CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER "RESTED" BY ITV FOR 2026, WITH SHOW EXPECTED TO RETURN IN 2027 ON ITV2

Celebrity Big Brother will not be returning to screens this year, with the show instead expected to return in Spring 2027. When the show does return, it will be airing on ITV2 instead of ITV1 as previously announced.

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 will not air this year. The main series of Big Brother will return this Autumn for its fourth series since it was rebooted by ITV.

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."

Late last year 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.

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.