ITV bosses are reportedly bringing back ex-Big Brother stars to shake-up the new series of the show, according to a former contestant.
The social experiment reality show has returned for the first time since it was axed by Channel 5 in 2018.
The reboot has been filled with classic Big Brother drama, including a ‘food feud’ and disagreements after Farida was voted out.
But just a week after launching, viewing figures have fallen from 2.6million to 800,000, losing out to Married At First Sight in the ratings war.
Now, show producers are said to be planning to shake up the drama and boost ratings once more by bringing big names back from previous series.
ITV bosses are reportedly bringing back ex-Big Brother stars to shake-up the new series of the show
Claims: Former contestant Nicola McLean said some iconic characters could be making a return
Former contestant Nicola McLean said some iconic characters could be making a return.
The media personality, who appeared on the celebrity version of the show in 2012 and 2017, told the Daily Star: ‘I have heard through the grapevine that they might be bringing in like previous contestants, but from the civilian series, so it won’t be celebs.
‘Yeah, like Chanelle, Aisleyne, Pete, they’re all sort of that kind of category. I haven’t heard exactly who it will be but I’ve just heard that.’
Nicola was referring to Chanelle Hayes, Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace and Pete Bennett, whose careers were all launched after appearing on the show.
Glamour model Nicola continued: ‘I think it’s a very diverse cast, so I think it’s definitely moved with the times. You’ve got some strong characters in there. I’m enjoying it and I’m glad it’s back.’
MailOnline has reached out to ITV for comment.
Back again? Names posed for a return included Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, who came into the public eye on the 2006 series
Comeback? Chanelle Hayes was also one of the names mentioned
It comes after Big Brother viewers were quick to slam housemates after they broke down in tears during Sunday’s show.
The reality stars were emotional wrecks after being presented with photos of their loved ones, despite only being away from them for seven days.
Fan savaged the ‘dramatics’ with former show legend Glyn Wise even getting in on the act and branding the latest contestants ‘weak’.
The Welsh priest, 35, who appeared on the show back in 2006, wrote: ‘Is this a joke #bbuk People getting emotional about seeing pictures of their family members after a week of being in the house?’
‘I stayed there for 3 months with no contact from the outside world. I think we were tougher housemates back then!’.
Upset: Big Brother viewers were quick to slam housemates after they broke down in tears during Sunday’s show (Jenkin pictured)
Another took a swipe at beauty queen Noky after her emoptional outburst saying: ‘Crying over the last day of being Miss Universe after being in the BB house for only a few days, Sweet Jesus wept’.
While a third wrote: ‘As if they’re crying over family photos after being in there a WEEK?! I’ve been on trips to Spain longer’.
And: ‘I could be in Big Brother for a year and I still couldn’t see myself crying at a family photo I don’t get it’.
Someone else commented : ‘Why are these housemates crying as if they’ve been away at war for 3 years? they’ve been in the Big brother house for a week’.
And a sixth said:’ These housemates crying as if they’ve been away in Afghanistan for the past 2 years when they’ve been in the Big Brother house for 7 days’.
While a seventh added: ‘Ok after today I don’t want crying Big brother please’.
Elsewhere in the episode Matty divided viewer opinion as he told fellow housemate Olivia she needed to change her perspective on open relationships.
The doctor, 24, spoke positively about sexually non-monogamous marriages or relationships in which both parties are happy with their partner sleeping with other people.
Fuming: Fan savaged the ‘dramatics’ with former show legend Glyn Wise (pictured in 2022 even getting in on the act and branding the latest contestants ‘weak’
Throwback: The Welsh priest, 35, who appeared on the show back in 2006 (pictured) wrote: ‘Is this a joke #bbuk People getting emotional about seeing pictures of their family members after a week of being in the house?
Unimpressed: He added: ‘I stayed there for 3 months with no contact from the outside world. I think we were tougher housemates back then!’
Matty, who described himself as a ‘hippy’ who likes to ‘live free’ before entering the house last week, suggested Olivia should open her mind towards open relationships despite her not being able to imagine herself in such a situation.
Matty told Olivia: ‘The way that you’re looking at it is as if an open relationship is to prevent cheating so that no one gets hurt but if you switch your perspective, an open relationship gives you the freedom to pursue other people instead of the preventative of cheating.’
When Olivia asked how he learned his approach to open relationships, Matty responded: ‘Oh, Olivia, it’s not easy to learn! It’s rewiring your brain and rewiring everything you’ve been taught as a child’.
Olivia said: ‘It’s baffling me! How do you learn that?’
She continued: ‘Do you know what else I find crazy? Is how openly and how freely you can talk about it. It’s amazing to me.’
Grow up! Fans quickly took to social media to make their feelings known
Matty told her: ‘For me, because it’s so normal, there’s no taboo. But maybe for people who have never heard of it before there can be a taboo around that subject.’
When asked by Olivia if his mother knew about his open relationships, Matty said of his mum and his partner’s parents: ‘Yeah, my mum knows, his parents know. They just say “do whatever you want that makes you happy”.’
