Believe it or not, Love Island will return to ITV2 less than six months after series five has ended for a Winter edition of the reality show.
This time around, a cast of new models and Instagrammers will be stuffed into a villa in South Africa and urged to forge romantic connections with a view to taking home a cash prize.
Find out everything you need to know about Winter Love Island below…
Who will be hosting Winter Love Island?
Previous Love Island host Caroline Flack announced in December she would be stepping down from the show, after she was arrested and charged with assault by beating.
Revealing the news on her Instagram story, the 40-year-old said: “Love Island has been my world for the last five years, it’s the best show on telly.
“In order to not detract attention from the upcoming series I feel the best thing I can do is to stand down for Series 6. I want to wish the incredible team working on the show a fantastic series in Cape Town.”
A spokesperson for ITV told RadioTimes.com: “ITV has a long standing relationship with Caroline and we understand and accept her decision. We will remain in contact with her over the coming months about future series of Love Island.”
Rochelle Humes, Maya Jama and Laura Whitmore are among the names being considered to front the show when it returns to screens in January.
When is Winter Love Island on TV?
Love Island will launch on Sunday 12th January on ITV2.
January, don’t be such a melt.
It’s time to thaw out those inflatables, @loveisland is BACK!
✈️????????#LoveIsland Returns Sunday 12th January @ITV2 pic.twitter.com/tpHAxlVD10— ITV2 (@itv2) December 19, 2019
According to MailOnline, staff working on the show are jetting off to South Africa, on New Year’s Day (January 1).
While cast will fly out shortly before the show launches, a series of guinea-pig Islanders will be recruited in the lead up to ensure they know the best places to create maximum drama.
A TV source said: “The new Winter Love Island will launch the second week of January.
“The new cast of singletons fly out just days before the launch but bosses work with test Islanders to uncover the best spots in the villa to create drama.”
???? DOUBLE THE LOVE ???? It's official! Love Island will be back for TWO series in 2020! #LoveIsland2020 @LoveIsland #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/LW6z32ZxIF
— ITV2 (@itv2) July 24, 2019
Where is Winter Love Island set?
The action will take place in a “brand new villa in South Africa“. The South African summer runs from December-March, so it should be sunny enough for all the Islanders to get their abs out.
Caroline Flack confirmed during the Love Island 2019 final that the show that the winter series will be taking place in Cape Town.
The presenter, 40, has now filmed the trailer for the upcoming series – which should be dropping very soon.
Speaking on her Instagram Stories, she said: “We have just landed in Cape Town for Winter Love Island.
“We are not sure what to expect – we don’t usually film it in the winter, do we?”
Is there a trailer for Winter Love Island?
The first teaser for Winter Love Island was unveiled during I’m a Celebrity on 2nd December.
Anyone else ready for some sunshine? ????????????#LoveIsland #WinterIsDumped @loveisland pic.twitter.com/6YKHMDpnyu
— ITV2 (@itv2) December 2, 2019
A promo was released a few days later, narrated by Ian Stirling, naturally:
Who are the contestants on Winter Love Island?
Although the exact line-up isn’t yet confirmed, the rumour mill is already spinning, with a few names already tipped to be joining the show.
First of which: fitness instructor Ellis Iyayi. According to The Sun, the Leeds-based personal trainer has been headhunted for the ITV2 competition. Aside from his work in the gym, Ellis has also modelled for ASOS, Nike, JD Sports and GymShark.
Will Iain Sterling be narrating the show?
Voiceover hero Iain Stirling has confirmed he will also be back to provide his witticisms for series six.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he teased: “Do you know what, it’s gonna be an absolute blast.Winter Love Island is gonna come back sooner than you thought and it’s gonna be enjoyable.”
When do applications open for Winter Love Island?
Applications for the first Love Island of 2020 are closed as of 30th November 2019.
The new series is reportedly going to have a smaller cast than Love Island 2019, with the casting team already approaching potential Islanders.
One man claimed he was approached by someone from ITV while at a pool party in Spain, who said they were looking for more distinct personality types on the show.
“I was asked if I was single and they showed me credentials from ITV2,” he told The Sun. “I was a bit nervous about giving my name so they then showed me an email where they’d been asked to find ‘types’. On there, it listed twins, goth girls and Essex lads.”
Further reports claim that casting directors are also on the lookout for “a male virgin, a female stripper, and someone related to the royal family”, as well as “a rock chick, a girl with tattoos and a male surfer dude”.
Think you fit the bill and want to give Love Island 2020 a shot? Here’s some advice from former Islanders…
Though be warned – only six of this year’s 36 Islanders made it to the show through its application process – the remaining 30 were put forward by management, or scouted by casting teams.
Will there be a Love Island Winter live stream?
Unlikely. Whilst the show streams live via ITV Hub simultaneously with its TV broadcast, there are currently no plans from Love Island bosses to introduce a live feed from the villa (similar to the one Big Brother had in its heyday). Read what the producers had to say about it here.
from Radio Times https://ift.tt/2S5B9NR
