Celebrity Big Brother is reportedly set to be axed for good amid ITV’s budget cuts after it was previously announced that the format would be rested until at least 2027
Celebrity Big Brother is reportedly set to be axed for good amid ITV’s budget cuts. The hit reality show, which was initially hosted by Davina McCall on Channel 4 in the early 2000s, was revived in 2024 with AJ Odudu and Will Best at the helm.
Whilst the civilian programme is set to continue this year, the celebrity edition, which has so far been won by reality star David Potts and Coronation Street actor Jack P Shepherd, will not return to screens for a third outing. Apparently, this is due to pressures from famous faces to land a part on one of its biggest rivals over on the BBC.
A source said: “Bosses face a huge challenge trying to sign up celebrities because so many of them are now pressing their agents to get them on The Celebrity Traitors.”
Other stars to compete on its two-series run include EastEnders icon Patsy Palmer, X Factor judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, as well as Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and former This Morning presenter Fern Britton.
It’s thought that ITV are finding it difficult to sign such well-known names when there is competition from other big reality shows, and whilst it was initially thought that the format had been rested until at least 2027, it would appear that the programme may not be back at all.
Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “That is already causing problems for other big shows, like Strictly and I’m A Celebrity, which rely of star contestants because they now find themselves as second in the pecking order.
“So that is an even greater issues for a show like Celebrity Big Brother because Now it’s on ITV, it needs a certain calibre of contestant which are very hard to sign up now.”
The civilian version of Big Brother, which has so far been won by Jordan Sangha, Ali Bromley and Richard Storry, is set to return later this year. But there could be a major clash on the cards with ITV’s new I’m A Celebrity spin-off The Wild Frontier, which, according to insiders, was set to air “exactly the same time” as Celebrity Big Brother.
An ITV spokesperson said: “Big Brother returns to ITVX and ITV2 later this year. No decisions have been made for 2027 as yet.”
Insiders previously explained that the civilian version is “far cheaper to produce than celebrity so the return on investment is worth the while.”
It’s no secret that ITV have faced major budget cuts over the last year, with soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale each having had a reduction in episodes. The broadcaster’s daytime brands, Lorraine and Loose Women, have also been slashed significantly, and now only air for 30 weeks of the year as opposed to the full 52.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo explained the issue at the Edinburgh TV festival last year. He said: “Celebrity Big Brother, we’re looking at. We’re thinking not on the main channel, that’s the answer. “It’s so difficult now to book big celebrities, famous people, which is what we need on the main channel. Whereas you can go more interesting and niche on ITV2.
“We’re in a battle with [production company] Banijay about the price. It does really well for us on ITVX. It’s a really important, crucial show. I love it and it does a tremendous job for us so, yes, it’s coming back.”
The Late And Live spin-off, which AJ and Will hosted, was also axed.
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