Olivia said: ‘That is so forward thinking,’ to which Matty replied: ‘Yeah, it is. I’m very lucky. I’ve got a very progressive family.’
Speaking about his relationship, he said: ‘At the core of our relationship we just want each other to be happy.’
The moment divided viewer opinion, with many show fans taking to Twitter to express their thoughts on the conversation.
One person wrote: ‘No more open relationship propaganda please.’
Someone else asked: ‘Why is it that people in open relationships feel the need to always mention it like it is a personality trait.’
While someone else posted: ‘So what ITV thinks we find entertaining is learning that 2 of them are in open relationships? Erm no thanks.’
Another viewer wrote: ‘Matty is in an open relationship? I’ve never understood this idea each to their own but it’s not for me! If you are in the right relationship the idea of cheating is not in a thing!’
Big Brother airs Sunday to Thursday on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm followed by Big Brother Late & Live at 10pm
BIG BROTHER 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS!
JENKIN
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Barman
FROM: Bridgend
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU? ‘Loud and messy, and irritating probably.’
TOM
AGE: 21
PROFESSION: Butcher
FROM: Somerset
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘I think I might potentially offend some people. My mouth moves faster than my brain.’
TRISH
AGE: 33
PROFESSION: Stay-at-home mum
FROM: Luton
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE PRIZE MONEY IF YOU WON? ‘I think my first priority is to sort out my housing situation. The housing crisis is just ridiculous and my housing situation has been unstable. It brings me a lot of mum guilt because I’ve got a young child. It’s my biggest incentive and motivation to win.’
JORDAN
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Lawyer
FROM: Scunthorpe
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘Being cantankerous and acting as if I don’t want to be there even if I do in my heart. They might nominate me for being disengaged perhaps or not paying everyone an equal amount of attention. They may feel left out but I can’t help that.’
DYLAN
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: DJ
FROM: Coventry
TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOURSELF: ‘I appeared on a TV show called The Last Leg about amputees – two years before I lost my leg!’
NOKY
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: Banker
FROM: Derby
WHAT MADE YOU APPLY TO BECOME A BIG BROTHER HOUSEMATE? ‘I love challenges. I’ve had so many amazing times in my life, like going to Miss Universe as Miss Great Britain. I like to do something different and I think this is the next challenge I want to conquer. I want to show people what pageant girls are really like and disprove a lot of stereotypes around them. I also show what it’s like being a woman who’s worked in male- dominated fields. I want to show that women are capable of doing anything they want.’
PAUL
AGE: 23
PROFESSION: Security officer
FROM: Liverpool
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘Being the biggest wind up, eating all the food and being the loudest housemate.’
OLIVIA
AGE: 23
PROFESSION: Dancer
FROM: Glasgow
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘I think when people are in that hangry state, that’s when I’ll wind people up and grind their gears. I think they’ll nominate me for being full on, and for my brutal honesty and oversharing of opinions.’
HALLIE
AGE: 18
PROFESSION: Youth worker
FROM: London
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘Being lazy and having an opinion. I’m quite opinionated, I like speaking my mind and not many people like that. I’m quite real.’
YINRUN
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Customer support agent
FROM: Harrogate
WHAT PART OF THE EXPERIENCE ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? ‘I’m most excited about being surrounded by so many people from different walks of life. I don’t think I will ever live in a house again with so many different kinds of people. I’m from China and I think it will help me be more immersed in British culture.’
CHANELLE
AGE: 29
PROFESSION: Dental therapist
FROM: Llanelli
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE NOMINATED FOR? ‘Probably just for being annoying. In Wales, we have this saying, “I’ll do it now in a minute.” So like, if I went to make food and I left a dish on the side, I have all good intentions of washing it but I’d be like, “I’ll do it now in a minute,” and it might be three hours later before I do it. So probably for silly stuff like that.’
ZAK
AGE: 28
PROFESSION: Model
FROM: Manchester
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE PRIZE MONEY IF YOU WON? ‘Pay off my debts and help my family out. I’ve also been saving up to build a park in my village back at home in Thailand because where I grew up, there’s no parks or playgrounds.’
MATTY
AGE: 24
PROFESSION: Doctor
FROM: Isle Of Man
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? ‘They would say I’m quite like a lucky person or someone who really wants to experience life to its fullest and do everything that it has to offer. Someone who is kind and fun and doesn’t take life too seriously.’
HENRY
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Food writer
FROM: Cotswolds
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? ‘I think they would say I’m particularly sociable and very chatty. I mean, I’ll be honest, my parents would definitely say I’m a bit of a snob but I take it as a compliment. I think it means you’ve got high standards and good taste. They’d say I was quite a peculiar child.’
KERRY
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: NHS manager
FROM: Essex
WHAT MADE YOU APPLY TO BE A BIG BROTHER HOUSEMATE? ‘I love the programme. It is, for me, the ultimate reality TV show ever. I’ve got multiple sclerosis and so the reason why I never applied before is because I always saw those whacking great big stairs to get into the house. It just felt a little bit unachievable because for the first three years of my illness I was in a wheelchair. When I saw it was coming back and searching for real people from all walks of life, I thought, this is my year.’
