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3 August 2022 10:58 AM

Rylan clarifies he isn’t hosting the return of Big Brother… yet

"I’d love Alison to do it," Big Brother 2002 winner Kate Lawler has said.

By Emily Maskell

Words: Emily Maskell; pictures: Instagram/@rylan

TV favourite Rylan has clarified that he hasn’t (yet) been asked to host Big Brother following speculation he might be fronting the reality programme’s return next year.

The iconic reality show Big Brother is set to return in 2023 on ITV2 and online and was announced during the Love Island finale on Monday (1 August) with a promotional video. 

Rylan, the former host of Big Brother’s Bit On The Side and TV personality, posted a cryptic post on Tuesday (2 August), tweeting: “He was always watching… It’s coming home.”

Though fans think he’d be perfect, Rylan has clarified that he has not been asked to host the show…yet!

He tweeted: “As a fan, like always, I’m made up it’s coming back.”

“I know how hard you/we all fought to keep that name alive and I’m so glad it paid off in the end. The OG reality is back. It’s the news we wanted. Welcome back bro x”

Irish identical twin singing duo Jedward have thrown their hat in the ring to host the show once helmed by Davina McCall; Jedward has appeared twice on the celebrity iteration of Big Brother. 

Fans have also suggested national treasure Alison Hammond would make a perfect host after she competed in the third series of the reality show in 2002.

“My money’s on Alison Hammond presenting Big Brother,” one tweet reads.

Big Brother 2002 winner Kate Lawler has backed Hammond for host. 

“I’d love Alison to do it. I think Alison Hammond would be an amazing person to take on the hosting duties. She’s from my series of Big Brother and she’s got charisma, she’s funny, she’s a big personality and she’s already on ITV,” Kate told the Sun.

Big Brother was axed five years ago after an 18-year run across Channel 4 and Channel 5.

“This refreshed, contemporary new series of Big Brother will contain all the familiar format points that kept viewers engaged and entertained the first time round, but with a brand new look and some additional twists that speak to today’s audience,” said Paul Mortimer, ITV2’s reality TV chief, told the BBC on Tuesday (2 August).

“We’re beyond excited to bring this iconic series to ITV2 and ITVX where it should especially engage with our younger viewers.”

Speaking on a BBC Sounds Podcast this year, Big Brother‘s creative director Philip Edgar-Jones said audiences “very clearly hated it” when the show’s original premise was intervened with. 

“Being authentic to the show, you create this world with its own internal logic, and you can’t break that internal logic, otherwise you break the magic and you lose the trust of the audience,” Edgar-Jones added. 

The Attitude September/October issue is available to download and order in print now and will be on newsstands from Thursday 4 August.

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