What is Big Brother?
Big Brother is one of the UK’s most iconic reality TV shows, first launching on Channel 4 in 2000.
A group of housemates move into the Big Brother House, where they live together under the watchful eye of Big Brother, completely cut off from the outside world.
Cameras and microphones capture life in the House around the clock as housemates take part in tasks, face nominations, form friendships and rivalries, and compete to remain in the House.
Throughout the series, housemates face eviction, with viewers ultimately having their say on who stays, who goes and, eventually, who wins.
On final night, one housemate will be crowned the winner of Big Brother and walk away with the winner’s prize.
Big Brother currently airs on ITV2 and ITVX, hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best.
How long is Big Brother running this year?
Big Brother 2026 will run for eight weeks, making it the longest civilian series since the show returned to UK television on ITV.
The new series launches on Sunday 13 September 2026 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, with AJ Odudu and Will Best returning as hosts.
Where is the Big Brother House?
The Big Brother House is located in West London.
Big Brother moved to the site for the 2024 series after the ITV revival’s original house at Garden Studios was used for just one year.
The House has once again been transformed for the 2026 series, with a brand-new look awaiting this year’s housemates.
Please note: The Big Brother House is a television production facility and is not open to the general public.
How do I vote?
Voting for Big Brother is available for free via the official Big Brother voting page on ITV.com.
During the series, voting opens at various points to allow viewers to have their say on evictions and, eventually, the winner.
The type of vote may vary depending on the stage of the series, so always check the wording carefully before casting your vote!
How do housemates get rewarded for tasks they pass?
Big Brother regularly sets housemates tasks and challenges throughout the series.
Some tasks determine the House’s weekly shopping budget, while others may offer rewards such as parties, food, messages from home or other special treats.
Of course, Big Brother can also make things considerably less comfortable when housemates fail!
What happens if a housemate cheats or breaks Big Brother’s rules?
Housemates are expected to follow the rules of the Big Brother House.
If a housemate breaks those rules, Big Brother can issue a punishment. These can range from losing privileges or rewards to being excluded from nominations, receiving a formal warning or, in serious circumstances, being removed from the House.
Big Brother may also punish individual housemates or the entire House — and isn’t always particularly predictable about it!
Can I watch Big Brother live?
There will be no nightly Big Brother Live Stream for the 2026 series.
ITV provided a late-night live stream from the House during previous series of Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother on ITVX, allowing viewers to watch some of the action after the main programme had finished.
However, ITV has confirmed that the Live Stream will not return for Big Brother 2026.
Fans can follow events from the House through the nightly highlights shows and official Big Brother channels.
Why are there sound gaps during the Live Stream?
This FAQ no longer applies to the 2026 series, as ITV has axed the Big Brother Live Stream.
During previous series, parts of live coverage were occasionally muted or replaced with birdsong. This could happen for a number of editorial and legal reasons, including conversations involving people outside the House, copyrighted material, privacy concerns, potentially defamatory comments or content being saved for the main programme.
