Meet the Big Brother 2026 housemates as 16 new faces enter the house

Big Brother is back and 16 brand-new housemates have moved into Britain’s most famous house for what promises to be eight weeks of twists, tasks, nominations and evictions.

AJ Odudu and Will Best are back at the helm as a completely new group of strangers begin the ultimate social experiment, with this year’s house described as a “house of surprises” packed with unexpected twists and game-changing moments. 

And Big Brother isn’t wasting any time.

The opening week has been dubbed the Week of Chaos, and one housemate isn’t quite what he seems. Tays is Big Brother’s secret mole, entering the house with a very different mission to everybody else.

Tays will have to secretly select one fellow housemate to become a second mole, with the pair then given the power to choose which of their unsuspecting housemates will face the first eviction.

But who are this year’s housemates? From an 18-year-old student and a former private investigator to a self-proclaimed member of “Scouse Royalty”, a stay-at-home daughter and a radio presenter who really, really likes hot tubs, meet the Big Brother class of 2026…

Charlotte

Age: 18
From: Oxford
Occupation: Student

At just 18, Charlotte is the youngest member of this year’s cast – and she’s been waiting for her chance to apply.

Having watched every series since Big Brother returned to ITV, Charlotte says this was the first year she was old enough to take part. She describes herself as looking “quite sweet” while actually being “very weird”, promising: “I’m just going to be crazy.”

Charlotte has no game plan and says she’ll simply be herself, although she admits her stubbornness could land her in trouble when disagreements break out.

She is also a quadruple amputee and believes viewers may be surprised simply by seeing her getting on with everyday life in the house, from cooking and getting dressed to doing her makeup.

If she wins, Charlotte plans to save some of the money – her prosthetic legs cost around £25,000 each – while keeping some aside for a very nice holiday. 

Pauline

Age: 31
From: Essex
Occupation: Carer

Pauline describes Big Brother as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity after spending the last three years caring for her mother and losing her father earlier this year.

Normally calm and laid-back, she says it takes a lot to push her over the edge and hopes to bring patience and positivity to the house – although she’s also extremely competitive and particularly looking forward to the tasks.

Pauline considers herself a “straight shooter”, warning that her directness could ultimately earn her nominations.

And she has quite the previous occupation: Pauline used to be a private investigator, although she says some of what she did remains classified.

Should she win, she’d make adaptations to her home for her mum and take her to Disneyland in Florida. 

Tays

Age: 23
From: Manchester
Occupation: Streamer & Content Creator

Unlike everybody else, Tays isn’t entering the Big Brother house as an ordinary housemate.

As Big Brother’s mole, he already knows he’ll have a secret job to carry out – and says causing havoc sounds like the perfect role for him.

Tays believes he’s good at keeping secrets and is confident he can throw the other housemates off his scent, although he admits he may feel guilty once the game gets underway.

Asked how he’d cope if he actually had to remain in the house for the entire eight weeks, his answer was wonderfully straightforward:

“I would not cope at all.”

First, though, he has a job to do – and choosing the housemate who will become his fellow mole could prove to be one of the most important decisions of the opening week. 

Harry

Age: 30
From: Croydon
Occupation: Online Fitness Coach

Harry isn’t interested in the prize money – for him, Big Brother is all about the experience.

He hopes to bring some light-hearted energy to the house and says he’ll try to lift the mood whenever things become too serious.

Harry doesn’t believe having a strategy works on Big Brother because game players are quickly discovered, so he’ll take things one day at a time.

There could, however, be some very late nights ahead. Harry describes himself as a night owl who can suddenly come alive at 1am, while also admitting that his need for his own space could irritate his fellow housemates.

His surprising confession? It took him seven attempts to pass his driving test. 

Rochelle

Age: 57
From: Essex
Occupation: Housewife

Rochelle is the oldest housemate this year at 57 – and remarkably admits she only applied as a joke.

Married for 33 years with three children, Rochelle says Big Brother will be the first time she’s really done something completely on her own.

