Former Celebrity Big Brother stars may return as temporary guests in a major twist planned for the 2026 civilian series.
An exclusive from The Sun reports that ITV producers are considering bringing back familiar faces from the Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV eras of Celebrity Big Brother. Rather than joining as full-time contestants, the returning celebrities would enter the house for limited stays as guest residents or take part in specially created tasks.
The surprise is expected to be revealed not long after the new civilian housemates have settled in.
According to the report, a broad range of former contestants have been approached. Gemma Collins, Kerry Katona and JoJo Siwa are among the names said to feature on the producers’ wish list, though none of the appearances have been confirmed and the final shape of the twist is still being worked out.
The idea of short-term celebrity visitors is not entirely new. Sharon Osbourne appeared in a temporary “celebrity lodger” role during the 2024 Celebrity Big Brother series, taking part without committing to the full run.
That format proved popular and appears to have influenced the plans for this year’s civilian show.
Big Brother itself is getting a longer run in 2026. The series is due to launch on 13 September and will last almost eight weeks, with a live final scheduled for 5 November.
AJ Odudu and Will Best are expected to return as hosts following the successful ITV revival that began in 2023. The main show will be supported by a new VODCAST-style companion programme, while Big Brother: Late & Live is set to air just one night a week.
ITV has not yet officially confirmed the returning-housemate twist or named any of the potential guest stars.
