Big Brother confirmed to return in 2027 as casting opens following record-breaking ITVX viewing figures

Big Brother is officially returning to ITV in 2027, with casting now open for a brand-new series following a remarkable turnaround in the reality show’s viewing figures and streaming performance.

The announcement ends months of speculation about the future of the iconic reality television format, with the official website, bigbrother.com, now inviting applications from members of the public who believe they have what it takes to become a Housemate.

The casting call gives fans the opportunity to enter the famous Big Brother House in 2027, as ITV prepares for another series following what has proved to be a hugely successful year for the programme.

And the timing could hardly be better.

After questions were raised about the show’s future, the latest ITVX viewing figures suggest Big Brother has enjoyed a significant resurgence, attracting millions of streams and becoming one of the platform’s biggest entertainment successes.

Big Brother streaming figures soar as ITVX celebrates record-breaking year

Big Brother’s return comes as ITVX announces that it has surpassed its entire 2025 full-year streaming record in just ten months.

The platform reached an incredible 3.6 billion streams on Friday, 30 October 2026, demonstrating the continued growth of ITV’s streaming service.

October was also ITVX’s best month on record, with 358 million streams recorded across the platform. This represents a 33% increase compared with October last year.

Big Brother was a major contributor to that success, taking the number one position on ITVX for October.

The reality series attracted more than 30 million streams during the month, as viewers followed the final stages of the competition.

Even more impressively, the overall Big Brother offering, including the Group Chat spin-off, has accumulated 53 million streams.

That is an increase of 20 million streams compared with last year’s series, highlighting the show’s growing popularity on ITVX.

The figures provide a significant boost for the franchise as it prepares to return in 2027.

Big Brother enjoys a remarkable ratings turnaround

The latest streaming figures represent a considerable success for Big Brother, which returned to British television on ITV2 in 2023 after several years away from screens.

The revival initially attracted considerable interest, but questions have continued to surround the show’s long-term future and its ability to maintain audience interest.

However, the 2026 series has delivered a strong performance on ITVX, with streaming numbers demonstrating that viewers are continuing to engage with the programme.

Its position as ITVX’s most-streamed title in October is particularly encouraging, especially as the series heads into its final.

The 53 million streams accumulated by the main series and Group Chat also demonstrate the value of the wider Big Brother offering, extending the conversation beyond the main nightly episodes.

ITVX breaks more streaming records

Big Brother is not the only programme helping ITVX achieve record-breaking figures.

Drama was the biggest driver of streaming engagement during October, generating 112 million streams, representing a 37% increase year-on-year.

It is the fourth month in 2026 that drama has passed the 100 million stream milestone, compared with just two months during 2025.

Popular titles included Winter, The Blame, Adultery and The Party.

The Blame has been a particularly significant success for ITV, with its peak episode achieving a consolidated audience of 8.3 million viewers.

This makes it the biggest new drama of 2026 across any channel or streaming service, according to ITV.

Soaps were the second most popular genre on ITVX during October, generating 61 million streams, an increase of 38% compared with the same month last year.

The figures demonstrate that ITVX’s success is being driven by a combination of reality television, drama and established entertainment favourites.

When is Big Brother returning to ITV?

Big Brother will return in 2027, with applications now being invited through the official casting website.

Potential Housemates are being encouraged to apply if they believe they have the personality, confidence and individuality to take part in the reality television experiment.

The casting announcement is an important development for fans who have been waiting for confirmation about whether the programme would continue beyond the 2026 series.

Details of the 2027 launch date, presenters, Housemates and format have yet to be announced.

However, with applications now open, preparations for the next series are clearly getting underway.

How to apply for Big Brother 2027

Anyone interested in becoming a Housemate can visit the official website at bigbrother.com, where applications are being invited.

The casting process is open to people who believe they have what it takes to live under constant observation, share the Big Brother House with strangers and take part in the challenges and twists of the programme.

The application process offers fans the chance to become part of one of television’s most recognisable reality formats.

For those who have watched the series from home and wondered what it would be like to enter the famous House, the opportunity to apply for 2027 has now arrived.

What else is coming to ITVX?

The streaming platform is also expanding its offering beyond its major television programmes.

ITVX now has 20 pop-up FAST channels, with new additions during October including a dedicated film channel and channels showing classic favourites such as Classic Corrie and Thunderbirds.

The channels sit alongside established offerings dedicated to programmes including Love Island, Vera, crime drama and comedy.

Since the latest channels were introduced, viewing of ITVX’s FAST channels has increased by 31% year-on-year.

The newly launched Classic Corrie channel has already become the platform’s fifth most-watched channel after just two weeks.

Only the longer-established channels dedicated to Midsomer Murders, Vera, The Chase and TOWIE are currently ahead of it.

The Christmas Movies channel is also proving popular, ranking as ITVX’s fourth most-watched channel since launching on 1 September.

Looking ahead, November brings the return of ITV’s biggest entertainment format, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, alongside the Northern Hemisphere Nations Championship rugby matches.

Big Brother’s future looks brighter than ever

The confirmation of Big Brother’s return in 2027 represents a positive moment for the franchise.

After months of uncertainty, the combination of an official casting call and impressive streaming figures provides a strong indication that the programme continues to have an important place in ITV’s entertainment schedule.

With more than 30 million streams in October alone and 53 million streams across the wider series and its spin-off, Big Brother has demonstrated its ability to attract viewers on ITVX.

And with applications now open, attention will turn to finding the next group of Housemates ready to enter the famous House.

Think you have what it takes to become a Big Brother Housemate? Applications for the 2027 series are now open at bigbrother.com.

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