‘Bring on the bombshells and a little bit of naughty naughty!’ Love Island: Australia comes to ITV2

Love Island fans left disappointed the series was postponed for the summer will be kept entertained by Love Island: Australia coming to screens.

ITV2 have confirmed the Australian version of the hit reality series will kick off later this month, hosted by Sophie Monk and narrated by Eoghan McDermott.

The series sees a bunch of sizzling Aussie singles embark on the ultimate summer of love, leaving the Australian winter behind them, as they take up residence in a luxury villa in Mallorca.

Playing the definitive game of love, the Aussie Islanders will get to know each other in the hope of finding romance. 

The promo for the steamy series reads: ‘Bring on the Bombshells, the Bromances and a little bit of Naughty Naughty! It’s the Love Island you love, just with a different accent. Bring it on!’

Love Island: Australia has been airing Down Under in 2018 and has aired two series so far. 

While the first series followed the UK versions lead in filming in Majorca, the second series sent their singletons to the island of Fiji to find love.

In May, ITV pulled the plug on the British summer series, 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.’

Host Laura Whitmore weighed in on the cancellation, saying it was the right decision.

She tweeted: ‘Like with a lot of things because of restrictions with travel, social distancing and unable to plan ahead, Love Island is postponed until 2021. 

‘Great news is that there have been more applications then any other series! Next year is going to be BIG. Stay safe.’

TV insiders have claimed the work that has already been done towards the cancelled series – including casting – will be deferred until the winter 2021 series.

A source told The Sun: ‘A huge amount of work had already gone into this series in terms of laying out plans for the show.

‘Casting had also started, with interviews on Zoom for new applicants planned to begin this week.

‘Rising stars on social media had also been tapped up by producers, who were already picking out their favourites.’