ITV boss drops Big Brother hints as he says reboot should channel 'golden period'

ITV's boss has said Big Brother needs to return to its "golden period" when it is resurrected later this year.

The reality TV show giant is returning after five years off screen, and has found a new home at ITV2.

Fans have been desperate to hear more about the new series and whether it will differ from classic Big Brother, and the broadcaster's managing director Kevin Lygo has now dropped a few hints.

Read more: Big Brother is back: Everything we know about the new series

Variety quoted him as saying: "The key to Big Brother is to keep it like it was in its golden period – to have it more interesting, intelligent, upmarket etc than other reality shows."

He added that it was a "great addition to have in the autumn period".

Lygo did not share any details of who might host the series when it returns.

Davina McCall was the original presenter, with Brian Dowling and Emma Willis stepping in later, and many fans have said they would like to see her come back.

However, Rylan Clark is also thought to be a contender.

He was on the celebrity edition and used to host the spin-off programme Big Brother's Bit On The Side and has been quoted as saying that if he was offered the main show hosting slot he would sign up "in a heartbeat".

Big Brother first aired in 2000 on Channel 4, where it stayed for 11 series, seven celebrity versions and final series Ultimate Big Brother.

It then moved to Channel 5 where it aired eight more seasons of the main series as well as 15 of Celebrity Big Brother.

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The show ended in 2018.

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