On October 20, 2025, Big Brother's 25th-anniversary premiere shocked viewers with the sudden return of former housemate Farida Khalifa after a fake eviction and 36-hour secret stay.

On October 20, 2025, ITV's Big Brother premiered a 25th-anniversary twist with the surprise return of former housemate Farida Khalifa, along with Sam and Emily, who were secretly relocated to a hidden room after a fake eviction. After 36 hours of secret challenges, the trio rejoined the main house, sparking immediate tension as Farida, known for her confrontational style, offered blunt critiques, particularly targeting relationships. Fans reacted sharply, criticizing the one-day secret room stay as anticlimactic and underdeveloped compared to past iterations, with calls for longer isolation periods and more meaningful tasks. While some welcomed Farida’s return for its potential to heighten drama, others questioned the twist’s impact on gameplay. The episode aired at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.