Leon, and he mimics him almost perfectly,’ an insider revealed.Â
‘It’s basically a photocopy voice. You’d think it was Leon until you really listen.’
But the double standard hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Murray was reportedly told not to publicly discuss his role or brand himself as Big Brother, yet Cunningham has already begun promoting his events company, Glo Events, on social media while referencing his involvement with the show.
‘Network Ten chucked Leon in for this exact kind of self-promotion,’ one insider said. ‘The double standards have not sat well with him. It’s hypocritical.’
