Love Island bosses insist ‘the show must go on’ despite coronavirus and ‘push show launch back a month’

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Love Island bosses are insisting the show will go ahead this summer despite the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports

LOVE Island bosses are insisting the show will go ahead this summer despite the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.

The show is set to be pushed back a month with a new July start date, but with the deadly virus continuing to devastate Europe it remains to be seen if that is enough.

A source told Mail Online: “The team are still committed to the series airing this summer. The show will go on.

“Production on Love Island have been told the upcoming series is still scheduled to take place but the show will launch a month later in July.

“All the usual preparations are going ahead.”

A spokesman for the show had no comment to make.

Model Adam Rhazali,19, told the publication he was approached for the next series of the show on Tuesday.

The Sun on Sunday exclusively revealed the summer series had been flung into jeopardy by the outbreak.

Meetings due to take place next week about plans for the ITV2 show have now been delayed until at least after Easter amid fears over the virus.

Love Island’s summer start date has reportedly been pushed back to July

And top ITV sources on Saturday night said it was “highly unlikely” the upcoming series will air as planned in June.

One said: “A huge amount of work goes into Love Island and to pull everything together in a very short space of time would be near impossible.

“Casting aside, they need to think about all the paperwork necessary, the show’s insurance and all the tests that cast members must undergo.

“The team are also very conscious that if overseas travel restrictions are not lifted in time, filming in Mallorca as normal will be ruled out of the question.

The Great British Bake Off is also facing the axe after Berkshire locals expressed virus fears

“Not to mention the risks of cast members and crew contracting the virus, or pulling out because their family members have become seriously ill.

“All the signs are pointing towards the show not airing.”

The ITV2 dating show is not the only viewer favourite to be called into question by the outbreak.

The upcoming series of the Great British Bake Off, which usually begins filming with contestants at the end of April, is also set to be postponed.

Britain’s Got Talent live shows are being pushed back as ‘the most responsible thing’ to do

The decision is being raked over after locals in Newbury, Berkshire, expressed fears about an influx of filming crew and cast amid the outbreak.

A second source said: “Crunch talks about Bake Off this year are happening very soon.

“The last thing anyone wants to do is postpone the show, but in the current situation we may find there is just no other choice.”

ITV sources also confirmed that Simon Cowell is holding conversations about the possible postponing of the Britain’s Got Talent live finals.

On Saturday night one said: “We wouldn’t be behaving in a responsible way if we weren’t having conversations about whether or not we should go ahead.

“The safety of everyone involved in the show – including the audiences – is Simon’s paramount concern and if it isn’t safe the live finals will be postponed.”