Celebrity Big Brother 'is set to be axed due to finances and casting issues' as it struggles to compete with BBC's Celebrity Traitors

Celebrity Big Brother has been axed by ITV, according to reports. 

The broadcaster had rested the star-studded reality show, hosted by and , for 2026 with tentative plans to move it to ITV2 in 2027. 

But now latest reports suggest it has been shelved completely due to the challenge of securing the right calibre of celebrities - who are all said to be picking Celebrity Traitors over the reality show. 

Celebrity Big Brother launched in 2001 as a brief, one-time spin-off for charity but the show's success saw 24 series air over the last two and a half decades, across three television broadcasters. 

An 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 , which rely on star contestants because they now find themselves as second in the pecking order.

'So that is an even greater issue for a show like because now it's on ITV, it needs a certain calibre of contestant which are very hard to sign up now.

'ITV are already having to find two lots of stars to compete on I'm A Celebrity this autumn as well as its spin off show, The Wild Frontier, which is expected to air in early 2027 – which is exactly the same time ITV were hoping to drop the new series of CBB.'

A spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Big Brother returns to ITVX and ITV2 later this year. No decisions have been made for 2027 as yet.'

The most recent celebrity series aired on in April last year, with  star Jack P Shepherd emerging victorious.

However, plans for its return have been repeatedly pushed back.

The format had been announced it would shift to ITV2, with the move failing to ease casting concerns behind the scenes.

 A source told The Sun previously: 'Despite announcing the programme was moving from ITV1 to sister channel ITV2, fans were still expecting another series this year.

'Executives also confirmed it wouldn't be returning to the March/April air date it's had for the last two seasons, and instead would have to go out in late 2026.'

They added: 'The latest development is likely to rock devotees when they realise it will be almost two years between series, which is relatively unusual for a big ITV show.'

The lengthy disappearance also fuelled speculation about the long-term future of the celebrity version.

The source said: 'It does also raise questions over CBB's long-term future'. 

It is thought the show has not been able to attract enough viewers, despite featuring the likes of , ex-EastEnder Patsy Palmer, veteran actor Mickey Rourke, former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne and ex-Love Islander Chris Hughes.

Similar action has already been taken with Dancing on Ice, which was paused for this year as ratings declined while production costs - particularly celebrity fees - .

In March 2025, ITV announced that the Sunday night staple hosted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern had been 'rested' with 'no current plans for another series'.

The decision meant the ice-skating competition, which started in 2006, won't celebrate its 20th anniversary this year.

It's another blow for the channel who also axed the civilian Big Brother's Late & Live spin-off, just two years after its launch, for .