Big Brother's launch night officially pulled in the highest audience for the show since 2012.
Airing last night (October 8) the long awaited return of the reality show saw 2.6 million people tune in across ITV1, ITV2 and streaming devices - making it the most watched launch since 2012, when the show aired on Channel 5.
Additionally Big Brother was the most streamed show of the day across ITVX and ranked as the number one show of the day for young adults (16-34).
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For comparison, the 2023 summer edition of Love Island drew in 1.3 million viewers for its launch episode, which aired on ITV2 and ITVX.
Related: ITV boss shares goal of Big Brother reboot
The first episode saw AJ Odudu and Will Best send 16 new housemates into the iconic house and it wasn't long until Big Brother was up to its usual tricks.
During a series of housewarming games contestant Jenkin found himself on the receiving end of several unexpected twists, including losing access to hot water for 24 hours and watching his suitcase get blown up.
Dylan also lost his bed for the night, while Olivia was told she'd be facing the first public eviction after Jenkin chose her as the most difficult to live with. The twists didn't end there either, as Olivia later learnt that she could save herself from eviction by completing a secret task.
Related: Davina McCall reacts to Big Brother launch show
Fans have also given their verdict on the new housemates. Several viewers were left disappointed by the lack of age diversity amongst the cast, while others were pleased that to see "normal, regular people" in the line-up.
Meanwhile several viewers have also recognised contestant Farida from her previous TV appearances, with the Wolverhampton based makeup artist having appeared on Blankety Blank and Come Dine With Me.
Big Brother airs on Sundays to Fridays at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Brenna Cooper is a freelance journalist, who currently specialises in entertainment reporting. She joined Digital Spy in 2022, writing TV and movies stories for the site. After graduating with an NCTJ accredited Journalism Masters from the University of Sheffield in 2020 she has since embarked on a freelance career.
Brenna previously produced lifestyle content for Checklists.co.uk and has a specific interest in music, reviewing live acts and interviewing bands such as Confidence Man and Amyl and the Sniffers.
