Fans of Celebrity Big Brother have been left stunned by the news that the hit reality show will not return to screens this year, with its next series now pushed back to 2027.
Why the Show Has Been Put on Ice
According to a TV insider speaking to The Sun, the decision stems from significant difficulties in securing high-profile celebrities for the famous house. The broadcaster reportedly struggled to 'lock in notable housemates', forcing a major scheduling rethink.
The show, originally on Channel 4 and later Channel 5 from 2001 to 2018, was revived by ITV in 2024. Its two recent seasons featured stars like Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, and Fern Britton. Despite plans to move from ITV1 to ITV2 and a shift from its usual March/April slot to late 2026, executives have now extended the break.
This means there will be an almost two-year gap between the last season, which aired in April 2025, and the next, currently slated for spring 2027 on ITV2. Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best will have a long wait before returning to the famous chair.
Mixed Messages and Fan Reaction
ITV has offered a conflicting statement, telling Metro: '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.' They added that the format remains a priority, having recently hit 150 million streams on ITVX.
However, viewing figures for the most recent live episodes told a different story, pulling in only between one to two million viewers per night.
Online, the reaction from devoted fans has been one of shock and disappointment. One Reddit user, gggggggrace, commented on the show's regained 'cultural clout', while LostSouluk2021 said they were 'gutted'. Others, like sporto89, criticised ITV's more 'family-friendly' approach compared to the grittier Channel 4 and 5 eras.
A History of Controversy and Scheduling Challenges
The move to rest Celebrity Big Brother follows a similar decision regarding another ITV staple, Dancing on Ice, which was also paused after its 2025 season.
ITV's Director of Television, Kevin Lygo, had previously admitted the channel was 'in a battle about the price' with production company Endemol. He suggested the move to ITV2 would allow for more 'interesting and niche' celebrity bookings, as securing A-list names for the main channel had become 'so difficult'.
The show's history is also marred by controversies, most recently the early exit of Mickey Rourke in 2025 for using homophobic language towards JoJo Siwa and threatening behaviour towards Chris Hughes. This echoed past scandals, including the 2007 racial bullying of Shilpa Shetty and the removals of figures like Roxanne Pallett and Christopher Biggins.
While the celebrity version takes an extended break, the civilian Big Brother series is still expected to return to ITV2 in October 2026.
