Big Brother is doing something it has never done before in the UK, opening its normally private pre-series dry run to viewers for a full 24-hour livestream ahead of Sunday’s launch. The special takeover begins on Saturday, 12 September and runs through to Sunday, with I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner Angry Ginge moving into the new Big Brother house alongside fellow Bov Boys Tays, Jakey Davies and Chazza. Viewers will be able to watch as producers test the cameras, sound, production set-up and house before the real housemates move in.

What Is the Big Brother Dry Run?

The dry run is essentially the final rehearsal for Big Brother, taking place before each new series to make sure the house and production systems are working properly. Participants temporarily live inside the house while producers test cameras, microphones and other elements of the show, as well as trying out potential tasks.

It normally happens completely behind closed doors, but ITV is opening it up to viewers for the first time in Big Brother UK history. The Bov Boys will spend 24 hours inside the house while the production team carries out its final preparations ahead of the new series.

How Can You Watch the Big Brother 2026 Dry Run?

The takeover will be streamed continuously for 24 hours across Angry Ginge, Tays, Jakey Davies and Chazza’s individual Twitch channels. Viewers will also be able to watch through the official Big Brother UK and ITV Reality YouTube channels.

The stream is due to run from Saturday afternoon into Sunday afternoon, giving fans their first extended look inside the new house before the 2026 housemates arrive later that evening.

Who Is Taking Part in the Big Brother House Takeover?

Angry Ginge will be joined by fellow Bov Boys Tays, Jakey Davies and Chazza, while Heinz Baines is unable to take part because of a family commitment.

They have also invited several other creators into the house during the takeover, including Adeola Patronne, Mariam Musa, Shauna Games and Scouse Mali. Former Big Brother housemate Pieface will also be involved, giving at least one person inside the group some idea of what it is actually like to live under Big Brother’s cameras.

When Does Big Brother 2026 Start?

The main series begins on Sunday, 13 September at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, with AJ Odudu and Will Best returning as hosts. A new group of housemates will move into what ITV is calling a “house of surprises”, beginning an eight-week run airing every night apart from Saturdays.

The new series will also be followed Sunday to Thursday by Big Brother: The Group Chat, hosted by former winner Kate Lawler and GK Barry. The companion show will look at the relationships and conversations developing inside the house and give fans more coverage after the main episode.

For CultureCues, getting to watch the dry run is such a fun idea for Big Brother fans, especially when this part of the show has always happened completely out of sight. We are already nosy enough about the new house before launch night, so 24 hours of people testing it out should be a good watch. And with Angry Ginge, Pieface and the rest of the group involved, there should be plenty happening before the actual series has even started.

The Big Brother 2026 dry run streams for 24 hours from Saturday, 12 September, ahead of the new series launching at 9pm on Sunday, 13 September on ITV2 and ITVX.