Watch: ITV announces it's bringing back Big Brother

Big Brother is preparing to return to British TV screens after a five-year hiatus.

The reality show, which aired for 18 years before being axed in 2018, has been picked up by ITV for not one but two new series fronted by new host duo AJ Odudu and Will Best.

The show also has a shiny new logo that was shared by ITV during the finale of Love Island 2023 and has since revealed a brand new colourful look via social media.

Read more: Who has hosted Big Brother?

Here is everything we know so far about the reboot.

Big Brother start date and how to watch

The Big Brother house will reopen its doors on Sunday, 8 October at 9pm. It will be shown on ITV2 and the streaming platform ITVX, with the launch episode also airing on ITV1.

The show will be followed by Big Brother: Late & Live, a new show with hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best reporting live from outside the Big Brother house for a studio audience and viewers at home.

Big Brother: Late & Live will be the place to be to watch live interviews, see the weekly nomination results and enjoy commentary and debate from celebrity guests.

Plans for a second series in 2024 are already in the works.

"This is the start of it so watch this space," explained ITV2 controller Paul Mortimer during a visit to the Edinburgh TV Festival. "We have really bought into Big Brother. A lot of us worked on it before [at different channels] and I can't imagine we are in it just to do two six-week runs."

Read more: Where are the Big Brother winners now?

A brief teaser saw Odudu and Best killing time in their trailer, narrated by voiceover that's familiar to any long-time Big Brother fanatic.

The basic premise will remain the same: housemates living together for up to six weeks, with their every move filmed by surveillance cameras. But the famous house will feature a "contemporary new look" and a batch of contestants from "all walks of life", according to ITV.

Mortimer previously said the "refreshed" series would "contain all the familiar format points" from the original show, including live evictions and a cash prize for the winner. But he teased "some additional twists that speak to today's audience".

He said: "We're beyond excited to bring this iconic series to ITV2 and ITVX where it should especially engage with our younger viewers."

ITV confirmed that a popular feature of the original series would return, announcing in July 2023 that "footage from the house will be live streamed into the small hours every night on ITVX after the Big Brother companion show."

Big Brother initially ran on Channel 4 between 2000 and 2010. Based on a format created by Dutch TV tycoon John de Mol, it quickly became one of the most talked-about and controversial shows of the decade and helped to launch the careers of housemates such as Jade Goody, Alison Hammond and Adele Roberts.

The reality series moved to Channel 5 in 2011 but was cancelled in 2018 as ratings slumped.

Big Brother's production company said at the time that there were "future possibilities" for more series on UK TV, prompting speculation it could be revived. Channel 5 controller Ben Frow later said he had no regrets about ending the series, adding: "The world is very crowded with reality shows."

Big Brother presenters

ITV's Big Brother reboot will be hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, and narrator Marcus Bentley will return return for the series.

Odudu previously co-hosted spin-off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side and was a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, while Best is known for fronting talent show Dance Dance Dance on ITV.

The duo will preside over weekly evictions and "quiz" housemates on the events of the day, and front an additional nightly live show debating the topics inside the house.

Odudu, 35, said: "I'm so excited to finally be able to say that, yes: I'm hosting Big Brother! I couldn't be happier.

Read more: Who has hosted Big Brother?

"Following in the footsteps of some of my favourite broadcasting legends to front such an iconic show is an absolute honour – and to do it alongside my amazing friend Will is the icing on the cake."

Best, 38, said: "I grew up with Big Brother so getting a chance to host it with my mate AJ is a dream come true. I can't wait to tell some housemates not to swear."

Davina McCall hosted Big Brother during its stint on Channel 4, but she was replaced by former housemate Brian Dowling and Emma Willis for its run on Channel 5. Rylan Clark, Alison Hammond, Vick Hope and Jedward were among the names linked to the ITV series before Odudu and Best were announced in April.

Is Celebrity Big Brother coming back?

ITV hasn't ruled out plans for an all-new celebrity edition at a later date, although nothing has been confirmed yet.

The most recent celebrity series was won by former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas in 2018.

Big Brother will return on ITV on 8 October 2023 at 9pm.