While Big Brother cameras focus on the household, TV Week keeps an eye on host Gretel Killeen, who travels from her Sydney home to Surfers Paradise for the show.

A tale of two cities

It can be difficult to spend half your week in one city and half in another, especially when you have children. I have two kids - Zeke, who’s 12, and Eppie, who’s 10. There’s a lot of hugging going on when I’m in Sydney. I’ve found that you have to really stay in touch with friends and family, so that they don’t miss you too much and you don’t miss them. Then there are the day-to-day aspects of life that you have to work out, such as where to buy your soy hot chocolate!

Life in the fast lane

I spend a lot of time in the car, as it’s a 40-minute drive from the airport on the Gold Coast to where I stay in Surfers Paradise. I have a driver, which is a luxury for me. Back in Sydney, I’m the taxi driver, taking my family from one place to another. But in Surfers I relax and spend the drive gasbagging. It’s wonderful!

Another day at the office

Big Brother is filmed at Dreamworld, which is bizarre - not only is Dreamworld a tourist attraction, but Big Brother has become one too! I’ll walk from one area of the set to another and find that hundreds of tourists are watching me - so just as I’m watching the Big Brother house, I’m being watched myself. I had been to Dreamworld before and loved it, and my daughter Eppie thinks that working here is heaven.

Café culture

The cafes on the Gold Coast are just fantastic, particularly those in Tedder Avenue at Main Beach [just north of Surfers Paradise]. It’s a different atmosphere. It’s summer all year round and people smile at you, which makes me wonder if I have spinach on my teeth! I love sitting down and having a chat.

Tutti-frutti

I love fruit juice and, if you can get it fresh, why not? This place is at Main Beach, and everything is nice and fresh.

People watching

I love watching people go by. I’m fascinated by the colour and movement. You get some great types in Surfers. You have very “monied” people who drive sports cars, then you have your backpackers, international tourists and normal suburban types, all together in the same place. Fascinating!

The fame game

Here I am looking at transparencies with our publicist Joanna Holmes. I’m a lot more comfortable looking at photos of myself now. I used to not be able to look at them, but now I can see pictures and know that it’s not necessarily me - it’s just an image. I’m used to publicity because of the books I’ve done, and it’s all part of the job.

Life’s a beach

When you come to the Gold Coast, you have to like the beach because you’re right on it/ I love walking along the sand. It’s beautiful, and everyone I see is so happy. The beach is a very meditative place. When I’m back in Sydney, my chosen exercise is picking up after my kids, so I’m very fit!