BIG Brother will simulcast its live launch on ITV1 and ITV2 at the same time to make sure the show is one of the biggest telly events of the year.
A TV insider said “ITV wanted to make sure the comeback landed with a bang so they will kick things off by giving it the most high-profile spot possible.
“They’re hoping that a sensational start will hook the maximum number of viewers on the main channel, then bring them across to ITV2 for the rest of the series.”
“This is something which has never been done before. Even when Love Island was at the height of its pulling power, it never had a launch show on ITV1.” They told The Sun.
ITV bigwigs have also confirmed that the upcoming series of Big Brother will be part of a two-year deal to air the show on ITV2, meaning there will be another series in 2024 on the network.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV festival last week, ITV’s Head of Entertainment Paul Mortimer revealed the two-year deal with Big Brother creators Banijay.
He said: “A lot of us at ITV are Big Brother fans and a lot of us worked at Channel 4 when Big Brother was conceived and it was there for ten years, and all of that.”
can’t imagine that we are in it just to do two six-week runs across 23 and 24.”
On the shows new house at Garden Studios, which is currently being built, Mortimer said it looking “incredible” and teased a contemporary version of the iconic house.
BIG BRUV IS BACK!
BIG Brother stars “can’t wait” for the iconic reality shows comeback on ITV2.
The classic reality television series is coming back to screens later this year – after the Davina McCall-fronted original gained iconic status after it debuted on Channel 4 in 2000 – via ITV, and the network revealed the show’s reimagined colourful eye logo at the end of July the sending fans into overdrive.
Big Brother’ – which is responsible for launching the careers of some of TV’s most familiar faces, including ‘This Morning’ presenters Alison Hammond, 48, and Josie Gibson, 38 – will be fronted by AJ Odudu, 35, and Will Best, 38.
Upon being named ‘Big Brother’ presenter, AJ said on Instagram: “I’m so excited to finally be able to say that, yes: I’m hosting ‘Big Brother’! I couldn’t be happier.
Following in the footsteps of some of my favourite broadcasting legends to front such an iconic show is an absolute honour – and to do it alongside my amazing friend Will is the icing on the cake.”
Will added: “I grew up with ‘Big Brother’, so getting a chance to host it with my mate AJ is a dream come true. I can’t wait to tell some housemates not to swear.”
Marcus Bentley – who will be reprising his role as the show’s narrator – enthused about how he “can’t wait” for the programme to return after it ended in 2018.
He tweeted: “Thanks for all your support and I can’t wait for the shenanigans to begin.”
In May, it was reported that the new series will be filmed at London’s Garden Studios after the original Elstree Studios house was demolished in 2019.
A TV insider told the Politicalite: “Garden Studios is the ideal location for filming the new Big Brother series.
Not only is it London-based but it’s only been open for a year and promises the highest standard of production and also a commitment to sustainability.
Elstree Studios became famous for Big Brother and its live studio audience and bosses are hoping Garden Studios will grow to be as loved as the show’s first iconic home.”
Following Big Brother’s Channel 4 stint, it moved to Channel 5 in 2011 and was hosted by Brian Dowling, 45, the winner of Big Brother 2 and Ultimate Big Brother before Emma Willis, 47, took over the reins.
Big Brother: Live Launch launches on ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX in October.
