(Fwrd Axis) — After nearly four years off the air, Big Brother UK is reportedly set to make its highly anticipated return.
The Mirror is reporting ITV and production company Banijay have inked a deal for the reality show to return to U.K. televisions for the first time since 2018. ITV bosses reportedly want the show to go ‘back to basics’ and will air on the digital channel ITV2.
A show source backed up earlier reports that ITV plans to sever all ties with past versions of the show on Channel 4 and Channel 5 which will mean Davina McCall, Emma Willis, or Rylan are not expected to return as hosts — calling it “Big Brother for the Love Island generation”.
“This needs to be totally new and fresh. It’s all about drawing in a young audience. The aim is to get back to basics and interfere less, with fewer challenges,” the source told the newspaper.
ITV will reportedly officially announce the show’s return soon with Love Island wrapping up on Monday night. The housemates for the new series will be “everyday people” with a new house being built in a U.K. location.
Back in June, FWRD AXIS News reported that comedian Mo Gilligan was “near the top” of ITV2’s wishlist for the presenter role. The Sun previously reported Big Brother UK will launch in autumn 2023 following the summer series of Love Island as ITV sees the Big Brother brand as a companion rather than a rival.
Big Brother UK first began in 2000 on Channel 4 and turned the late Nikki Grahame, “Nasty” Nick Bateman, and others into household names. Channel 5 took over from 2011 to 2018 with Cameron Cole being the final winner at Elstree Studios before the house was demolished.
An official announcement from ITV is expected soon but the exact date of that announcement remains unclear.
