Despite featuring a host of celebrity guests discussing the main show’s events, it failed to captivate audiences.
Big Brother: Late and Live’s future is now uncertain(Image: ITV)
ITV has reportedly pulled the plug on Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother: Late and Live, after a two-year run.
Producers have reportedly conceded that the show’s ratings are too low for it to return alongside Celebrity Big Brother in the new year. The series’ underperformance is not believed to be due to presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best, but rather a shift in viewer habits.
The show has been broadcast on ITV since the network revived Big Brother in 2023 and sees a host of celebrity guests brought on to dissect what has happened on the main show in front of a live studio audience.
An insider revealed: “Big Brother in general has struggled this year due to fierce competition from the likes of Celebrity Traitors. Late and Live has really struggled due to the main show not doing as well as hoped.
Big Brother’s main show is not under threat(Image: ITV)
They told The Sun: “Over the past few weeks, whispers have been rife that the show would be axed, and then during the final week, it was an open topic on the studio floor. Bosses have quietly told staff, many of whom are freelancers, not to expect the show to return.”
However, the source confirmed that ITV still believes AJ and Will are the right hosts for the show, adding: “It’s a shame, but no show lasts forever. ITV still loves Will and AJ and thinks they are the right people to host the main show. Big Brother remains a priority for ITV even without Late and Live.”
An ITV spokesperson declared: “We will confirm plans for Big Brother’s forthcoming series in due course.”
Celebrity guests unpack the drama in Late and Live(Image: ITV)
The reality show has recently clocked up more than 150 million streams on ITVX, demonstrating its enduring appeal with audiences, reports the Mirror. Meanwhile, Will has been rumoured to feature in this year’s strictly-come-dancing>Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
He’s been linked with celebrities including The Only Way Is Essex favourite Jess Wright for the BBC One festive edition. This series will mark Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s final stint as hosts of the beloved programme.
The announcement follows last week’s crowning of the Big Brother 2025 champion. From an initial group of 17 contestants, including late arrivals and shock additions, the field was whittled down to six finalists.
Will, right, is rumoured to be taking part in the Strictly Christmas special(Image: ITV)
Cameron, Elsa, Emily, Jenny, Richard and Tate made it through to compete for the ultimate prize. The concluding positions saw Tate finish sixth, Emily fifth, Cameron fourth and Jenny claiming third place. This set up a head-to-head battle between Richard and Elsa for the crown.
Triumphant winner Richard proclaimed to his fellow housemates during the finale: “This experience has been without doubt the most bonkers, crazy, madcap, incredible, extraordinary thing I have ever done.
“It’s been great to meet all of you, it’s been a magnificent, magnificent ride and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. So, here’s to you, it’s been great!”
All episodes of Big Brother are now streaming on ITVX
