Channel 5 has confirmed today that the fifteenth series of Big Brother, dubbed ‘Power Trip’, will kick off during the first week of June.

The broadcaster today released its advanced information for Saturday 31st May to Friday 6th June, with Big Brother named as one of the programming highlights.

C5’s preliminary schedules suggest that the most likely launch dates are Thursday 5th or Friday 6th, as the 9pm-midnight timeslots are currently marked as ‘TBA’ on both of these days.

The opener could also potentially be split over two nights again – similarly to last year’s run, which achieved BB’s best ever second-episode viewer retention, with part two of its launch down only 20,000 viewers on part one.

However, C5 intends to launch Stand By Your Man – its major new Brian McFadden and Laura Jackson-fronted dating show – the same week.

It is highly likely that this will be scheduled around the Big Brother launch, as C5 has used such strategies to debut shows such as Under The Dome and Celebrity Super Spa.

Final schedules for the Big Brother 2014 launch are due to be announced on Wednesday.

Earlier today, bosses confirmed details of the ‘Power Trip’ theme, which will involve housemates – and viewers – getting the opportunity to seize control of the house. A new teaser advert and photo of presenter Emma Willis have been released to promote the twist.

Meanwhile, former Celebrity contestant Luisa Zissman has been hired as a regular panellist and roving reporter for spin-off show Bit On The Side.