Love Island WILL return this summer: ITV confirm show bosses will work on ‘every contingency plan’ to ensure dating series goes ahead after being forced off-air by the pandemic
Love Island will return to television screens this summer, ITV have confirmed.
The much-loved ITV2 programme will be back with a bang, with producers working on ‘every contingency plan’ to ensure this year’s series goes ahead.
The network released their bumper Spring schedule on Thursday, after months of uncertainty if the show would return this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s back! Love Island will return to television screens this summer, ITV bosses have confirmed
The show was axed last summer due to the Covid crisis, which took hold shortly after the first winter series ended in February of last year.
In an announcement ITV said: ‘Love Island will return this summer. The team are working on every contingency plan manageable, so look out for more announcements on that very soon.’
ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo added: ‘There’s so much to look forward to on ITV this spring and into summer, with the Euros and the return of Love Island, but much more besides.’
Return: The much-loved ITV2 programme will be back with a bang, with producers working on ‘every contingency plan’ to ensure this year’s series goes ahead
Bosses promise ‘more texts, fire pit gatherings and challenges’ with ‘lots of twists and turns along the way, with shock recouplings, unexpected splits and dramatic exits.’
ITV have kept under wraps the exact location of where this year’s series will take place, due to the uncertainty of the pandemic.
It has been reported Jersey has been secured for filming this summer if production cannot take place in the show’s usual location of Mallorca.
Single and ready to mingle: The network released their bumper Spring schedule on Thursday, after months of uncertainty if the show would return this year (pictured Winter 2020 islanders)
A source told The Mirror that bosses are hoping Jersey will be blessed with warm weather this summer should Love Island filming take place on the picturesque island.
They said: ‘The Channel Islands get plenty of sunshine so it makes sense to hold Love Island there if we can’t get back to Spain
‘Either way we’re going to put out a belting series. Viewers have missed Love Island for the whole of 2020 and they’re desperate to have it back. They’re going to love what we do, wherever we do it.’
A representative for Love Island declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
Love Island bosses have reportedly chosen Jersey as a back-up location for the 2021 series amid concerns filming in Mallorca will be impossible due to the Covid pandemic
Exciting: Sources claimed the Channel Island has been secured for filming this summer if production cannot take place in Mallorca due to the Covid pandemic
This comes despite reports last month stating that Love Island bosses had been considering Devon and Cornwall as alternative filming locations.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘As a precautionary measure, producers have looked at several UK sites to hold the series, so if travel restrictions remain strict they have a back-up plan.
‘Cornwall has been optioned, as well as Torquay, the Isles of Scilly and even Barry Island, where Gavin and Stacey was filmed.
‘ITV bosses are also worried about a fan backlash against the show if contestants are allowed to go away claiming work reasons but the rest of the country is still stuck at home.’
Last time in the villa: The show debuted its first winter edition, filmed in South Africa, in January 2020, just as the global health crisis began ramping up