When was Big Brother last on TV and why did it end?
08.10.2023 - 20:03
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Iconic reality show Big Brother is back on TV after a five-year hiatus.
The reality series, which launched the showbiz careers of Jade Goody, Josie Gibson and Brian Dowling among others, ran for 18 years before it was axed by Channel 5 in 2018.
Channel 4 aired 11 series of the show, which was a huge ratings hit when it first launched, and concluded its run with a special all-stars edition called Ultimate Big Brother, which featured previous housemates. In 2011, Channel 5 acquired the rights to the show, running eight more series of the show before calling it a day.
READ MORE: Big Brother fans issue complaint as ITV introduces major change to iconic house
Read more Big Brother stories from the Manchester Evening News here.
After nearly five years away from screens, a new series of the show will launch on ITV on Sunday night (October 8). AJ Odudu and Will Best will host the revived series, following in the footsteps of former Big Brother presenters Davina McCall, Emma Willis, and Brian Dowling.
The contestants entering the revamped house will not be revealed until the launch night, but ITV has promised "a new cast of carefully selected housemates, from all walks of life". The format remains unchanged with tasks, nominations and live evictions all returning for the new series.
As well as launching countless careers, Big Brother has provided some of the most memorable TV moments in recent times - including Nasty Nick's plotting in series one and Nikki Grahame's 'Who is she?' rant in the diary room.
The show also led to countless controversies over the years, most notably the Shilpa Shetty bullying row in 2017, which saw the late Jade Goody, S Club 7 singer Jo O’Meara and former beauty queen Danielle Lloyd