Love Island 2020 CANCELLED: ITV bosses scrap summer series

Love Island 2020 has officially been cancelled.

ITV bosses have pulled the plug on the summer series of the reality show, revealing it was a logistical impossibility to safeguard ‘the wellbeing of everyone involved’ amid the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic. 

Fans have been assured the dating programme, which was due to begin filming in June, will be back ‘stronger than ever in 2021’.

Kevin Lygo, Director of Television at ITV said: ‘We have 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 wellbeing of everyone involved and that for us is the priority.

‘In normal circumstances we would be preparing very soon to travel out to the location in Mallorca to get the villa ready but clearly that’s now out of the question.

‘We are very sorry for fans of the show but making it safely is our prime concern and Love Island will be back stronger than ever in 2021. In the meantime Love Island fans can still enjoy all six series of Love Island on BritBox.’ 

Love Island has reportedly been hit by yet another crisis amid concerns coronavirus may stop the series from going ahead.

After ITV bosses hinted the series may be axed this year as it would send the wrong signal to viewers, sources are now claiming the ITV2 is struggling to get insurance to be filmed in Mallorca.

It’s reported that bosses are considering asking its stars to isolate for two weeks before filming starts this summer, but without insurance production could be shut down completely. 

A source told The Daily Star on Sunday: ‘Producers are looking at ways of making it work. 

‘The current plan is to fly crew and contestants out to Majorca two weeks before filming starts and then isolate everyone. But even with these measures, insurance companies won’t offer cover.

‘ITV can’t do the series without insurance. If the series is airing and even just one person tests positive for the virus, the whole thing would have to be shut down immediately.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Love Island for comment. 

The reports come just days after Head of ITV Kevin Lygo hinted this year’s Love Island may be axed, as it could send the wrong signal to viewers during a time of social distancing.  

Speaking during a virtual interview by the Edinburgh TV Festival, Kevin admitted they’re at a point when they have to decide whether to go ahead with Love Island this year.

He said: ‘We’re approaching the moment of is it feasible? Will Majorca open its doors?’

The channel boss added that they wouldn’t want to send the wrong signal to viewers when the country is asked to stay and home and keep at least two metres apart.

‘What signal might it be sending out if we’re doing a show where everyone is crammed together slavering over each other, and the rest of the world is told not to go near anyone in the park?’ he added. 

Kevin added that they did consider moving filming for this year’s series to the UK from its usual spot in Mallorca.

He went onto dismiss reports the new series could be filmed in Cornwall saying it ‘wouldn’t be the same.’ 

Kevin also said that they are hoping to reach a decision on the new series of Love Island ‘very soon,’ and there would be a ‘big commercial impact’ if the series failed to go ahead. 

It was reported earlier this month that Love Island bosses were hoping to go ahead with filming the new series, and would delay the start date until July.

A TV source exclusively told MailOnline: ‘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,’

It comes following reports much of this year’s cast will have missed on thousands of pounds in events and big-money deals as the country is ground to a halt during the lockdown.

On Thursday, Jack Cooper of EdHopkinsPR revealed to Metro that stars have missed key moneymaking moments which have previously bagged stars up to millions of pounds.

He said: ‘They are also missing out on club appearances due to them being closed, which could have earned them up to £5,000 per hour.

‘With no events to attend, they are also missing out on a huge range of exposure in the media, having no stories for the press to write about…

‘The Winter Love Island stars are set to lose huge amounts of money, some contestants up to £500,000. Brand deals at the moment are at an all-time low.  

‘Many of the participants have approached us to represent them during this tough time. Due to our books being full and also the lack of opportunities in the industry at this time, we have had to decline them.’

Love Island last aired on screens at the beginning of this year when ITV2 commissioned the show’s first ever winter series, filmed in South Africa.

Laura Whitmore took over as host from her friend Caroline Flack, who went onto tragically take her own life in February.

Shortly after the show came off air that month, the global coronavirus pandemic spread around the world, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson enforcing a lockdown on 23 March.

Despite these concerns, the number of applications for the summer series is anything to go by, fans are hoping the ITV2 dating show does return as potential islanders are at a record high.

According to The Sun, Love Island has received its highest number of applications yet and show bosses are hoping to snap up new reality stars by holding virtual auditions.

An insider told the paper that applications have surpassed 12,000, claiming: ‘Applications have gone through the roof since lockdown. Never before have so many people applied in this six-week time span.’

They continued: ‘Over seventy per cent of the applications have come from 18 to 28-year-olds and the videos being sent in have been more creative than ever as people have more time on their hands.’

The insider suggested that once the candidates for Love Island’s summer series have been shortlisted in the ‘coming weeks’, they’ll then be interviewed virtually by the team, with ITV having to bring in ‘extra staff’ to accommodate the high numbers.