The return of the winter edition of Love Island is just days away and viewers are being given a sneak peak inside the brand new villa which will host this year's contestants. The winter version of the popular ITV2 dating show is back on screens on January 16 for its second series, with the first airing back in 2020.
The new series will see Maya Jama make her debut as the dating show's host, taking over from Laura Whitmore who announced she was quitting the role at the end of the 2022 summer series. Laura, 37, took over from her friend Caroline Flack in January 2020 to present the first ever winter series and continued hosting after Caroline's tragic death in February 2020.
Now Maya, 28, will follow in Laura's footsteps as she is set to present this winter series, and the usual summer edition in Majorca later this year. Not only is there is a new host, but ITV bosses have announced several changes to the show including a social media ban.
In a show's first the contestants will have to disable their social media accounts during their time on the show in a bid to protect both them and their families from online abuse.
Of course, aside from the line-up of Islanders themselves, one of the most exciting elements of the show is the brand new villa where the contestants will be staying whilst they're looking for love.
This year the Islanders will be soaking up the sun in South Africa in a huge £1.2 million villa in the wine region of Franschhoek, surrounded by a beautiful backdrop of mountains.
The Ludus Magnus villa has everything the contestants will need for a summer of fun and love with a huge Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool, an outdoor gym and of course it wouldn't be Love Island without the infamous firepit where the contestants couple up and learn their fate.
The villa has a whopping 17 bedrooms but of course the Islanders will all stay together in one gigantic room, sharing a bed with whoever they've chosen to couple up with.
Set across 25 acres of land, this year's location boasts some brand new features including the upgraded 'dog house' where Islanders can go to if they don't want to share a bed with their partner, a wooden treehouse, a vineyard and a stage area.
In a Love Island first, the treehouse sits above the garden area with a secluded bedded area and gives the Islanders the chance to pull each other for private chats.
The South African villa is also home to Love Island's 'biggest ever' hideaway, which is 'more like a retreat', where couples can escape together for some private time for as long as an entire weekend.
According to the Mirror, producers have redesigned the Love Island villa to give contestants more opportunities than ever to be intimate.
For the first time ever, couples will be able to take entire weekends away from the villa, to get to know each other "intimately".
Host Maya Jama says of the plush new Hideaway Retreat: "It will definitely bring out the romance."
She also compared the purple, velvet setting as looking like a setup from an Austin Powers movie.
"It's going to be like a little weekend away - it's lovely," said Maya. "It will definitely bring out the romance. You'd feel like you're on a separate holiday."
Creative Director Mike Spencer added: "It's the biggest Hideaway we've ever had, it's a retreat, it's a place to get intimate and get to know your partner."
"It gives you a totally intimate area, it's a perfect spot to be alone."
The winter series of Love Island launches on Monday night (January 16) at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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