ITV is reportedly planning to introduce a controversial twist to the upcoming season of Big Brother, bringing in former Celebrity Big Brother stars as surprise guests. According to The Sun, the network is in talks with contestants from across the show's 25-year history, spanning its Channel 4, Channel 5, and ITV eras, to enter the house as 'guest residents' or participate in specific tasks.
The twist is expected to be revealed to civilian housemates just days into the launch, which is slated for mid-September and will run for an extended seven weeks. An insider told The Sun: 'ITV are always thinking up new ways to inject even more fun into Big Brother. When Sharon Osbourne came into CBB as a lodger a couple of years ago it worked really well. The plan is to find big stars from all of the CBB's series to come in and surprise the housemates.'
Fan backlash erupts on social media
The news has sparked immediate backlash from fans, many of whom took to Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) to express their displeasure. One Reddit user, CullanG, wrote: 'I'm fed up with guest residence. Just give us normal non-influencer people.' Another, LyingFacts, echoed: 'Just wish we had CBB tbh. BB now is mostly social media famous types. I don't really want housemates with agents/agency and managers. I'd like "real people" as it were.'
On X, a superfan declared: 'Please do not do this ITV… we beg!' The sentiment was echoed by Direct-Future-5328 on Reddit: 'They had multiple options: do a low-budget CBB again, do all-stars but they decide to go with celebrity houseguests?? I will never understand these producers.' Another user, wi99lywoo, added: 'This isn't what we want for what could be the last series… It's a no from me.'
ITV's strategy and the future of CBB
The reported twist comes amid uncertainty over the future of Celebrity Big Brother, with recent reports suggesting the spin-off could be axed after failing to match the success of rival show Celebrity Traitors. ITV's move appears to be an attempt to inject fresh excitement into the main series, which launched to 1.4 million viewers last year and was one of ITV2's biggest shows.
The insider revealed that ITV is lining up 'dream celebs' with hopes of securing talent like Gemma Collins, Kerry Katona, and JoJo Siwa. 'No celeb is off the table, their dream line-up would include people like Gemma Collins, Kerry Katona and JoJo Siwa, and they're sure they can secure some amazing talent,' the source concluded.
This approach is reminiscent of the 2017 series, where Gemma Collins, Nicola McLean, and Marnie Simpson were brought in as guest residents. However, fans have not forgotten the backlash to bringing back evicted housemates Emily and Farida last season, which was poorly received.
Iconic CBB moments and fan nostalgia
Despite the backlash, there is no denying the iconic moments Celebrity Big Brother has produced over the years. From Tiffany Pollard and Angie Bowie's epic miscommunication over which 'David' had died, to Gemma Collins' endlessly quotable 'I'm claustrophobic Darren', and the late Kim Woodburn's unforgettable appearances, the show has left a lasting mark on pop culture.
However, fans argue that the magic of Big Brother lies in its civilian format, which features everyday people rather than celebrities. The upcoming season is expected to run for seven weeks, but ITV has yet to confirm the twist or an official release date. Metro has reached out to ITV for comment.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: ITV is under pressure to deliver a compelling series that satisfies both long-time viewers and new audiences. Whether the celebrity twist will be a masterstroke or a misstep remains to be seen, but fans are already making their voices heard.
