Big Brother 2026 to Feature CBB Stars as Surprise Guests in Major Twist

ITV is planning a dramatic crossover for the upcoming civilian series of Big Brother, lining up former Celebrity Big Brother stars to enter the house as surprise guests just days after launch.

The new twist, set for the series beginning September 13, 2026, would mark the first time alumni of the celebrity edition cross into the civilian format.

The move comes as ITV faces intensifying competition from BBC One’s The Celebrity Traitors, which has reportedly made it harder to secure big-name talent for the broadcaster’s reality slate.

The 2026 civilian series will also be ITV’s longest yet, airing for eight weeks, with AJ Odudu and Will Best returning as hosts.

Surprise Celebrity Guests

According to a source speaking to The Sun, the plan is to bring in stars from across the 25-year history of Celebrity Big Brother to surprise the civilian housemates.

“The plan is to find big stars from all of the CBB’s series to come in and surprise the housemates.”

The insider added: “Finer details are still being thrashed out, with the idea that some would come in as guest residents and some for specific tasks.

No celeb is off the table, their dream line-up would include people like Gemma Collins, Kerry Katona and JoJo Siwa, and they’re sure they can secure some amazing talent.”

The twist takes inspiration from Sharon Osbourne’s appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2024, where she entered as a “house lodger.”

“ITV are always thinking up new ways to inject even more fun into Big Brother.”

“When Sharon Osbourne came into CBB as a lodger a couple of years ago it worked really well.”

Gemma Collins, a former The Only Way Is Essex star who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, tops ITV’s wishlist. JoJo Siwa, who took part in the most recent CBB season, and Kerry Katona, a 2011 contestant, are also reportedly being pursued.

The insider emphasised that stars from all eras of the show are under consideration, with some serving as guest residents and others brought in for specific tasks.

Rising Competition From The Celebrity Traitors

The twist arrives as ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother faces an uncertain future. Last month, it was reported that the broadcaster is considering axing the celebrity edition after struggling to attract high-profile stars.

An industry insider told The Sun: “Bosses face a huge challenge trying to sign up celebrities because so many of them are now pressing their agents to get them on The Celebrity Traitors. That is already causing problems for other big shows, like Strictly and I’m A Celebrity, which rely on star contestants because they now find themselves as second in the pecking order.”

Despite the rumours, ITV insisted in 2025 that it remained “committed to both Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother beyond 2025,” describing the show as “a priority reality format.”

The new civilian series, with its eight-week run and the celebrity guest element, appears to be a bid to reinvigorate the franchise while the fate of the celebrity version hangs in the balance.

The 2026 series will also see a change in its aftershow format. A nightly vodcast, modelled on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’s aftershow, will replace the Late and Live spin-off, airing five nights a week.

Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best are set to return, though the scheduling will coincide with Best’s reported stint as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.

With the launch date set for September 13, 2026, ITV is betting that blending the civilian and celebrity worlds will create a ratings jolt.

Whether the strategy can offset the talent drain to The Celebrity Traitors remains to be seen, but the network is clearly banking on the surprise factor of familiar faces to keep the 25-year-old format fresh.