As Love Island draws to a close, ITV bosses are set to announce they have finally clinched a deal to bring back Big Brother.
The reality show has not been on TV since 2018, when it was axed by Channel 5, but a “Big Brother for the Love Island generation” is planned to be shown on ITV2 from next year.
But former hosts Davina McCall, Emma Willis and Rylan Clark are unlikely to be involved in the reboot.
One insider said: “This needs to be totally new and fresh. It’s all about drawing in a young audience. The aim is to get back to basics and interfere less, with fewer challenges.”
Talks with rights-owner Banijay have been going on for months, but now a deal has finally been struck.
The housemates will be everyday people, not celebs, and there will be a brand new house in a UK location.
Big Brother began on Channel 4 in 2000 and turned housemates such as Nikki Grahame, “Nasty” Nick Bateman, and Jade Goody into stars.
Rylan, 33, has made no secret of his desire to be involved in the new Big Brother, saying he would be “a million per cent” up for fronting the “biggest and best” reality TV show. Davina, 54, is also said to be “very keen” to host.
But Emma, 46, thinks it’s time for a change, declaring: “New era, new host.”
The eye logo is likely to return and fans will hope Marcus Bentley will carry on as the voice of Big Brother.