ITV PREPS SCHEDULE OVERHAUL TO BIG BROTHER AS CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER MOVES TO ITV2 AND IS PUSHED BACK FROM SPRING TIMESLOT

ITV are overhauling its schedule for Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother from 2026, following the reports earlier this week that its daily sideshow Late & Live had been axed.

ITV say they are committed to "both Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother beyond 2025", but have failed to confirm whether both series will air in 2026. But, it has now been confirmed that whenever it does return, Celebrity Big Brother will air on ITV2 due to the show's core younger audience.

However, due to ITV's rich reality slate in the first half of 2026, which includes I'm A Celebrity: South Africa, The Summit, Nobody's Fool and The Neighbourhood, Celebrity Big Brother has been pushed back to later in 2026, or possibly 2027. The main series of Big Brother is expected to return in Autumn 2026 as usual.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August, ITV controller Kevin Lygo said: "Celebrity Big Brother we're looking at. We're thinking not on the main channel, that's the answer. It's so difficult now to book big celebrities, famous people, which is what we need on the main channel. Whereas you can go more interesting and niche on ITV2."

Lygo continued: "We're in a battle with [production company Banijay] about the price. It does really well for us on ITVX. It's a really important, crucial show. I love it and it does a tremendous job for us so, yes, it's coming back."

Earlier this week The Sun newspaper reported that daily spin-off Late & Live has been axed due to poor ratings and changing viewing habits. The companion show has run alongside the main show since ITV rebooted the reality series in 2023, with main show hosts AJ and Will Best taking turns dissecting all the house action with celebrity guests and studio audience.

The newspaper reports that it's not reflection on hosts AJ & Will and both will return to present both Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother next year.

When Big Brother returns, AJ Odudu and Will Best will once again welcome an eclectic mix of strangers from across the UK who will all become housemates living under one roof. The nation’s most renowned residence, the Big Brother house, will yet again play host to all the mischief and mayhem.

Since its triumphant return to screens in 2023 on its new home ITV and ITVX, Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother alongside the Live Stream and Late & Live, has been streamed over 150 million times, remaining a priority for ITV's reality slate. 

Big Brother is available now on ITVX.