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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jamie Roberts

ITV launches 'middle-aged' Love Island as they search for 'vibrant single parents'

If you are a single and ready to mingle middle-aged parent, ITV might come knocking on your door after announcing their latest dating series.

The network sent out an official call out, confirming it is on the lookout for "vibrant single parents across the UK who are in search of love".

The show, titled The Romance Retreat, will have a similar set up to Love Island as contestants make their way to a luxurious villa in the quest for a connection. Giving wannabes a glimpse of the abode, producers showcased the stunning ultra-modern pad, but failed to disclose its sunny location.

While the concept appears similar to the popular ITV2 series, it remains unclear whether there will be a cash prize on offer for the eventual winners.

It's said the show will be similar to Love Island (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The casting announcement for the show read: "This is the ONLY dating show where single parents can search for love, by spending time in a luxury retreat, where all the parents have been nominated by their grown up children.

Any applications must be completed by March 31.

Fans who have been pleading for a more "natural" cast for Love Island are sure to be impressed with the concept. So too will Davina McCall, who recently admitted she had been "begging" ITV's hierarchy to hire her to host such a show.

A peek at the potential villa to be used on The Romance Retreat (ITV)

The former Big Brother presenter split with hubby Matthew Robertson in 2017 at the age of 50. Now 55, she is dating her hairdresser Michael Douglas and is hopeful she can help other older singletons find "the one".

Speaking on an edition of the Diary of a CEO podcast, she admitted she doesn't hold any embarrassment or shame in emailing a network's big boss about potential show ideas.

She told host Stephen Bartlett: "'I could fill a villa in Love Island with middle-aged people with the best back stories you have ever heard in your life.

Davina McCall wants to present the show (Getty Images)

"They've lived a life – they're widows, they're people who have been through horrific divorces. They are people who have split up with somebody and decided they want to try going out with somebody the same sex as them.

"They're like interesting people. I'd watch that show."

Davina is currently a judge on The Masked Singer and admitted ITV had told her they would consider her for a potential new proposal they had set up.

She added: "I was like, ''I need to present it please''. They said, 'We're looking at something else that's quite similar, we might consider you for that''."

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