She’s hoping to bring fun and laughter but admits her fellow housemates had better keep the place tidy. Rochelle describes herself as bossy at home and predicts dirty toilets and general mess could soon have her moaning.

Outside the house she’s a keen horse rider and show jumper, riding every day.

And there’s no uncertainty over where the prize fund would go: more horses and handbags are firmly on Rochelle’s shopping list. 

Johanne

Age: 44
From: Salford, originally Los Angeles
Occupation: Online Marketing

Originally from Los Angeles, Johanne wants Big Brother to immerse her even further in British culture – although she certainly doesn’t sound likely to quietly blend into the background.

She describes herself as a good judge of character who isn’t afraid of confrontation and says she has a habit of addressing the elephant in the room.

Johanne’s strategy is simply to be “unapologetically” herself, reacting exactly as she would in everyday life.

Despite her direct exterior, she says viewers may be surprised to discover she’s actually very sensitive.

Johanne also lives with alopecia and says she’d use the prize money to create a haircare line and funky headpieces aimed at others with the condition. 

Millie

Age: 19
From: Paisley
Occupation: Bartender

At 19, Millie is another of this year’s youngest housemates – and promises to make her presence known.

She’s loud, spontaneous and believes she’ll be one of the house’s big characters, describing herself as someone you’d definitely notice when she walks into a room.

Interestingly, Millie does have the beginnings of a strategy. Her priority is winning over the people inside the house rather than worrying about viewers, reasoning that her fellow housemates are ultimately the ones who can nominate her.

Her downfall? She’s lazy, speaks her mind and refuses to tiptoe around people.

Despite expecting people to see her as a “ditsy” girly girl, Millie says she’s highly creative, plays several musical instruments and loves painting. 

Frankie

Age: 23
From: London
Occupation: Marketing Manager

Frankie predicts he’ll be one of those housemates viewers either love or hate – and he seems perfectly comfortable with that.

A fan of Big Brother since he was around eight years old, Frankie promises entertainment and believes his personality could create a divide.

He’s particularly excited about the hot tub – and, in his words, “all the single mums that end up fancying me when I come out.”

Frankie doesn’t have a strategy and intends to wing it, although his inability to cook could become a problem.

Asked what might surprise viewers about him, Frankie struggled to identify a hidden talent and instead offered:

“I’m extremely handsome. There you go.”

Well… confidence won’t be an issue. 

Omar

Age: 21
From: London
Occupation: Jewellery Seller

Omar sees Big Brother as an opportunity for growth and a chance to experience something few people ever get to do.

The 21-year-old says he’ll bring a different energy to mainstream television and intends to enter the house without a strategy, simply being himself.

He’s keeping his cards particularly close to his chest over what might earn him nominations, saying viewers will simply have to “wait and see”.

Omar also believes people may form assumptions about him from his appearance which don’t reflect who he actually is.

If he wins, he’d invest in himself and his family while also giving something back to his community – including buying school shoes for children from his estate. 

Samuel

Age: 21
From: Slough
Occupation: Administrative Apprentice

Samuel grew up watching Big Brother after being introduced to the show by his mum, and says appearing on it fulfils one of his childhood dreams.

He promises wit, charm and determination while also describing himself as somebody who quickly notices when others need support.

He’s especially excited about finally getting inside the Diary Room – and, perhaps ominously, watching how people get wound up over time.

Samuel admits his honesty could earn him nominations, as could leaving a mess behind or getting grumpy when somebody interrupts his sleep.

And despite claiming not to have a game plan, he also describes himself as highly strategic when he sets his mind to something. One to watch, perhaps? 

Chelsey

Age: 29
From: Manchester
Occupation: Social Worker

Chelsey believes there are two very different sides to her personality.

Her work as a social worker means she’s a good listener and problem solver who enjoys helping people – but she also loves talking, joking around and having fun.

She’s looking forward to discovering the family dynamics that inevitably develop inside the house, wondering who’ll become her Big Brother mum and dad – and, more importantly, who’s going to annoy her.

