Big Brother host Will Best: “I’d love the live stream back”

Big Brother host Will Best has conceded that he is missing tuning in to the live feeds for the new series.

Originally a staple of the format – and still integral to versions of BB in the US, India, Italy and more – the live feeds typically allow viewers to keep up-to-date with action from the house as it happens, live 24/7.

In the UK the availability of the feeds has gradually diminished in time – from a peak of multiple 24/7 feed selection, down to a single feed, a PPV-only feed and ultimately no feeds at all.

When ITV revived the show in 2023 the feeds returned, albeit for a limited time period – typically 11pm to 2am on ITVX – although they have been ditched entirely again for the current series.

Responding to a fan calling for the feeds to return, Best – speaking in his own live stream on social media – said: “I agree, mate. I do also want the live stream. I’d love the live stream back.

“I would watch [it] for this series especially, because you know that at any moment of the day this bunch are doing something absolutely mad. Like, they are the maddest bunch of housemates.”

Best also lamented the loss of spinoff show Late & Live, particularly on Friday nights, where the interview with the evicted housemate has been shortened as a result.

“I miss the further in-depth chats from Late & Live,” he admitted. “You know, we had seven minutes with [Chelsey on Friday. Seven minutes.”

He continued: “I mean, guys, look, the reality is all of these things, like the live stream, Late & Live, in the world we live in now… they’re too expensive. Like, telly has changed. It’s sad.

“Late & Live was such a fun show, but it was a [studio] audience, a massive crew, huge production team, and it was on at, you know, ten o’clock on a Wednesday night and would get a couple of hundred thousand viewers. It doesn’t make sense to keep that kind of thing going.”

Big Brother continues Sundays to Fridays at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, with spinoff Big Brother: The Group Chat following at 10pm Sundays to Thursdays.