Mat Garrick - Big Brother Contestant & Mining Electrician
Mat is a mining electrician and a contestant on Big Brother 2020. Previously, Mat was a panelist on Paul McDermott’s former ABC quiz show, Think Tank.
Mat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matgarrick4
Verbatim from the transcripts — each quote links to the moment.
“But being Insta famous is like being rich at Monopoly though, isn't it?”
“I said a line in my intro video that I regret, which was kill or be killed.”
“You'll make— I was just making, I was making bank, mate. I didn't need to win this thing.”
“It's called reality TV, but there's no reality about that setting, really.”
“If I bet that the sun will come up tomorrow, it'll be an apocalypse, mate. It won't come up. I'm rubbish.”
“Look, look, Josh, I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed you're not here, mate.”
How do you come across authentically in a high-pressure audition or interview?
Garrick says he stopped trying to guess what casting wanted and instead talked to the panel as if speaking to a mate, reasoning that an over-the-top or fake persona would be seen through immediately, and accepted that if it wasn't good enough, that was okay too.
How should you deal with online trolls after becoming publicly known?
Garrick says he keeps a low profile but when trolls attack, he takes the piss out of them and 'kills them with kindness,' which usually makes them backpedal quickly; he only pushes back firmly against false claims that damage his reputation, like accusations of bullying or body-shaming.
Mat Garrick recounts entering the house when there were only around 30 Australian COVID cases, receiving escalating updates from producers, initially assuming it was a game twist, then learning football and the Olympics had been cancelled and people were fighting over toilet paper — and exiting into what felt like a zombie apocalypse.
Garrick describes being approached for Big Brother after applying for Survivor, his fiancée Jess's experience in film/media production helping him understand casting wouldn't reward a fake persona, and his strategy of just being himself in the audition.
Garrick recounts having to surrender all his social media passwords to producers before entering the house, including deleting inappropriate content, and changing all passwords immediately after being given them back.
Garrick describes being called a bully by former contestant Nasir Sultan online, firing back that Sultan should know how edited reality TV is, and discovering Sultan was promoting his own brand — with the whole exchange ending up as a Daily Mail story.
Garrick describes going to Coles after quarantine and being confused when mates kept walking instead of stopping to chat, not realising social distancing norms had changed while he was inside the house, and missing Kobe Bryant's death and memorial.
Drawn from the episode transcripts.
Mat Garrick says when he entered the house there were about 30 cases in Australia and it seemed contained to Wuhan; inside, producers gave escalating case-count updates until an announcement confirmed both football codes and the Olympics were cancelled and people were fighting over toilet paper, which he initially thought was part of the game before realising it was real.
From episode 796→Garrick says the new format is more like Survivor, with challenges, alliances and strategy, and someone eliminated every episode, whereas the old format was more of a pure social experiment with different personalities placed together and less forced drama.
From episode 796→Yes — Garrick describes a pre-show psych screening, a GP and psychologist available 24/7 via the diary room, and a post-show debrief with a manager and the psychologist, which he felt was an important and heavy focus given social media scrutiny.
From episode 796→Every episode featuring Mat Garrick on The Daily Talk Show.
Mat Garrick joined Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen on Episode 796 (19 July 2020) — "Mat Garrick On Big Brother & Relationships". Mat Garrick - Big Brother Contestant & Mining Electrician Mat is a mining electrician and a contestant on Big Brother 2020. Previously, Mat was a panelist on Paul McDermott’s former ABC quiz show, Think Tank.
We chat about Josh's test at the drive thru, takeaway nights, allergies, catering requirements and families and golden children and memorable childhood moments.
