Love Island ‘delayed until August and could be filmed in the UK’

LOVE Island could be filmed in the UK, according to insiders who say the show has been delayed “until August at the earliest”.

The global coronavirus crisis has derailed plans for ITV’s money-spinning dating show to air in its usual June/July slot – though bosses are thought to be keen for it to go ahead at a later date.

Last summer’s series Love Island was the best-performing ever for ITV

Variety reports that Love Island’s summer series, shot on the Spanish island of Majorca, may even be filmed in Britain, drastically reducing the ‘bikinis in the sunshine’ vibe of previous series.

The entertaimnent industry newspaper said: “It’s believed the 2020 summer edition could shoot somewhere in the UK rather than go overseas.

“A similar scenario is being considered for ITV reality hit I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! which shoots in Australia.”

It added: “An August to September broadcast is on the cards for the programme, as prospects for Love Island’s traditional June-July outing seem virtually impossible given the production lockdown driven by the global pandemic.”

The Love Island villa in Majorca could be off limits for the next series of the ITV hit

Producers may need to try and recreate the magic of the show in Britain

The skimpy bikinis may need to be substituted for jackets for Britain in August

The broadcaster is not thought to be revealing its plans for the show until later in the year.

Last summer’s Love Island on ITV2 was its best-performing series to date, averaging 5.6 million viewers when you include non-TV viewing.

However, filming the show relies on British staff shuttling back and forth between ITV’s London base and Spain, which currently has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Europe.

Yesterday, the country passed a grim milestone, with deaths from the disease passing 20,000.