Big Brother is back!

Big Brother is back!

The original reality tv format to launch on ITV2 and ITVX in 2023

The Big Brother house has a brand new home, as the global television phenomenon makes its much anticipated return to UK television and moves onto ITV2 and ITVX from 2023.

A new cast of carefully selected housemates, from all walks of life, will take up residence in the world’s most famous reality TV home for up to six weeks, with cameras capturing their every move, and the nation following every twist and turn. 

The action will all play out under the roof of the iconic Big Brother house, which will be given its own contemporary new look ready for this reimagining of the show. Clever tasks, nail-biting nominations and live evictions will be back, with the public once again playing a crucial role, voting throughout the series and ultimately determining the winner, who will walk away with a life changing cash prize. 
 
Produced by Initial (part of Banijay UK) Big Brother first launched on UK screens in 2000.  

Big Brother is commissioned for ITV2 and ITVX by Paul Mortimer, Director of Reality Commissioning & Acquisitions and Controller, ITV2, ITVBe & CITV, and Peter Tierney, Commissioning Editor. Its return to UK screens marks the first major Banijay format commission for leading entertainment and format producers Natalka Znak and Claire O’Donohoe since joining the group earlier this year.

Paul Mortimer, Director of Reality Commissioning & Acquisitions and Controller, ITV2, ITVBe and CITV said:

“This refreshed, contemporary new series of Big Brother will contain all the familiar format points that kept viewers engaged and entertained the first time round, but with a brand new look and some additional twists that speak to today’s audience. We’re beyond excited to bring this iconic series to ITV2 and ITVX where it should especially engage with our younger viewers.” 

Natalka Znak, CEO of Initial, Remarkable Entertainment and Znak TV added:

 “Big Brother is the original and best reality format and one that I have never made before so it’s a huge privilege to be making an all new version with ITV2 and ITVX. Working with Claire O'Donohoe and the talented team at Initial, Katy Manley and Cat Lynch. This is going to be epic!”

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Notes to editors:

About Big Brother
One of the world’s most iconic and successful reality television franchises, Big Brother first hit screens in the Netherlands in 1999. Since its debut, over 500 series of the show have aired around the world in over 64 countries and regions. Globally, the format has maintained huge popularity, 2021 being one of its strongest years yet with 30 productions airing across 25 markets. This included high-profile comebacks in Benelux and a celebrity version in Australia, six regional versions in India, a first series Mongolia and continued popularity in Brazil and the US.

In the UK, Big Brother first aired on Channel 4 and ran for a total of 11 series, plus 7 series of Celebrity Big Brother and a final special edition series entitled Ultimate Big Brother. The show subsequently aired for a further 8 series on Channel 5, with an additional 15 celebrity series, before going on hiatus in 2018. The upcoming 2023 series on ITV2 and ITVX will mark the first time Big Brother returns to UK screens in almost five years.

Big Brother is a Banijay format.

Natalka Znak – CEO of Initial, Remarkable Entertainment and Znak TV

A creative force for hit entertainment formats, Natalka has produced shows such as Secret Millionaire and Celebrity Wife Swap for ABC, and was controller of factual entertainment for ITV Studios, creating I’m A Celebrity Get… Me Out Of Here!, Hell’s Kitchen and Love Island during her tenure.

Natalka’s most recent credits include Masquerade Ball, Ultimate Tag, Revolution and Meghan Markle: An American Princess for Fox, 30 Days With: Bret Rock for YouTube, as well as the juggernaut Netflix hit, I am a Killer. Natalka also served as the long-running co showrunner of MasterChef US and MasterChef Jr. for Fox. 
 
Claire O’Donohoe – Director of Programmes, Initial, Remarkable Entertainment and Znak TV. With over two decades of unscripted television experience Claire has worked on some of the biggest entertainment formats on both sides of the Atlantic including break out hits The Masked Singer, and I Can See Your Voice for Fox.

Claire’s credits also include US versions of hit formats including Wife Swap, Secret Millionaire and over a dozen unscripted series for a wide array of US networks. She began her career at ITV Studios and Endemol where she executive produced Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother as well as produced genre defining formats Hell’s Kitchen, I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, The Games, Fame Academy and Pop Stars.