ITV Reality reaching over 8m viewers per month
September 16, 2026



ITV reports that its reality content has generated over 450 million streams throughout 2026, fuelled by a strong performance from popular formats including Love Island, Big Brother and The Only Way Is Essex. Reaching over 8 million viewers per month, ITV Reality is now the second biggest genre on ITVX.

Love Island continues to dominate audience consumption, with 2 billion streams across all series on ITVX and 193 million for the most recent season (13), including companion titles Aftersun and The Debrief (pictured).


Big Brothermeanwhile returned to screens on September 13th, debuting with 761k viewers, an increase on its ITV2 overnight from 2025 and also an increase on 16-34 viewership.

The Only Way Is Essex has now achieved 75 million streams on ITVX throughout 2026 (up on 62 million streams at the same point in 2025) and viewing is up 7 per cent compared to episodes last year.

In addition, Season 3 of The Princess Diaries saw an uplift of 26 per cent in viewing on the second series which aired in February 2026 with streams currently reaching 4 million.

Nnew companion shows have also proved successful in their launches across ITV, ITVX, You Tube and podcast platforms – Love Island The Debrief’s launch of 425k viewers was the highest new programme launch outside of Love Island and Big Brother for ITV2, while TOWIE’s You Alright, Hun? vodcast, hosted by Billie Shepherd, has been streamed 2.2 million times.

Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment, Reality and Daytime said “Our slate of unmissable reality formats continues to resonate with both streamers and linear viewers, particularly across our target 16-34 demographic, cementing 2026 as a vintage year for ITV Reality.”