ITV bosses reveal future of The Assembly and fans will be thrilled
Jade Thirwall says she 'resents' being asked about pregnancy
ITV has confirmed the future of The Assembly, and it's a cause for celebration among fans.
The hit series is officially returning for an extended second series following its stellar reception from audiences and critics alike.
Dubbed by enthusiasts as "the best interview show", the first series captivated viewers with high-profile guests like Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, EastEnders icon Danny Dyer, Doctor Who's David Tennant, and Sky Sports' Gary Lineker, who all bravely endured a no-holds-barred "ask me anything" interview format.
A remarkable panel of autistic or neurodivergent interviewers, who won over the hearts of the nation, will be back to challenge a fresh line-up of celebrities with their unfiltered and candid questions.
ITV has made it clear that the ethos of season two will remain unchanged; there are no forbidden questions and no taboo topics.
While the identities of the six new celebrities who will appear in the upcoming season remain under wraps, and an official release date has yet to be announced, one thing is certain—viewers can look forward to an extra episode.
The Mirror reports that this special instalment, The Assembly: Unseen, promises to reveal all the intriguing snippets from the celebrity interviews that didn't make the initial cut.
Discussing the eagerly anticipated return of the show, ITV's Director of Entertainment and Daytime Commissioning, Katie Rawcliffe, expressed: "This really is ITV entertainment at its best: warm, funny, revealing and just that little bit mischievous."
She further added: "We've got lots of ideas about which famous faces will join for series 2 and we're eager to see what we'll learn from the fantastic questions The Assembly will have."
David Smyth, Entertainment Commissioning Editor at ITV, also shared his enthusiasm: "The response to series 1 was thrilling and completely deserved for this fantastic cast and crew. There was no doubt in my mind that we needed to do more. I can't wait to see what questions The Assembly will put to our next group of bold celebrities and what their responses will be.."
In the first series, an emotional moment unfolded when Jade Thirlwall, formerly of Little Mix, confessed she felt like she had "sold her soul" in pursuit of her music career.
The endearing team of interviewers, who are either autistic or have learning disabilities, asked the singer a poignant question: if she ever felt as though she had "sold her soul" to achieve stardom.
Clearly taken aback by the depth of the question, she replied: "You've trumped me. Maybe a little bit in the beginning. I was so young, and I just signed on the dotted line.
"But as the years have gone by, I've learned more and more about the industry. I've been collecting - a bit like [Marvel superhero] Thanos with the stones - I've been collecting parts of my soul back as I've gained more creative freedom."
It is due to air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in 2026.
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