ITV Considers Extending Civilian Big Brother to Eight Weeks
In a significant development for reality television, ITV is reportedly drawing up secret plans to extend the autumn run of the civilian Big Brother series by an entire week. This would deliver eight full weeks of drama from the iconic house, marking a notable expansion for the long-running format.
Fan Demand Drives Extension Plans
According to sources speaking to The Sun, this potential extension directly responds to long-standing calls from the show's dedicated fanbase. Viewers have consistently argued that the action within the house often only intensifies during the final stages of the competition, making a longer series more desirable.
'Extending by a week is something fans have been calling for as past runs have shown the action really only heats up in the latter days,' a television insider revealed. The source added that despite the current hold on the celebrity edition, ITV executives continue to classify Big Brother as a 'priority reality format.'
Strategic Shift Amid Celebrity Version Hiatus
This planning comes against the backdrop of confirmed reports that Celebrity Big Brother will be rested for at least two years. The celebrity spin-off, which last aired in April of the previous year, faces 'ongoing difficulties securing big name housemates' and is not expected to return until 2027 at the earliest.
Industry analysts suggest the focus on the civilian version is a strategic move, as it is 'far cheaper' to produce than its star-studded counterpart. This makes the return on investment more favourable for the broadcaster, especially with the programme achieving over 150 million streams on ITVX and averaging around one million viewers per episode for its most recent series.
Hosting Future Remains Uncertain
Adding another layer of intrigue to the show's future is the reported uncertainty surrounding its presenting team. Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best, who fronted the 2023 revival, are said to be in a 'tricky position' as their contracts for the upcoming civilian series have not yet been confirmed.
A television source explained that both presenters typically schedule other work around Big Brother commitments, but the current ambiguity makes planning difficult. 'AJ, in particular, will have plenty of offers and usually makes decisions on taking other jobs based on recording dates for BB, as it's her biggest gig and commitment,' the source stated. There is speculation that if one host departs, the other may not continue, as they were originally announced as a presenting pair.
ITV Reaffirms Commitment to the Format
Despite the hiatus for the celebrity edition and potential presenter changes, ITV has publicly reaffirmed its dedication to the Big Brother brand. An ITV spokesman told the Daily Mail, 'We are committed to both Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother beyond 2025, and scheduling for any new series will be confirmed in due course. The show remains a priority reality format for us.'
This situation mirrors other programming decisions at ITV, where high-cost reality formats like Dancing on Ice have been paused due to declining ratings and rising production expenses. The channel also recently axed the Big Brother's Late & Live spin-off show after just two years due to poor audience reception.
As plans for an extended eight-week civilian series are debated, the core Big Brother format demonstrates its enduring appeal, poised to deliver more strategic gameplay and unexpected twists to a loyal British audience.
