ITV has officially pulled the plug on its Big Brother: Late and Live spin-off show after a two-year run, with bosses citing disappointingly low viewership figures.
The End of an Era for the Spin-Off
The companion show, which aired alongside the main Big Brother programme since its revival on ITV in 2023, has been quietly cancelled. It featured a string of celebrity guests discussing the events in the famous house but ultimately failed to capture a significant audience.
According to internal reports, producers have conceded that the ratings were simply too low to justify bringing the show back when Celebrity Big Brother returns in the new year. An insider revealed that whispers about the axe had been circulating for weeks, becoming an open topic of conversation on the studio floor during the show's final week.
Shifting Habits, Not Presenters, to Blame
Crucially, the show's failure is not being attributed to its popular hosts, AJ Odudu and Will Best. ITV bosses reportedly believe the duo are still the right people to front the main Big Brother show.
Instead, the cancellation is being put down to a combination of factors, including a general struggle for the Big Brother brand this year in the face of fierce competition from shows like Celebrity Traitors, and a broader shift in audience viewing habits. The insider confirmed that freelancers working on the show have been quietly told not to expect it to return.
What's Next for Big Brother and Its Hosts?
Despite this cutback, ITV has emphasised that the main Big Brother show is not under threat and remains a priority for the channel. This is bolstered by the recent news that the flagship programme has hit over 150 million streams on ITVX, proving its ongoing popularity in the on-demand space.
An ITV spokesperson stated, "We will confirm plans for Big Brother’s forthcoming series in due course." Meanwhile, host Will Best has been tipped to appear in this year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, joining other celebrities on the BBC One programme which will mark the final hosting run for Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
The news follows the conclusion of Big Brother 2025 last week, which saw contestant Richard crowned the winner after a final showdown with Elsa. The series featured 17 housemates in total, narrowed down to a final six.
