It's the news that many have been waiting for – Big Brother is on the way back!
We've seen it channel hop, and said farewell many times, but in the summer of 2022 (with a surprise trailer at the end of the Love Island finale) it was announced that the reality TV giant will be returning to screens, this time on ITV.
What do we know about the reboot of the beloved format so far? Details of the new Big Brother are still to be revealed, but ITV has been careful to point out that the "global television phenomenon" will be back, only on a new home, indicating that we'll be getting the show we've come to know and love over the decades.
Inside the "iconic Big Brother house", which will naturally have a makeover ahead of its relaunch with ITV's "reimagining" of the much-loved series.
At the time of the announcement, ITV boss Paul Mortimer, who is Director of Reality Commissioning and Acquisitions, 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."
But when will Big Brother 3.0 air? Will any fan-favourites – such as Davina McCall, Emma Willis or Rylan – return? Here's everything you need to know.
Big Brother 2023 potential release date: When will it air?
While an official date hasn't been confirmed by ITV, it has been reported that Big Brother will arrive on its new home in March 2023 (via Broadcast) to follow Love Island's winter series early next year.
This would have been our guesstimate; Love Island has only had one winter series previously and is the channel's flagship reality offering and one of its most popular among viewers. As such, it seems unlikely that they'd run the two shows simultaneously, choosing instead to maximise the buzz around each one.
Big Brother 2023 reboot: Who will host?
Unsurprisingly ,the rumours of who might present have already started, with a number of big names said to be in the running.
According to a report in The Sun, ITV is looking to move away from the more familiar faces that are already associated with previous incarnations of the show.
The publication said that Mo Gilligan (comedian, Gogglebox favourite and judge on The Masked Singer) had been a favourite, but would be too busy to take part.
"Now bosses are looking at female stars who have the strength to hold the show together, while also the warmth to gently quiz contestants in the way that Davina McCall and Emma Willis did so well," the newspaper reported.
Here's who might be uttering "you are live on..." for what will become the series' 20th(!) series (if we're counting across both Channel 4 and 5).
Maura Higgins
Who? Former Love Island contestant and TV personality.
Maura was the standout addition to the villa during her season, and she's only continued to gain more popularity since.
The reality star has some presenting experience under her belt too, having fronted Glow Up Ireland for the BBC and done some work on ITV's award-winning daytime show This Morning.
The Sun has pointed to Maura as being a frontrunner in the race to become the new face of Big Brother.
Vick Hope
Who? Radio 1 host, presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant.
Said to also be at the top of the channel's list, Vick is reported to have been in talks with ITV bosses to take the Big Brother job for some time.
"Vick is a great interviewer and would bring a younger audience to Big Brother thanks to her job on Radio 1," a source told The Sun.
Emily Atack
Who? Former star of The Inbetweeners and TV personality.
Another name that could bring something different to a new-look Big Brother, Emily already has a longstanding relationship with ITV thanks to her stint on I'm a Celebrity, her involvement in ITV2's Celebrity Juice and her comedy sketch series The Emily Atack Show (which has three seasons).
Reports in The Sun have also put her name forward as being a potential candidate.
Alison Hammond
Who? Former Big Brother housemate and This Morning presenter.
The ever-popular TV personality was asked recently whether she'd be open to going back to her roots, only this time as a presenter instead of a contestant.
During an appearance on Loose Women (via Chronicle Live), Alison confirmed that she hadn't been approached for the job. But, when pressed by her fellow panellists, she admitted: "who knows, if that came my way, of course, I'll probably say yes."
Will Davina McCall return for ITV's Big Brother reboot?
The OG host, who was at the helm of the gameshow throughout its first decade on Channel 4, has become synonymous with Big Brother.
It was she that first coined the famous "please do not swear" catchphrase, as well as "fancy another one?", and more recently she returned to the franchise by taking part in a special anniversary retrospective (alongside fellow former host Rylan) which aired on Channel 4 in 2020.
Sadly for those that have been hanging about from the early days (and remember the live stream), Davina has already ruled out a return for the new launch.
Confirming that she loves the programme "with all of my heart", she told Radio Times that it was "the best 11 years" of her life.
Davina added that she would be supporting whoever gets the presenting gig "with every fibre in my body", before confirming, "but I don't think it's me."
What about Emma Willis?
Addressing the reboot during a chat with Digital Spy at this year's National Television Awards, Willis seemingly backed up previous comments where she ruled out heading up the show, saying: "I will be watching every night for myself unless there's a spin-off show! Then I will absolutely be on the panel."
The presenter, who fronted the series when it aired on Channel 5 after replacing former winner Brian Dowling, had already explained her belief that "with every new era of Big Brother, I think there should be a new host."
"You know, I loved my time on the show," Emma told Radio Times. "I very much kind of said goodbye to it back then because we thought it was over. I don't tend to go back. I like to move forward."
And... how about Rylan?
Arguably the biggest Big Brother fan EVER, Rylan's name is never far away from a conversation surrounding the show.
The former housemate and Big Brother's Bit On The Side host helped to keep the online campaign alive after the show was axed on Channel 5, and it's no surprise that questions have been swirling about whether or not he'll make a comeback – and it would be a popular choice.
Responding to a fan on Twitter, Rylan wrote: "As a fan, like always, I'm made up it's coming back. I know how hard you/we all fought to keep that name alive and I'm so glad it paid off in the end. The OG reality is back. It's the news we wanted. Welcome back bro."
He later added, "we will see… very early days [regarding] team/host. Regardless we wanted it back and it came back."
Will Marcus Bentley make a comeback for Big Brother on ITV?
Could you imagine Big Brother without that iconic voice booming "Day twelve in the Big Brother house"?
The only correct answer is no because there's never been a UK version of the gameshow without Marcus, who has stuck around across every episode regardless of where it was airing.
When asked about his involvement in the pending ITV project, Bentley admitted that it was "not confirmed" but still sounded hopeful.
"I think it sounds like I am," he told Radio Times. "I'm getting calls from [producers] and they're going to keep me updated. But they haven't chosen anything."
Big Brother 2023 UK applications: Where can I audition to join the cast?
Rylan has echoed the hopes of fans by sharing that he is "praying for normal housemates from all walks [of life]" in the new-look series.
Dermot O'Leary, who previously fronted Big Brother's Little Brother, has shared similar sentiments, alluding to a need to not rely on influencer culture.
"I do think it needs to be very diverse," he told Metro. "I think it needs to be diverse in the people that are in the house, diverse in its thought.
"I think it needs to have a lot of separation between Love Island and less of a popularity contest and more of a social experiment with a popularity contest chucked in. But I'm excited, I'm really looking forward to seeing it."
The host of This Morning also noted that the ITV reboot has got "very good people working on it", pointing out that he believes a lot of Channel 4 staff have moved to ITV in recent years.
If you want to fulfil a lifelong dream of going into the Big Brother house yourself and try your luck for the new series, auditions are now open over at BigBrother.com.
ITV has shared that it's looking for "fresh faces from all walks of UK life" who will be "interesting, funny and entertaining characters" that "come from every corner of the country."
Giving away some titbits about what we can expect from Big Brother's return, ITV has also promised its future contestants that they'll experience "clever tasks, nail-biting nominations and live evictions" along with a "life-changing sum of money" to be won.
Big Brother will launch on ITV2 and ITVX in 2023.
