ITV has confirmed a major schedule shake-up for Celebrity Big Brother, announcing the show will be delayed and moved from its flagship ITV1 channel for its 2026 series.
Schedule Shift and Channel Move
The reality programme, which typically airs in the first quarter of the year, has been pushed back to a later, unspecified date in 2026. In a significant demotion, the series will also move from ITV1 to its digital sibling channel, ITV2.
This decision comes despite the show's recent success, with Coronation Street's Jack P. Shepherd crowned the winner earlier this year. An ITV spokesperson defended the move, stating, "We are committed to both Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother beyond 2025, and scheduling for any new series will be confirmed in due course."
The broadcaster highlighted the format's strong performance on its streaming service, noting it "recently hit 150 million streams on ITVX," confirming it remains a priority reality format for the network. The delay is intended to create space for other major ITV commissions.
Fan Backlash and Love Island Clash Fears
The announcement has sparked considerable concern among dedicated viewers, many of whom took to social media to voice their frustrations. A primary worry is the potential scheduling conflict with another ITV reality giant, Love Island, which dominates summer television.
One alarmed fan speculated, "what. they’re gonna put it on the same time as love island aren’t they," while another declared it "Terrible news. It will sink even further in the ratings if it goes up against Love Island."
Other reactions included:
- One viewer questioned ITV's strategy, writing, "What are @ITV playing at! No #CBBUK or #BBUK until later 2026!"
- Another lamented, "But it's the best show #bbuk #cbbuk," accompanied by a crying emoji.
A Silver Lining and Further Changes
Not all reactions were negative. Some fans saw potential benefits in the delay and channel switch. One optimistic viewer suggested, "This could be good news if it means more time to book decent celebs and extend the celebrity series by a week or so?"
Another commented, "I think sometimes shows can suffer from being on too often. I hope that both CBB and the main show can some back strong." Others recalled the show's traditional summer slot, with one noting, "It’s [sic] should be shown in the summer like BB used to be."
This schedule change follows reports that the companion talk show Big Brother Late and Live is being axed by ITV. An industry insider suggested the main show has "struggled this year due to fierce competition from the likes of Celebrity Traitors," which impacted the late-night spin-off's performance. ITV has yet to announce a confirmed transmission date for the revamped 2026 series of Celebrity Big Brother.
