Big Brother host Gretel Killeen hopes that she can never be described as 'nice'.

Gretel Killeen believes that Network Ten's new reality show Big Brother is unlike anything we have seen on Australian tv - and, except perhaps for The Weakest Links' Cornelia Frances, she is unlike any other host!

"I am really surprised that the producers chose me to be the host, as I thought I was against the 'type', says Gretel. "Most people who host tv shows are nice, and I don't think that is my major asset. No one in their right mind would call me nice."

Which surprisingly is something that Gretel is proud of! "I'm glad I'm mean," she says. "Well, I'm not that mean, but I'm not nice. I think someone is nice when they're not revealing who they are. If there's one thing I'm proud of, I do reveal who I am. The people who are brave enough to put themselves into this show have to put up with showing who they really are."

In Big Brother, Gretel offers a running narration on the action within the house that's home to the contestants for the duration of the 13 week series. She's also the first person each contestant meets as they are evicted from the house.

"I won't be like Cornelia on The Weakest Link and saying 'Goodbye' to the contestants, but I might say, 'Suck eggs!" she laughs. I like the fact that I'm able to gossip. I normally don't do gossip as I'm a firm believer in the philosophy that you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you. But now I have permission to gossip as I want, so I feel quite liberated."

Landing the job as host of Big Brother is a major break in Gretels tv career. Well known for her lively appearances on panel shows such as Good News Week, and Beauty and the Beast, and the author of 17 books, this is the biggest tv job she has had.

"I believe that you never arrive anywhere - you are always on the journey to somewhere," Gretel says. I'm ready to have some fun with Big Brother while I'm on my way."