Kate Lawler is returning to the Big Brother world 24 years after first entering the house, taking on a new role as co-host of the companion show Big Brother: The Group Chat. She will be joined by podcaster GK Barry for the nightly series, which airs Sunday to Thursday straight after Big Brother on ITV2, ITVX and YouTube.
Full-circle moment for the 2002 winner
Kate, who won the third series of Big Brother in 2002, said the show has remained a huge part of her life since she first stepped through the doors. She said: “Big Brother has been a huge part of my life since I first stepped through those doors 24 years ago, so to now be returning in this role alongside the fantastic GK Barry feels like an exciting full-circle moment.”
The companion show will also be available across major podcast platforms, giving fans another way to keep up with the gossip once the main programme ends. Kate and GK will welcome evicted housemates, celebrity fans and special guests, while sharing their own takes on the twists, rows, alliances and shock decisions unfolding inside.
New series promises surprises and drama
The new series will see another group of strangers move into the iconic house, which has been reimagined as a house packed with surprises. Housemates will face ambitious tasks, high-stakes nominations and dramatic live evictions as they battle to outlast their rivals and win a life-changing cash prize.
With the companion show following every episode, viewers won't have to wait until the next night to get more reaction to the biggest moments. GK said becoming part of the show was “genuinely a dream come true”, adding that working alongside “an iconic BB legend like Kate” made it even more exciting.
Generations unite for nightly chat
The appointment brings together two different generations of Big Brother fandom, with Kate bringing first-hand experience of life inside the house and GK her huge podcast audience. ITV's David Smyth said the pair were the “perfect pair” to bring their own insight and energy to the nightly chat.
The Big Brother brand has already racked up more than 157 million streams on ITVX, underlining the appetite for the reality show's return. The new companion show follows every episode of the upcoming series, which is set to air this autumn.
