THE Ten Network’s live telecast of its showcase eviction edition of Big Brother was thrown into chaos last night when evictee Merlin Luck launched a pro-refugee protest.

Luck, 24, who, according to the show’s producers came to Australia from Germany as a child and battled to remain in the country after his parents overstayed their visa, became the program’s fifth evictee.

But instead of taking part in the eviction night discussion with host Gretel Killeen in front of a large audience, he sat in silence with black masking tape over his mouth holding a sign urging the release of refugees that read: “FREE TH REFUGEES” (the E had fallen off).

Sunday night’s evictions are the highest-rating Big Brother program of the week. Last week’s show drew 1.299 million viewers nationwide.

Luck produced the tape and sign — made of black tape on a white T-shirt — from his jeans when he appeared before the live audience at the show’s Dreamworld base on the Gold Coast.

Host Killeen attempted to talk to the latest evictee and hand him his prizes, which include a Mitsubishi Lancer, but he refused to speak.

Killeen was forced to abandon the process and cut to an advertising break.

During the break, Big Brother psychologist Carmel Hill and executive producer Kris Noble attempted to persuade Luck to end his political statement, but he refused and was escorted off the stage.

Killeen told the audience she would have liked to have spoken to Luck about the refugee issue but found his behaviour “aggressive”.

The Dreamworld audience, and other housemates inside the Big Brother house, were divided over Luck’s actions, with some members of the audience booing.

A vigorous debate over his actions was last night taking place among fans on the Big Brother website.

None of Luck’s former housemates said they had any knowledge of the stunt, which Noble told The Australian had been carefully planned by Luck.

“He had sewn the sign into a loose flap in a T-shirt he had never worn,” Noble said.

Luck’s father, who was in the audience, reportedly knew what his son was about to do.