Celebrity Big Brother Slammed by ITV's Star Signing Crisis

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The Uncertain Future of Celebrity Big Brother

Celebrity Big Brother, a long-running reality television show, has reportedly faced a significant setback. According to recent reports, the program is set to be on a lengthy hiatus, potentially staying off the air for nearly two years. This unexpected break comes amid ongoing challenges in securing high-profile housemates for the show.

The most recent celebrity series aired on ITV in April last year, with Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd emerging as the winner. However, plans for its return have been repeatedly delayed, with the show now expected to be off-air until at least 2027. The format, which is hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, was previously announced to move from ITV1 to ITV2. Despite this change, casting concerns behind the scenes have not been alleviated.

A source revealed to The Sun that fans were still expecting another series this year. Executives confirmed that the show would not return to its traditional March/April air date for the next two seasons. Instead, it would have to go out in late 2026. This development is likely to disappoint devoted fans who are used to the show's regular schedule.

The extended absence of Celebrity Big Brother has sparked speculation about its long-term future. The source mentioned that this situation raises questions about the show's sustainability. It is believed that despite featuring well-known personalities such as JoJo Siwa, ex-Eastender Patsy Palmer, veteran actor Mickey Rourke, former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, and ex-Love Islander Chris Hughes, the show has struggled to attract enough viewers.

The Daily Mail has reached out to ITV for further comments on the matter. Similar issues have also affected other ITV programs, such as Dancing on Ice. This ice-skating competition was paused for this year due to declining ratings and increasing production costs, particularly celebrity fees. In March 2025, ITV announced that the Sunday night staple hosted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern had been "rested" with "no current plans for another series."

This decision meant that the ice-skating competition, which started in 2006, will not celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. It's another blow for the channel, which also axed the civilian Big Brother's Late & Live spin-off just two years after its launch for failing to win over audiences.

At the end of last year, a source told The Sun that Big Brother in general has struggled this year due to fierce competition from the likes of Celebrity Traitors. Late & Live has really struggled due to the main show not doing as well as hoped. Over the past few weeks, whispers have been rife that the show would be axed, and during the final week, it was an open topic on the studio floor.

The insider revealed that those who worked on the show were quietly informed of its demise. They said that bosses have quietly told staff, many of whom are freelancers, not to expect the show to return. The insider admitted that while the axing was "a shame," every show must eventually come to an end.

It's also been suggested that the show's live format has been part of the issue after so many fans switched to watching the show on ITVX. Big Brother first hit British TV screens way back in 2000, and the reality TV show based on George Orwell's surveillance novel 1984 initially went down a storm with viewers. At its peak in 2002, the finale attracted a whopping 10 million viewers.