Chelsey says a difficult upbringing helped inspire her career. After spending part of her childhood living in a women’s refuge with her mother and sister, her own experiences with a social worker eventually inspired her to become one herself. 

Yasmin

Age: 29
From: Manchester
Occupation: Teacher

Teacher Yasmin is another long-time fan of the social experiment and describes herself as bubbly, straightforward and very much a “what you see is what you get” person.

Her fellow housemates certainly shouldn’t have any difficulty working out whether she likes them – Yasmin says people will always know exactly where they stand with her.

But there’s already one potential source of friction: she’s messy.

While some housemates might demand that dishes are washed immediately, Yasmin is perfectly happy to come back to them later and describes her surroundings as an “organised mess”.

She also has three degrees – but cheerfully admits she has absolutely no common sense. 

Lynx

Age: 24
From: London
Occupation: Property Developer

Lynx wants to show viewers his unconventional side and prove that people don’t have to conform to what others expect of them.

He promises a mixture of fun and seriousness and is particularly looking forward to switching off from the outside world, ditching his phone and getting to know people he’d never normally encounter.

There’s no elaborate strategy here either – especially because Lynx admits he’s not particularly good at lying.

However, his brutal honesty could cause problems.

Asked what he’s most likely to be nominated for, Lynx admits: “Being too brutal at times, perhaps. Sometimes it’s really OK to shut up.”

That sounds promising. 

Rob

Age: 25
From: Bideford
Occupation: Radio Presenter

Expect energy, jazz hands and apparently quite a lot of discussion about hot tubs from Rob.

The radio presenter applied after seeing a casting advert appear on Facebook and deciding to give it a go on a whim.

He’s determined to bring good vibes and spread some joy around the house, although his high energy levels and tendency to be loud could eventually grate on the others.

Rob is particularly excited about the tasks – and the hot tub. In fact, he’s so excited about the hot tub that if he wins the £100,000 prize, he’d buy himself a hot tub.

At least he’s consistent. 

Rhianna

Age: 21
From: Chelsea
Occupation: Stay-At-Home Daughter

Yes, you read that occupation correctly.

Rhianna describes herself as a “stay-at-home daughter” and admits she’s spent her life living under her parents’ money – but Big Brother could give her the opportunity to step outside that bubble.

She’s energetic, confident and willing to stand up for people who may not feel able to stand up for themselves.

Rhianna believes people sometimes assume she’s stuck-up because of her confidence and says her “resting bitch face” doesn’t help matters, but insists she’s actually a huge softie.

She’s also only watched one series of Big Brother, so don’t expect encyclopaedic knowledge of how to survive the game.

If she wins, some designer bags are on the agenda – both for herself and the friends who believed in her – before sensibly putting a chunk of the money into savings. 

Philip

Age: 53
From: Liverpool
Occupation: Content Creator

And finally, meet the self-proclaimed “Queen of Scotty Road” and “Scouse Royalty”.

Philip promises there will never be a dull moment while he’s around and says that, friend or enemy, he’ll still be there for somebody if he sees them unhappy.

Although there is a warning attached:

“I’m a very good friend, but I’m a very bad enemy.”

Philip says he’s entering as the Queen of Scotty Road but hopes to leave having allowed viewers to see the real Philip Regan underneath.

He’s also perfectly happy to call people out – and apparently prefers to have an audience when he does it.

With eight weeks ahead of us, we’re fairly confident Big Brother can arrange that. 

Let the chaos begin…

Sixteen very different personalities are now under one roof, but while most of them think they’re beginning an ordinary Big Brother experience, the game has already started around them.

With Tays secretly working as Big Brother’s mole, another housemate about to be recruited to join him and the pair set to decide who faces the first eviction during the Week of Chaos, nobody can afford to get too comfortable.

And judging by a cast featuring self-confessed messy housemates, night owls, straight talkers, big personalities, a few people who actively enjoy confrontation and several who insist they have absolutely no game plan…

Something tells us Big Brother won’t have to work particularly hard to create the chaos.

Big Brother continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, airing Sunday through Friday.