ITV has been forced to delay the hotly anticipated return of Love Island: All Stars after dangerous wildfires in South Africa prompted an emergency evacuation of the production.
Production Halted Over Safety Concerns
The broadcaster confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the launch of the third series, hosted by Maya Jama, has been postponed indefinitely. A spokesperson stated that the decision followed an assessment of the location site after the evacuation.
'Health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first,' an ITV representative said. 'Therefore the transmission of Love Island: All Stars will be delayed until a date to be confirmed.'
The show had been scheduled to premiere on ITV2 this Monday at 9pm. Reports from The Sun indicated that filming was cancelled after it was deemed 'too dangerous' for Jama and the team to remain on site.
Hope for a Midweek Restart
Despite the official postponement, there is hope that the reality TV juggernaut could be back on track swiftly. Metro understands that the production crew is working to resume filming by the middle of this week, although this has not been officially confirmed by ITV.
A source close to the production explained the logistical headache over the weekend: 'They have now cancelled filming today and are hoping to resume tomorrow. ITV will always put the welfare of the cast and crew above the show.'
The insider added that the delay creates a tight turnaround to edit enough footage for the planned launch, noting that 'if the fire is still posing a risk the show will be pushed back again.'
All-Star Line-Up Awaits Its Chance
This series of the popular spin-off was set to welcome back a roster of famous faces from the Love Island archive who are still searching for romance. Fans were particularly excited to see the return of series 7 winner Millie Court and Jack Keating, son of Boyzone singer Ronan Keating, who appeared in series 8.
The format remains the same, with islanders coupling up and facing challenges in a luxury villa, all while competing for love and the £50,000 cash prize.
For now, viewers and contestants alike must wait as ITV prioritises safety over schedules, with the new launch date pending the resolution of the wildfire situation in South Africa.
