Reports that Channel 4 is planning to bring back Celebrity Big Brother for a new series early next year have been denied.

The iconic reality show has been off air in the UK since its axe by Channel 5 in 2018, although E4 is currently re-airing a selection of classic episodes to mark 20 years since the first series of Big Brother aired under the banner 'Best Shows Ever'.

That has sparked rumours that BB could be revived by Channel 4 - and fans were given a glimmer of hope over the weekend when a tabloid claimed that the celebrity version could return for a new series on E4 next year, complete with original host Davina McCall.

A spokesperson for production company EndemolShine told the Daily Mail: "I can confirm that there is no truth in this story. EndemolShine the production company has had no talks with Davina re reviving the Celebrity series and no future series has been commissioned."

The denial comes as latest ratings figures show that the first episode of Big Brother: Best Shows Ever drew almost 1 million viewers to E4 on June 14.