Rochelle Rackham is the Big Brother 2026 winner, crowned in the live final on Thursday 5 November 2026 after eight weeks in the house. The 57-year-old housewife from Essex beat five fellow finalists in the public vote to take the £100,000 prize on ITV2 and ITVX.
Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best revealed the result live, with Rochelle finishing ahead of runner-up Twinks. The final brought down the curtain on a series that ITV has described as record-breaking for streaming, and one that also became the most complained-about run in the show’s modern history.
Big Brother 2026 Winner — Quick Reference Summary
| Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Winner | Rochelle Rackham, 57, housewife from Essex |
| Prize | £100,000 |
| Final date | Thursday 5 November 2026 |
| Channel | ITV2 and ITVX |
| Hosts | AJ Odudu and Will Best |
| Runner-up | Lucinda “Twinks” Burnett |
| Series | Series 23 — launched 13 September 2026, 16 housemates, eight weeks |
| Streams | 12.7 million by late September 2026, up 50% on 2025 |
| Reunion | Big Brother: The Reunion, Friday 6 November 2026 |
How the Final Six Were Placed After the Public Vote
Six housemates reached the final night: Catrin, Lynx, Rochelle, Samuel, Twinks and Yasmin. They learned their placings one by one as the public vote was revealed live, with Rochelle announced last as the winner.
The full final order was Rochelle first, Twinks second, Yasmin third, Samuel fourth, Lynx fifth and Catrin sixth. Bookmakers had tipped Twinks, whose full name is Lucinda Burnett, as the favourite before the final, which made Rochelle’s victory a surprise to many viewers.
On their final night, the housemates shared one last meal together and reflected on the experience in the diary room. Rochelle said she hoped other people her age would “try something different”, adding that she was proud of herself for taking on the challenge.
Why Rochelle Rackham’s Win Broke New Ground for Big Brother UK
Rochelle, a 57-year-old mother of three who has been married for 33 years, is the oldest female housemate to win Big Brother UK. She entered the house after applying for the show as a joke, and has said the experience was her first time away from her husband and family on her own.
Before the series began, she told ITV she rides horses every day and show jumps, and that people are often surprised by her age because she does not feel older than the younger people she spends time with. She had also said that if she won, she would buy more horses and handbags, and do something for her husband, whose 60th birthday falls next year.
Her win follows that of Richard Storry, who won Big Brother 2025 at the age of 60. Together, the two results point to an audience that has warmed to older housemates in the ITV era of the show, after years in which younger contestants tended to dominate the final vote.
A Record-Breaking Run That Also Drew Record Complaints
The 2026 series was the 23rd series of Big Brother UK and the longest of the ITV era, running for eight weeks from its launch on 13 September 2026. ITV reported 12.7 million streams by late September, up 50 per cent on the equivalent point in 2025, making it a hit for the broadcaster despite the rows that marked the run.
The same series became the most complained-about in the show’s modern history. One episode broadcast on 19 October alone drew more than 7,000 Ofcom complaints, largely centred on housemate Omar’s treatment of fellow contestant Rhianna. A Big Brother spokesperson said all housemates receive respect and inclusion training and an extensive briefing before entering the house, and that housemates are monitored around the clock with welfare and safeguarding prioritised throughout.
Rochelle herself was a divisive figure at times, clashing with fellow housemates including Johanne and Yasmin during the series. That friction was part of why her route to the final was far from smooth, and why her win was not the outcome many had predicted at the start of the run.
What the £100,000 Prize and the Reunion Mean Next
Rochelle leaves the house with the £100,000 prize and a place in Big Brother history. The reunion show, Big Brother: The Reunion, airs on Friday 6 November 2026, bringing the housemates back together in the house setting for the first time since the final.
The reunion will be the first chance to hear from the winner and the other finalists about life after the house, and from the evicted housemates about a series that kept viewers talking for eight weeks. For ITV, the question now is whether the format can carry its streaming momentum into the next series, after a run that proved both popular and controversial in equal measure.
Channel 4’s decision to cancel Married at First Sight UK after 11 years has left Big Brother as the biggest reality talking point of the autumn. The result also gives the show a second successive older winner, after Richard Storry’s victory in 2025. Whether that becomes a lasting shift in what Big Brother audiences reward, or a one-off run of form, will only become clear when the next cast is announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Big Brother 2026?
Rochelle Rackham won Big Brother 2026. The 57-year-old housewife from Essex was crowned in the live final on Thursday 5 November 2026, beating runner-up Twinks to the £100,000 prize.
Who finished second in the Big Brother 2026 final?
Lucinda “Twinks” Burnett finished second. Yasmin was third, Samuel fourth, Lynx fifth and Catrin sixth in the final public vote.
How much did the Big Brother 2026 winner receive?
The winner received £100,000. Rochelle Rackham took home the full prize after winning the public vote in the live final on ITV2 and ITVX.
How old is Big Brother 2026 winner Rochelle Rackham?
Rochelle Rackham is 57 years old. She is the oldest female housemate to win Big Brother UK, and a mother of three from Essex who has been married for 33 years.
When is the Big Brother 2026 reunion?
Big Brother: The Reunion airs on Friday 6 November 2026, the day after the final, with hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best returning to front the special.
Where can I watch Big Brother 2026?
Big Brother 2026 is available to stream on ITVX. The final aired live on ITV2 and ITVX on Thursday 5 November 2026.
Myth-Busting
Myth: Twinks was the winner because bookmakers made her favourite. She was not. Bookmakers had tipped Lucinda “Twinks” Burnett as the favourite before the final, but the public vote crowned Rochelle Rackham, with Twinks finishing as runner-up.
Myth: Rochelle was the youngest winner of the ITV era. She was not. At 57, she is the oldest female housemate to win Big Brother UK, and her victory followed 60-year-old Richard Storry’s win in 2025.
Myth: The series was a ratings failure because of the complaints. It was not. ITV reported 12.7 million streams by late September 2026, up 50 per cent on the equivalent point in 2025, even as the series became the most complained-about in the show’s modern history.
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