‘The pandemic makes it hard!’ Love Island boss admits the show might NOT go ahead in 2021 and that producers ‘genuinely don’t know’ what will be possible
Things are looking increasingly bleaker for Love Island 2021, as one the top bosses on the show has admitted it might not be able to go ahead this year.
Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive at ITV, was asked recently where the show stands, after the summer series was axed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Her answer: ‘I genuinely don’t know.’
Not looking good: Things are looking increasingly bleaker for Love Island 2021, as one the top bosses on the show has admitted it might not be able to go ahead this year [pictured: host Laura Whitmore]
As reports The Sun, McCall added: ‘We will want to put Love Island on air because it’s been off air for a little while. We didn’t do it last summer.
‘We are looking at all our options at the moment. The pandemic makes it hard.’
The show debuted its first winter edition in January 2020, just as the global health crisis began ramping up.
Widespread illness, restricted travel and social-distancing meant the production could not return in its usual summer slot in June.
Bleaker by the dozen: Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive at ITV, was asked recently where the show stands, after the summer series was axed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis. Her answer – ‘I genuinely don’t know’ [pictured: the cast of 2016]
The series usually films in Majorca, with the winter edition shot in South Africa. But travel to both locations are currently disallowed, with Brits unsure as to what summer 2021 will hold.
This comes as it was reported the series could be filmed in Devon or Cornwall, as show bosses prepare to change locations to the UK seaside this year.
According to reports on Saturday, those behind the scenes have been keen to line-up some locations on home shores after the show was postponed last year.
Coming home: This comes as it was reported the series could be filmed in Devon or Cornwall, as show bosses prepare to change locations to the UK seaside this year
A source told The Sun: ‘As a precautionary measure, producers have looked at several UK sites to hold the series, so if travel restrictions remain strict they have a back-up plan.
‘Cornwall has been optioned, as well as Torquay, the Isles of Scilly and even Barry Island, where Gavin and Stacey was filmed.
‘ITV bosses are also worried about a fan backlash against the show if contestants are allowed to go away claiming work reasons but the rest of the country is still stuck at home.’
MailOnline has contacted Love Island representatives, who declined to comment.
Changes: While the summer series is usually filmed in Spain, show bosses may be unable to fly contestants over there because of travel restrictions [pictured: the 2020 cast]
On Friday, Georgia Harrison said that Love Island will go ahead this summer, adding that TV bosses have already started interviewing hopefuls.
The reality star, 26, who appeared in series three of the hit show, revealed it is set for a return in just a matter of months in a new interview with The Sun.
Admitting she’s ‘jealous’ of those applying for the upcoming series, Georgia teased that she knows a few of the people hoping to go into the villa and find love.
It’s back! On Friday, Georgia Harrison said Love Island will go ahead this summer, adding TV bosses have already started interviewing hopefuls
She said: ‘I’ve heard of a few people who are in the interview process and it’s just so exciting – I wish I could go back in time and be in their position again.
‘I don’t want you to say who because I might get into trouble for that – they might get dropped. It’s just friends of friends – it’s just a few people I know.’
Georgia claimed that she’d ‘heard from people at ITV’ that filming the winter series in the new location was ‘a bit of a struggle’ and they’d be keen to return to Spain.
Missed: The popular ITV2 show, hosted by Laura Whitmore, has not aired since February 2020 after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic [pictured: the 2018 cast]
Applications: It comes after ITV shared they were on the hunt for a new crop of islanders as they invited singletons to apply for a place in the villa at the beginning of the month
She said: ‘It would be weird if it was filmed anywhere apart from Mallorca… I think if they had the opportunity, they would go back to Europe.’
It was reported that Love Island bosses were swamped with over 100,000 applications for the upcoming series.
The popular ITV2 show is hosted by Laura Whitmore.
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