Alison Hammond found fame on Big Brother – and she is now the frontrunner to be the next Davina McCall by hosting ITV ’s reboot of the classic reality TV show.
The new series could air in May next year with a cast of “carefully selected housemates from all walks of life” living together in a new-look site for up to six weeks.
Big Brother ’s live evictions will return with the public once again voting through the series and ultimately deciding who wins.
Alison has built a hugely successful telly career since her Big Brother turn in 2002.
She is a favourite on ITV’s This Morning alongside Dermot O’Leary and fills in for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Big Brother bosses are said to think she would be perfect to front the new series.
A source said: “Alison is top of the list to present next year’s Big Brother. Execs think she’s exactly what the show needs. She’s energetic, fun, relatable and she was on the show, so she knows it inside out.”
Big Brother ran from 2000 to 2018 on Channel 4, then switched to Channel 5. ITV2 will now take the reins.
The show was a ratings hit from its first series in 2000, won by Craig Phillips and presented by Davina, 54. Later, BB2 winner Brian Dowling, 44, and then former model Emma Willis, 46, hosted the series.
Mum-of-one Alison, 47, was voted out after 15 days in season three, which also featured Kate Lawler, 42, and Jade Goody, who died of cancer aged 27 in 2009.
Alison had made it clear she wanted to be considered for the presenter job.
When she was a guest on C4’s The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, he asked if she would make a BB host and she said: “I think so. They need to change it up a bit. We’ve got to put it out there to the universe. Let’s make it happen.”
But she faces stiff competition from Big Brother superfan Rylan Clark, 33, who has admitted he’d love the job.
Rylan, who won series 11 of Celebrity Big Brother, said: “I live and breathe Big Brother, I’ve got a diary room in my house”.
The star, who hosted Big Brother’s Bit on the Side for five years, said he is yet to be approached about presenting a Big Brother reboot.
He tweeted: “Should clarify. I’ve not been asked to host the show.
“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.”
He added: “It’s the news we wanted. Welcome back, bro.”
ITV said: “All suggestions surrounding the host are pure speculation and no decisions have been made at this early stage.”
