Television

ITV confirms the release date of Big Brother

By Alice Morey

25th September 2023

ITV has confirmed that Big Brother will return to screens Sunday 8 October with a live launch show streamed across ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX. The season will continue nightly at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX (apart from Saturdays).

A press release reveals the original social experiment will have a “contemporary new look ready for this reimagining of the show.” Yet, “the public once again plays a crucial role, voting throughout the series and ultimately determining the winner.”

“Big Brother will be followed each night by Big Brother: Late & Live – an exciting new commission hosted live by AJ Odudu and Will Best from the site of the Big Brother house in front of a studio audience – giving viewers an additional hour of exclusive Big Brother content,” the press release added.

Speaking on her new appointment as co-host back in April, Odudu wrote on Instagram: “I’m so excited to finally be able to say that, yes: I’m hosting Big Brother! I couldn’t be happier.

“Following in the footsteps of some of my favourite broadcasting legends to front such an iconic show is an absolute honour – and to do it alongside my amazing friend Will is the icing on the cake.”

Big Brother first hit UK screens on Channel 4 in 2000 and ran for a total of 11 seasons, plus an additional seven seasons of Celebrity Big Brother and a final special edition series entitled Ultimate Big Brother. After moving to Channel 5 for a further eight seasons and 15 celebrity seasons, the show came to an end in 2018.

Within this time Big Brother has played host to multiple prominent LGBTQIA+ contestants from the likes of Anna Nolan the lesbian ex-nun, season two winner Brian Dowling and Nadia Almada, who became the first transgender champion..

Additional contestants include season 13’s Luke Anderson, the first trans male winner, and Cameron Cole, who came out mid-season 19 and later went on to win.

The revival of the show will put an end to the five year hiatus.