The full Big Brother 2026 line-up has been revealed, with 16 housemates entering the ITV reality series on Sunday night (September 13). Among them is Tays, a 23-year-old streamer from Manchester, who is secretly the show's 'mole' in a major format twist.
Housemates enter with £100,000 prize at stake
The new series, presented by AJ Odudu and Will Best, kicked off with a live audience as the contestants entered the house in hopes of winning a cash prize of £100,000. However, not everyone involved is who they claim to be.
Tays, a close friend of I'm A Celebrity winner Angry Ginge and part of The Bov Boys content group, was appointed the show's mole. Prior to the season getting underway, Tays and Ginge, along with fellow Bov Boys Chazza, Jakey, and Heinz Baines, took part in a 24-hour test run of the premises on Saturday (September 12).
Mole's mission and fan reactions
Tays, who is from North Manchester, was branded the 'Chief Creator of Chaos' in the 'House of Chaos' by AJ and Will. The house will have a new theme each week, turning the show's format on its head.
Serving as a fake housemate for the week, Tays must convince the other housemates that he is one of them, while the rest of the house tries to figure out that he is actually a streamer with over 600,000 Instagram followers. Adding to the drama, Tays will nominate three housemates to face the first public vote, and he must select one housemate to be a fellow mole to help with his mission.
Big Brother fans expressed mixed reactions to the twist on X, formerly known as Twitter. @slvtrsz said: "So they're giving Tays all the power to nominate 3 housemates for eviction??? This is exactly what we didn't want #BBUK." @hausofrealitytv added: "We should of just had a #CBB series earlier this year and Tays could of been on that #BBUK."
@ALI_NAYSHUN wrote: "Surely the younger people in the house will know who tays is and would sus out that he's somewhat too big to be in there #BBUK." @camrn_ stated: "Tays couldnt make it any more obvious that hes the mole if he tried #BBUK."
@itstomoliver argued: "I do like the twist but only because I like Tays and actually am sad that he won't stay. He should stay. #BBUK." @jakebiss_ posted: "Tays was definitely the best pick, I'm firmly seated #BBUK."
Full Big Brother 2026 line-up
The full line-up includes Yasmin, 29, a teacher from Manchester; Harry, 30, from Croydon, fitness coach; Chelsey, 29, from Manchester, social worker; Phillip, 53, from Liverpool, content creator; Lynx, 24, from London, property developer; Charlotte, 18, from Oxford, student; Pauline, 31, from Essex, carer; Tays, 23, from Manchester, streamer who is actually the secret housemate and Big Brother's mole; Rochelle, 56, from Essex, housewife; Millie, 19, from Paisley, bartender; Frankie, 23, from London, marketing manager; Samuel, 21, from Slough, admin apprentice; Rob, 25, from Bideford, radio presenter; Rhianna, 21, from Chelsea, stay-at-home daughter; Omar, 21, from London, jewellery seller; and Johanne, 44, from Los Angeles, online marketing.
