Big Brother: Late & Live has been officially cancelled, The Sun has confirmed, just days after the latest series wrapped on ITV2. The beloved late-night companion show will not return when Celebrity Big Brother launches in March 2026, marking a significant shift in how Big Brother content will be delivered to viewers.
Why Late & Live Was Cancelled
ITV insiders attribute the cancellation to declining ratings and changing viewing habits, rather than any reflection on the show’s hosts. An ITV spokesperson told TV Zone UK: “We will confirm plans for Big Brother’s forthcoming series in due course.”
The spin-off, which debuted alongside Big Brother’s ITV revival in 2023, aired nightly from 10pm to 11pm following the main show. The format featured celebrity guests and studio audiences dissecting the day’s house drama, with AJ Odudu and Will Best alternating hosting duties throughout each week.
What This Means for Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best
Despite Late & Live’s axe, both AJ Odudu and Will Best remain central to Big Brother’s future. The presenting duo will continue hosting both the main Big Brother series and Celebrity Big Brother when they return in 2026. An ITV source confirmed: “ITV still loves Will and AJ and think they are the right people to host the main show.”
The hosts have proven their chemistry and expertise since joining the franchise during Big Brother’s 2023 revival. AJ Odudu, a broadcaster and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, brings years of live television experience from shows including The Big Breakfast and Celebrity Karaoke Club. Will Best, an established presenter across Channel 4, ITV, and the BBC, continues to deliver engaging coverage of the main competition.
Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother Return in 2026
While Late & Live is gone, Big Brother UK itself has been renewed for 2026. Applications for the civilian series are now open, with casting calls seeking contestants described as “the nation’s most interesting, funny and entertaining characters from all walks of life.”
Celebrity Big Brother will also return in early spring 2026, though with a notable change: the show will move from ITV1 to ITV2. According to comments from ITV controller Kevin Lygo at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the move reflects production budget constraints. “It’s so difficult now to book big celebrities, famous people, which is what we need on the main channel,” Lygo explained. “Whereas you can go more interesting and niche on ITV2.”
Shifting Viewing Habits
The cancellation of Late & Live reflects broader changes in how audiences consume television content. Rather than live, appointment television, many viewers now prefer streaming platforms like ITVX, which offers Big Brother’s full live stream coverage seven nights a week from 11pm to 2am (extended hours on Saturdays).
During Big Brother 2025, which concluded on November 14, the Late & Live companion show featured celebrity guests and former contestants including Danny Beard, Angellica Bell, Chloe Burrows, Oti Mabuse, and JoJo Siwa. Despite the quality lineup, viewership declined compared to previous years.
What Fans Can Expect Next
When Big Brother returns in 2026, viewers will receive coverage across multiple platforms. The main show airs on ITV2 and ITVX, with the live stream available on ITVX, but the daily spin-off dissection format has been shelved. This format adjustment may prompt ITV to develop alternative after-show content or increase coverage on its streaming platform.
Richard Storry claimed victory in the most recent season, becoming the oldest civilian winner at 60 years old. Fans interested in following the next chapter should apply now at the official Big Brother website.
