Love Island will be hitting our TV screens in a matter of weeks, it has been confirmed. An insider has recently confirmed to The Sun that the popular ITV show will be returning on Monday, June 6.
The eighth series, which will be filmed in Spain, is set to be the 'longest ever' with a record number of contestants and double evictions. According to reports, budding contestants have been asked to be available for a whopping ten weeks throughout the summer from June to mid August.
An insider told The Sun: "Love Island is coming back with a bang and it will begin on the second full week in June. The schedules are being put together now and fans can expect a long, hot summer of fun from the villa from June 6, filming for the promotional adverts is beginning in the next couple of weeks and the ads will start in May.
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"This series is going to be the longest ever and it’s from a brand new location so it’s all very exciting." When approached by The Mirror, an ITV2 spokesperson said: "It's too early to confirm scheduling for the show."
Here is everything we know about the show so far:
Where will the villa be?
This year's show will be set in a new villa in Spain, bosses have confirmed. An ITV statement reads: “The ultimate Summer of love is on the horizon as Love Island makes it’s long awaited return, direct from a brand new villa in Mallorca."
Previous seasons were filmed at a property near Sant Llorenc des Cardassar, in the east of the Spanish island, however, it is reportdely no longer available. Kevin Lygo, ITV’s managing director of media and entertainment, said during a briefing of ITV’s annual profits: "We didn’t own it, we rented it, and we are choosing a new house for this summer so that is all secrecy. It is going to be marvellous."
When will the contestants be announced?
The exact dates are yet to be announced, but it's likely the contestants will be revealed approximately a week before the show starts. If rumours are true, we could meet the cast by May 30.
ITV usually release a video and pictures of the new Islanders ahead of the start date. Once we have met them and they enter the villa, they have their phones confiscated and can't access social media.
Who is hosting Love Island this year?
Laura Whitmore will be returning to our screens this summer as she is confirmed to host this year's series. An ITV spokesperson previously confirmed to the Mirror: "Laura will be returning to host the forthcoming series of Love Island."
It follows reports Laura might have been facing the axe, with ex-Islander Maura Higgins and Bristol's own Maya Jama reportedly eyed up as potential replacements.
How can I apply?
It's believed the ITV show is still looking for singletons to sign up for this year's series after applications opened in January. And, for the first time ever, bosses are accepting applications from non-binary contestants.
The 2022 application form allows people to choose their gender from one of the following options: male, female, non-binary, prefer not to say and prefer to self-describe. The sexual orientation section of the form also gives five different options - straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or other. Hopefuls can apply here.
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