BIG BROTHER RENEWED FOR 2026 BY ITV, LATE & LIVE COMPANION SHOW 'AXED' AS APPLICATIONS OPEN

Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother will return to ITV in 2026, with applications for the main series now open. It has also been reported that spin-off show Late & Live will not return.

The Sun newspaper has 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. An ITV spokesperson told TV Zone: "We will confirm plans for Big Brother's forthcoming series in due course."

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.

Celebrity Big Brother is also set to return in early 2026, though ITV are yet to confirm whether it will air on ITV1 or ITV2. This Summer, ITV controller Kevin Lygo sparked rumours the celebrity series would move from ITV1 to ITV2. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, 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."

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.