Big Brother UK 2026: From 18-year-old Charlotte to Tays. Meet all 16 contestants entering season 23

The Big Brother house is open again, but this time there is more than the usual battle for nominations and evictions. The 2026 season has brought together 16 contestants aged between 18 and 57, with backgrounds ranging from teaching and social work to property development, radio and content creation. But one housemate has a secret job and the others do not know it yet. Season 23 premiered on September 13, with AJ Odudu and Will Best returning as hosts. The new edition will run for eight weeks, making it the longest Big Brother series since its ITV revival.

Meet the Big Brother UK 2026 housemates

The cast includes Yasmin, 29, a teacher from Manchester; Harry, 30, a fitness coach from Croydon; Chelsey, 29, a social worker from Manchester; and Philip, 53, a content creator from Liverpool. The house also has Lynx, 24, a London property developer; Charlotte, 18, a student from Oxford; Pauline, 31, a carer from Essex; and Rochelle, 57, a housewife from Essex. The younger contestants include Millie, 19, a bartender from Paisley; Frankie, 23, a marketing manager from East London; Samuel, 21, an administrative apprentice from Slough; and Rob, 25, a radio presenter from Bideford.

Also Read: Tennessee turned 100 tonnes of old wind turbine blades into material for new products for automobiles, boats and construction


Completing the line-up are Rhianna, 21, a stay-at-home daughter from Chelsea; Omar, 21, a jewellery seller from North West London; and Johanne, 44, an online marketing professional originally from Los Angeles and now living in Salford.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Big Brother UK (@bbuk)

Why Charlotte's story stands out

One of the youngest contestants, Charlotte, has already attracted attention. The 18-year-old Oxford student is a quadruple amputee. Ahead of entering the house, Charlotte spoke about how viewers might see her doing everyday things such as getting dressed, cooking and applying make-up. For her, however, these are simply normal parts of daily life. Her appearance has already received a positive response from viewers, with coverage from The Mirror and other British publications highlighting her entrance into the show.

Also Read: 16-year-old Massachusetts student built a machine that turns 3D-printer waste into reusable material, won $75,000 award

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Big Brother UK (@bbuk)

Who is Tays? Plans to enter with a secret mission

The biggest twist of the new season involves Tays, a 23-year-old streamer and content creator from Manchester. Unlike the other housemates, Tays has secretly entered the house as Big Brother's mole. His real name is Michael Taylor, and he is part of Manchester-based content group The Bov Boys.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Big Brother UK (@bbuk)

His task is to live alongside the other contestants while secretly carrying out missions for Big Brother. He must also try to avoid being identified by his fellow housemates. According to IBTimes UK, Tays was selected after The Bov Boys took part in a 24-hour takeover of the Big Brother house before the official launch. ITV had earlier announced the unusual experiment, allowing viewers to watch the pre-series "dry run" of the house live for the first time through Twitch and YouTube.

Also Read: Ohio-based company transforms old wind turbine blades into beautiful, sustainable benches, tables and other public-space furniture

Rhianna is not completely new to reality TV

Another contestant viewers may recognise is Rhianna, 21, who describes herself as a "stay-at-home daughter". Rhianna previously appeared on Made in Chelsea in 2025 as Freddy Knatchbull's girlfriend. Her entry into Big Brother has therefore raised questions about how much reality-TV experience some of this year's supposedly new faces already have. The Sun reported that she wants to challenge the assumptions people make about her background.

A longer season with more twists

The new series is not only bigger in terms of its cast. ITV has extended the show to eight weeks and promised "unexpected twists" and "game-changing moments". The traditional companion format has also been replaced by Big Brother: The Group Chat, hosted by former winner Kate Lawler and GK Barry. It will feature interviews with evicted housemates, celebrity guests and other personalities after the main show.

Also Read: 5 Students from West Bengal developed an AI tool to detect early signs of oral cancer using just a smartphone. Their simple school project has now turned into tackling a global oral health problem

With a secret mole inside the house, a revamped format and contestants from very different backgrounds, this year's Big Brother UK has already given viewers plenty to watch. The bigger question now is whether Tays can complete his mission without the other 15 housemates discovering what he is really doing.