Celebrity Big Brother In Doubt

The future of Celebrity Big Brother is once again under the spotlight after reports claimed ITV could scrap the celebrity version of the reality series following ongoing struggles to secure big-name contestants.

According to multiple reports, the show – which returned to ITV in 2024 after a six-year absence – is facing increasing pressure from rival celebrity reality programmes, particularly The Celebrity Traitors, which has become the preferred choice for many high-profile stars.

ITV had already confirmed that Celebrity Big Brother would not air during 2026, with plans to bring it back in 2027. However, new reports suggest that comeback is now far from guaranteed, with rising production costs and difficulties agreeing budgets with producers adding further uncertainty.

Despite the speculation, ITV has previously insisted it remains committed to the format. Earlier this year, the broadcaster said Celebrity Big Brother and the civilian Big Brother remain important parts of its reality television line-up, with future scheduling decisions yet to be confirmed.

The most recent celebrity series, won by Jack P. Shepherd, generated headlines after Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke was removed from the house over his behavior. While the show continued to attract strong streaming figures on ITVX, insiders believe finding the calibre of celebrity expected for a primetime ITV1 audience has become increasingly difficult.

For now, Big Brother is still expected to continue with its civilian series later this year, while the future of its celebrity counterpart remains under review. An official decision on whether Celebrity Big Brother returns in 2027 has yet to be announced.