BIG Brother will not be counting its chickens for the new series — after rumours the birds are returning were pooh-poohed.
The feathery cluckers featured in the first series in 2000 before making an appearance during the show’s last outing five years ago.
Bosses promise a “back to basics” approach for the upcoming ITV reboot, but co-host Will Best said it is unlikely to involve livestock due to welfare concerns.
Will, 38, told the Dish podcast, out on Wednesday: “I asked about whether there’s gonna be chickens this year, but I don’t think there will be, because … duty of care.”
Housemate Darren Ramsay was obsessed with the chickens in the first series, naming his fave Marjorie.
In a separate interview with The Sun, co-presenter AJ Odudu, 35, laughed: “We’d all love to put chickens in a pen and see the Darrens of the world bond with them but I don’t think that’s going to be allowed.”
Will added: “I think it will be a livestock-free house.”
In 2018 the Big Brother house was invaded by hundreds of hens, some fake, as part of a challenge.
Details of the new series are under wraps ahead of the October 8 launch.
Drone photos of the set, still being constructed, have shown a hot tub in the garden – but no sign of a chicken coop.
AJ and Will open up on all things Big Brother on Dish this week, hosted by alongside broadcast veteran Nick Grimshaw and Michelin star chef and restaurateur Angela Hartnett OBE.
Listeners are invited to pull up a chair, grab a drink and indulge in their weekly dinner parties for more hilariously unfiltered chat and secrets unveiled.
Series 4 of Dish from Waitrose & Partners is available on all podcast providers now.
