BID farewell to the firepit and steel yourself for far fewer swimsuits on the telly this summer.
The upcoming series of Love Island has been cancelled.
And it has thrown ITV bosses into crisis — with a gaping hole in their scheduling and angry wannabes furious at being dumped.
An insider said: “The decision to bin Love Island was made during crisis talks late on Friday and it’s become a huge headache for ITV.
“Of course the safety of their cast and crew is paramount but there are plenty of issues they’re now trying to iron out.
“Potential wannabes who were being lined up to become islanders have been left absolutely gutted.
“There’s a chance they could be heading into the winter series, but that’s a long way off.
“It’s a dream for some of them so there have been plenty of angry phone calls.
“Also, Love Island is the channel’s most popular show, so to lose it is going to have a devastating impact on ITV2.
“Filling that coveted 9pm slot for six weeks is also something they’re now trying to organise.
“It’s very frustrating, especially with shows like Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle doing so well.”
ITV boss Kevin Lygo confirmed Love Island wouldn’t be going ahead to my team yesterday after we were told of the decision on Sunday.
Kevin told HOAR: “We’ve 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 well-being of everyone involved.
“But Love Island will be back stronger than ever in 2021.”
Nobody has rolled their eyes and groaned about Love Islanders more than me — but like so many things lately, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
We could all do with a bit of light relief.
Molly Mae have been had
MOLLY-MAE Hague and Tommy Fury had their five minutes of fame last summer when they won Love Island, so somehow I doubt they will ever be top billing on US talk shows.
But they believed they had been booked to appear on James Corden’s Late Late Show – except it was a set-up by YouTube pranksters.
They got all dressed up for the Zoom interview where Molly spoke about her riveting career posting photos on Instagram, while Tommy said he wanted to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio in a film about their lives.
Thankfully, that will never, ever happen.
It was only later that they discovered it had all been a joke by tricksters Archie Manners and Josh Pieters, who had used clips of James talking in old interviews to fool the couple into believing he was on the line.
To be fair, I don’t think it would take much to pull the wool over this pair’s eyes . . .
Top ten thrillas in villa
LOVE Island has thrown up many memorable moments over the years. Here are the best:
1. ROSIE PASTES ADAM
Adam Collard was the show’s biggest womaniser to date but he met his match in trainee lawyer Rosie Williams in 2018. After he copped off with Megan Barton Hanson in front of her, and eventually ditched her for Zara McDermott, Rosie did the sisterhood proud by giving the Geordie a dressing down.
2. MAURA MAULS TOM
Maura Higgins heard Tom Walker telling the boys he wanted to find out if she was “all mouth” in 2019 and tore him to shreds.
3. MALIA’S FIGHT
Malia Arkian was chucked out after a brawl with Kady McDermott in 2016.
4. JOSH PIES OFF GEORGIA
“Loyal” Josh Denzel pied off Georgia Steel in 2018. When she found out her looks could kill.
5. ZARA LOSES CROWN
Zara Holland was stripped of her Miss GB crown in 2016 after having sex with newbie Alex Bowen.
6. STORMZY TAKES OVER
The grime legend, a Love Island superfan made a cameo in 2017 and got torn off a strip by a furious Olivia Attwood over a tweet about her.
7. MALIN RETURNS
Malin Andersson was pied off by Terry Walsh in 2016, left the villa but was then reinstated. Cue drama.
8. THUMBS DOWN
Chris Hughes picked Jason Statham as Chloe’s Crowhurst’s secret crush and spelt it “Staythumb.”
9. BEST GUEST
Calum Best’s surprise cameo in 2015 put the lads on edge after he was the standout star in the first celebrity version of the show in 2005 and won in 2006.
10. EU WHAT?
2018: A talk about Brexit led Hayley Hughes to ask: “So does that mean we won’t have any trees?”
Lucie wants waves
AFTER three weeks wearing a bikini every day on Love Island, Lucie Donlan can’t get out of the habit.
The 2019 contestant threw on a biker jacket over a plunging black two-piece for this sexy shot she posted on Instagram. As well as becoming a television personality via the dating show, Lucie is a professional surfer.
She said on Monday she was counting the days until she could get back on the beach.
Aren’t we all.
Chrissy misses sex
JOHN Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen won’t feel too bad about Love Island being cancelled . . . they are still on last year’s.
But even Chrissy admits the show has changed since its early days – moaning that fans no longer get to see the Islanders getting together in the bedroom.
She wrote on Twitter: “Love Island has evolved so much since the early days.
“No more chain-smoking or drunken cries. Or sex!
“They seem much more aware that they are, indeed, on TV.”
Chrissy also had questions to ask – especially when it comes to Callum Jones, a housemate last summer.
The US model and telly star, isolating at home in LA, asked: “Love Island question: Is a scaffolder someone in construction generally or someone in purely the construction of scaffolding?
“Also, why are all your scaffolders young, perfect Ken-dolls?”
I don’t think Callum is wholly representative of the industry across the country.
Sorry, guys.
Becks’ damage control
BRAND Beckham took a pounding after Posh tried to use the taxpayers’ furlough scheme to pay the staff in her plush London store – despite being worth £335million.
Now I can reveal David and Victoria are going all out to win favour again, with a huge PR campaign to try to repair the damage.
A source said: “David and Victoria’s team have gone into overdrive to try to win over the public again.
“They are using their social media channels to reaffirm all the charities they help and remind their people how much good work they do.
“Not long after Posh’s U-turn, where she said she would no longer be using the furlough scheme, they started posting about the care packages they were sending out to vulnerable people with Age UK.
“David reposted messages from two charities he’s previously helped.
“They’ve been advised to keep reminding the public of all the great work they do to try to take the heat off them.
“But it’s all a bit obvious.
“The public aren’t daft, they’ll likely see straight through it.
“But Posh took such a hammering, they’re willing to try anything.”
I know the Beckhams do a lot for charity and have helped raised millions.
But sometimes when you’ve dug yourself a hole, you have to just stop digging.
Someone please take their spade away.
Little crop top
LITTLE Mix’s Jesy Nelson is thriving after splitting from her Love Island boyfriend Chris Hughes last month.
She got dressed up in this tiny white crop top for yet another photoshoot at home while in lockdown.
The Break Up Song singer has been sharing daily pictures on Instagram while wearing a variety of bold outfits.
She’ll have no shortage of romantic offers by the time we’re finally allowed outside again.
But once lockdown does end she’ll have to get back in the studio to hastily record the group’s seventh album, which had been due this summer.
She better make the most of her time off while she can.
Loo is that?
KATY Perry is on a roll with her lockdown-themed costumes.
The Roar singer dressed up as toilet paper for Sunday’s episode of American Idol in the States, a week after she wore a hand sanitiser outfit.
Pregnant Katy has acknowledged that a baby shower is looking unlikely, due to the continued need to self-isolate.
She said: “I know not everyone does a babymoon or a baby shower, but I’m not sure I’m gonna be able to do any of that. I’m just taking it one day at a time.”
