ITV Vows to Continue Celebrity Big Brother Despite 2026 Reality Series Drop
ITV has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the iconic series, Celebrity Big Brother. This statement comes despite the reality show being absent from this year’s schedule. Originally launched on Channel 4 in 2001, it transitioned to Channel 5, and most recently, ITV1 in 2024.
Recent Developments in Celebrity Big Brother
The latest season concluded with the victory of Jack P. Shepherd, a prominent actor known for his role in Coronation Street. Notably, the series faced controversy when American actor Mickey Rourke was removed from the house due to inappropriate language directed at singer JoJo Siwa.
Future of Celebrity Big Brother
Insights from RadioTimes.com suggest that the next season of Celebrity Big Brother may not debut until 2027. The show is expected to move to ITV2, alongside the traditional format of Big Brother.
During the 2025 Edinburgh TV Festival, ITV’s Director of Television, Kevin Lygo, discussed the challenges in securing high-profile celebrities for the main channel. He emphasized that ITV2 allows for a more diverse and niche approach, which aligns better with the current climate.
- Celebrity Big Brother has been a significant success for ITV, achieving over 150 million streams on ITVX.
- ITV is currently negotiating with the production company Banijay regarding the show’s budget.
Current ITV Programming Landscape
In the interim, ITV is focusing on other programming, such as:
- I’m A Celebrity: South Africa
- The Summit
- Nobody’s Fool
- The Neighbourhood
An ITV spokesperson confirmed that both Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother remain key components of their reality programming strategy beyond 2025. Further scheduling announcements for new series will be made in due course.
For fans eager to catch up, previous episodes of Celebrity Big Brother are available for streaming on ITVX.
