Celebrity Big Brother Faces Uncertain Future After Schedule Shake-up
The future of Celebrity Big Brother appears uncertain after ITV made the surprising decision to remove the reality show from its Spring 2026 schedule. This development comes just days after the cancellation of its companion programme, Late and Live, raising concerns among dedicated fans about the show's long-term prospects.
Unexpected Schedule Change Raises Alarm
The programme was originally scheduled to air during March and April 2026, but has now been postponed to later in the year. An insider speaking to The Sun revealed the concerning nature of this move, stating: "ITV has confirmed CBB and BB will both air in 2026, but it's fair to say that news of it being shifted in the schedule for other programmes doesn't exactly instil confidence."
The source added that fans will fear this demonstrates a lack of commitment from ITV towards the long-running reality franchise. This scheduling change follows what has been a challenging year for the Big Brother format, which faced stiff competition from rival shows including the highly successful Celebrity Traitors on BBC.
ITV Insists Show Remains a Priority
Despite the concerning schedule change and the recent axing of Late and Live, ITV maintains its support for the programme and its presenting team. The broadcaster has confirmed that hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best will still return to front Celebrity Big Brother when it eventually airs in 2026.
An ITV spokesperson emphasised their ongoing commitment, stating: "We are committed to both Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother beyond 2025, and scheduling for any new series will be confirmed in due course." The channel points to the programme's strong performance, noting it recently achieved 150 million streams on ITVX, describing it as a "priority reality format" for the network.
Broader Changes for the Franchise
The uncertainty around Celebrity Big Brother's scheduling follows earlier indications that ITV was considering significant changes to the show's format. During the summer, Kevin Lygo, ITV's Managing Director of Media & Entertainment, suggested at the Edinburgh TV Festival that moving Celebrity Big Brother from ITV1 to ITV2 was under consideration.
Lygo explained this potential move would allow producers to book more "interesting and niche" celebrities rather than focusing solely on major stars, which he noted had become increasingly difficult to secure for the main channel. This latest schedule shift suggests ITV is indeed re-evaluating the show's position within its broader programming strategy.
