Love Island bosses ‘to begin casting in January with plans for an early summer return’

Love Island bosses are reportedly planning to begin casting for the 2021 series in January with plans for an early summer return.

It comes after the original summer and winter series were cancelled until later in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

And now it has been claimed that Love Island bosses are ready to get the show’s ‘cogs turning’. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Reality shows can now have huge casts living together as long as all participants and crew have isolated for two full weeks beforehand, as well as having regular ­temperature testing both on and off-set.

‘Obviously there’s always an element of risk but ITV bosses feel it’s time to get the Love Island cogs turning, with a view to it being made in early summer.’

MailOnline has contacted Love Island for comment.

It comes after it was claimed over the summer that Love Island bosses were reportedly launching a new dating show called The Cabins in the UK this winter.  

According to reports at the time, The Cabins will see single contestants ditch technology and instead be paired up in huts in the middle of the UK.

The singletons then reportedly have the choice to stay another night with their selected partners or be paired up with another love interest.

A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses are going back to basics with The Cabins. Set away from the distractions of modern life, two singletons will have to spend time together and properly get to know each other without a profile on a dating app.

‘After 24 hours together they will be able to decide whether they stay together for a bit longer, or move on to someone new.

‘If they remain as a couple for up to four days, we then give some other singles the chance to enter the cabin and potentially meet their Mr or Miss Right.’

The source added that the show is already reportedly casting singletons with filming due to take place in the next few months for a 2021 air date.

MailOnline contacted ITV2 for comment at the time. 

It comes after ITV bosses pulled the plug on the summer and winter series of the reality show having said it was a logistical impossibility to safeguard ‘the wellbeing of everyone involved’ amid the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic.

Fans were assured the dating programme, which was due to begin filming in June, will be back ‘stronger than ever in 2021’.

Kevin Lygo, Director of Television at ITV, said at the time: ‘We have tried every which way to make Love Island this summer but logistically it’s just not possible to produce it in a way that safeguards the wellbeing of everyone involved and that for us is the priority.

‘In normal circumstances we would be preparing very soon to travel out to the location in Mallorca to get the villa ready but clearly that’s now out of the question.

‘We are very sorry for fans of the show but making it safely is our prime concern and Love Island will be back stronger than ever in 2021. In the meantime Love Island fans can still enjoy all six series of Love Island on BritBox.’

Host Laura Whitmore weighed in on the cancellation, saying it was the right decision.

She tweeted: ‘Like with a lot of things because of restrictions with travel, social distancing and unable to plan ahead, Love Island is postponed until 2021.

‘Great news is that there have been more applications then any other series! Next year is going to be BIG. Stay safe.’