Big Brother UK 2026 airs at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX from Sunday through Friday, with no regular Saturday episode. The eight-week series launched on September 13 with AJ Odudu and Will Best introducing 15 regular housemates and one special entrant.
ITVX calls the current run Series 4 because it is the fourth civilian series since the show moved to ITV in 2023. Viewers counting the complete UK history may also see it called Series 23. The year is the simplest way to distinguish it from the US and other international editions.
Big Brother UK 2026 schedule and where to watch
- Main show: Sunday through Friday at 9pm on ITV2, with episodes also available on ITVX.
- Saturday: No regular main episode is listed in the confirmed weekly pattern.
- Season length: Eight weeks. ITV has not published an exact finale date in its current programme materials.
- Launch episode: Sunday, September 13 at 9pm. The ITVX version runs 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- The Group Chat: Sunday through Thursday straight after Big Brother. The first listed episode is Monday, September 14 at 10pm.
The 9pm slot is confirmed for the first broadcast week, September 13-18. Live television schedules can still change, so ITV’s guide is the final check for a specific night. ITVX is the official catch-up destination in the UK.
Meet the 15 regular Big Brother 2026 housemates
The launch introduced housemates from ages 18 to 57, with jobs ranging from teacher and social worker to radio presenter and jewellery seller. The regular lineup is:
- Yasmin, 29: A teacher from Manchester.
- Harry, 30: An online fitness coach from Croydon.
- Chelsey, 29: A social worker from Manchester.
- Philip, 53: A content creator from Liverpool.
- Lynx, 24: A property developer from London.
- Charlotte, 18: A student from Oxford.
- Pauline, 31: A carer from Essex.
- Rochelle, 57: A housewife from Essex.
- Millie, 19: A bartender from Paisley.
- Frankie, 23: A marketing manager from London.
- Samuel, 21: An administrative apprentice from Slough.
- Rob, 25: A radio presenter from Bideford.
- Rhianna, 21: A self-described stay-at-home daughter from Chelsea.
- Omar, 21: A jewellery seller from London.
- Johanne, 44: Works in online marketing and lives in Salford after moving from Los Angeles.
The launch episode also placed a mole in the house
Launch episode spoiler warning: the next paragraph explains the first-night twist.
Tays, 23, entered the house as Big Brother’s mole rather than as one of the 15 regular contestants. He is a Manchester streamer and content creator who took part in the Bov Boys’ 24-hour pre-launch dry run. His role is to convince the other residents that he belongs in the regular cast while following Big Brother’s instructions.
That twist is why some cast lists show 16 names while early winner fields show 15 competitors. All 16 people were introduced inside the house, but Tays began with a separate assignment.
AJ Odudu and Will Best are back as hosts
AJ Odudu and Will Best returned for the fourth ITV civilian series. They present the live events and guide the launch, evictions and final, while the daily episodes follow the relationships, tasks, nominations and decisions inside the house.
The house itself has been framed as a “house of surprises” for 2026. ITV has promised twists, ambitious tasks, high-stakes nominations and live evictions, but it has not published a complete week-by-week twist calendar.
The Group Chat replaces the old companion format
Kate Lawler and GK Barry host Big Brother: The Group Chat from Sunday through Thursday after the main show. Episodes air on ITV2 and ITVX, appear on YouTube and are also released through major podcast platforms.
The companion show covers the night’s main conversations, brings in celebrity fans and special guests, and interviews evicted housemates. ITV’s confirmed schedule lists the Monday, September 14 premiere at 10pm.
The 24-hour pre-launch stream was a separate event
The Bov Boys broadcast was a one-off 24-hour dry run beginning Saturday, September 12 on official YouTube and Twitch channels. It showed the new house before the regular cast arrived and ended before the televised launch.
ITV’s current 2026 programme releases do not announce a nightly overnight live feed for this series. The confirmed viewing options are the ITV2 broadcasts, ITVX episodes and The Group Chat. The pre-launch takeover should not be confused with a continuing live stream.
Why ITVX calls this Series 4
Big Brother began in the UK in 2000, later moved from Channel 4 to Channel 5 and returned through ITV in 2023. ITVX counts the current run within that newest era, so the service labels 2026 as Series 4.
Coverage that counts every civilian UK series from the original launch calls it Series 23. Both labels point to the same 2026 season; neither refers to the US Big Brother, which has its own cast and broadcast schedule.
Big Brother UK 2026 FAQ
What time is Big Brother on tonight?
The confirmed regular slot is 9pm on ITV2 from Sunday through Friday. Check ITV’s live guide for same-day changes.
Is Big Brother on Saturday?
No regular Saturday episode is listed. The current weekly pattern runs Sunday through Friday.
Where can I watch Big Brother UK 2026?
In the UK, watch live on ITV2 or stream and catch up on ITVX. ITV has not announced an official international platform for this series.
When is Big Brother: The Group Chat on?
It runs Sunday through Thursday after the main show on ITV2 and ITVX, with YouTube and podcast versions also available.
Follow the series as the schedule changes
Pixel Twelve will track confirmed evictions, schedule updates and major announcements through its TV and News sections.
