Look, finding the right place to watch Big Brother UK is a lot more confusing than it used to be. Remember the Channel 4 days? You just turned on the telly, saw Davina McCall in a big coat, and that was it. Then came the Channel 5 era, which felt a bit like the Wild West of reality TV. Now, we’re firmly in the ITV era, and honestly, if you aren't looking in the right spot, you're going to miss out on the best bits.
The biggest thing people mess up? They assume it's still just a nightly show on a linear channel. It’s not. It is a massive, multi-platform monster now. If you want to know big brother uk where to watch in 2026, you basically have to live and breathe one specific app.
The short answer is ITVX
If you’re in the UK, the answer is simple. Everything—and I mean everything—lives on ITVX. Since the big reboot in 2023, ITV has gone all-in on their streaming platform.
You can watch the main show live as it airs on ITV2, usually around 9:00 PM. But if you're like me and can't be bothered with "scheduled" TV, you just wait until it hits the app. It's usually uploaded almost immediately after the broadcast ends.
Here is the breakdown of what you actually get on there:
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- The Main Show: The nightly episodes where the drama happens.
- Big Brother: Late & Live: This is the companion show where they dissect everything with a studio audience. (Though keep an ear out, because there’s been talk about this format changing or being "rested" lately).
- The 24/7 Live Stream: This is the holy grail. ITVX runs a live feed from the house every single night after the main show finishes.
Big Brother UK where to watch if you're outside the UK
This is where it gets tricky. If you’re in the US, Australia, or anywhere else, you’ve probably noticed that ITVX is geoblocked. It's annoying. You try to click play and get that "This video is not available in your region" message.
Legally, the show is only licensed for the UK. There isn't a "Big Brother UK" tab on Netflix or Hulu. Believe me, I've checked.
Most international fans end up using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to make it look like they’re browsing from London or Manchester. Once the VPN is set to a UK server, they sign up for a free ITVX account. You do need a UK postcode for the sign-up—people often just use a random one like W12 7RU (the old BBC headquarters, ironically)—but it works.
Why can't I find it on Netflix?
People always ask this. "Why isn't it on Netflix?"
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Netflix likes binge-worthy, finished seasons. Big Brother is "fast TV." It’s designed to be watched now. By the time a season ends, the drama is old news. While some international versions of Big Brother have popped up on streaming giants, the UK version stays strictly under the ITV umbrella for now.
What about the old seasons?
Honestly, this is a bit of a tragedy for reality TV historians. If you want to watch the iconic Series 5 (the one with Nadia) or the legendary "David's Dead" moment from Celebrity Big Brother, ITVX is kinda useless.
They mostly host the newer stuff—the ITV reboot seasons. For the classic Channel 4 and Channel 5 eras, you’re looking at a scavenger hunt.
- YouTube: Plenty of fans have uploaded full seasons, though they get taken down for copyright all the time.
- Internet Archive: Some "lost" seasons are archived here by fans who recorded them on VHS back in the day.
- Paramount+: Occasionally, specific seasons of Celebrity Big Brother from the Channel 5 years pop up here, but it’s never consistent.
Keeping up with the 2026 schedule
Right now, the 2026 schedule is a bit of a talking point. ITV recently announced they are "resting" Celebrity Big Brother for 2026 to focus on a massive reality slate that includes I’m A Celebrity: South Africa and The Summit.
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But don't panic. The civilian series is still coming back this Autumn.
When it does, it’ll be the same drill: ITV2 for the live broadcast and ITVX for the catch-up and the late-night live stream. The live stream is actually where the real fans hang out. Watching housemates sleep or whisper about who stole the oat milk at 1:00 AM is a specific kind of vibe that you just don't get from the edited highlights.
Actionable steps to get ready
If you’re planning to dive into the next season, don’t wait until the launch night to figure out your tech.
- Download the ITVX app on your smart TV or tablet now and make sure your login works.
- Check your storage. If you’re recording it on a TiVo or Sky box, clear some space; those 42 episodes add up fast.
- Set up a VPN if you’re abroad. Test it on some current ITV shows to make sure it bypasses the geoblock without buffering.
The 25th anniversary eye logo was a massive hit last year, and the momentum for the 2026 series is already building. Stay tuned to the official social media channels, because that's where the first "eye" teaser usually drops about a month before the premiere.