Big Brother

The Big Brother host will meet and mentor scholars and attend bursaries events.

She said: “As someone who worked their way up and started my career with no connections in the TV industry, coming from a working-class background in Blackburn to finding my feet in the industry, I know how important being supported by such a prestigious institution will be for the recipients.

“I look forward to meeting the talented students and hearing all about their aspirations for the future.”

From Love Island’s Chloe Burrows, to Wagatha Christie victim Rebekah Vardy, to Reggae Reggae sauce creator Levi Roots, there are many rumours floating around social media as to who will be the next household names turned housemates. But fans will have to wait a little longer to lay these rumours to rest.  

ITV revealed via X (formerly Twitter) that the cast will only be announced live in the launch show – a major shake up from the 2023 civilian series, where the cast were pre-announced, and the show was pre-recorded.

The greatest comebacks since Lazarus – or lazy commissioning? An RTS national event in mid-October that boasted a panel of executives responsible for resurrecting many entertainment shows offered some answers.

The new series will air on ITV1 and STV, followed by hour-long companion show Celebrity Big Brother: Late & Live every night on ITV2 and ITVX. Late & Live will feature evictees’ first live interview after leaving the Big Brother house, as well as debate and commentary from special guests.

The Celebrity Brother: Live Stream will make a comeback, showing live footage from the house long after Celebrity Big Brother: Late and Live. The livestream will air every night of the week on both ITVX and STV Player.

The past few years have been eventful for most, but the highs and lows of ITV’s fortunes have been particularly pronounced. Its advertising revenues were hit hard by the pandemic, but the broadcaster bounced back to achieve record advertising in 2021-22. At the end of 2022, there was another watershed moment: it launched ITVX, its heavyweight streaming service to replace ITV Hub with a combined 26,000 hours of ITV and Britbox content. But, this year, its advertising ­revenues have again slumped.

This year’s contestants include an array of personalities and regional accents – from DJs, to bingo-callers, to butchers, get ready to meet the participants of the ultimate social experiment.

Jenkin

Bridgend

25

Partygate

Tuesday

Channel 4, 9.30pm

Partygate serves as both a Fresh Meat reunion (Kimberley Nixon and Charlotte Richie will be starring) and a troubling visual on what really went on behind the doors of No.10 back in 2020.

Big Brother is returning from a five-year hiatus, and at a new home on ITV2 and ITVX. The new cast of housemates will be able to enjoy the classic tasks, nominations and eliminations that were seen in the original 19 series, however, they will stay in the house for just six weeks instead of 12.

The iconic logo’s rebranding nods to the new contemporary feel ITV wants for the show. The eye is comprised of circles showing hashtags, lips, several eyes, and the words “Big Brother”.

Together the pair will preside over the weekly evictions and quiz housemates on all the events and antics. They will also host the nightly companion live show, debating the hot topics inside the house.

Sir Peter Bazalgette – ­known simply as “Baz” to colleagues and so many others across the creative industries over which he has towered for the past four decades – recently stood down as Chair of ITV, marking the end of another chapter in his long career.