‘Love Island’ to get two-series run on ITV2 in 2020

Love Island will get its first winter series on UK broadcaster ITV2 next year.

The hit format will return in early 2020 with a South Africa-set instalment of the programme. A winter-time series of the show, in line with programmes such as Big Brother which previously aired spin-off show Celebrity Big Brother in the same year, has been long-anticipated.

Meanwhile, the popular summer show, which is stripped during the week across the months of June and July, will return for a sixth season next year.

The current fifth season of the show set new records earlier this summer, breaking the 6m viewer mark for the first time across four-screen consolidated viewing.

According to ITV, Love Island is the most-watched programme of the year for adults 16-34 across any channel.

The format has been commissioned in 13 countries, including the US, where it premiered on broadcaster CBS earlier this month, albeit to lukewarm ratings. This year, the show has launched in Belgium, Holland, Poland and Hungary.

It will return for a third series in Germany and a second in Australia, Finland and Sweden.

Paul Mortimer, head of digital channels and acquisitions at ITV, said: “Off the back of a record-breaking year, we’re delighted to be bringing an extra series of our biggest and sunniest show to the 2020 schedule.

“Love Island has proven yet again to be the perfect format that engages younger audiences. In response to this viewer appetite, a new batch of young singletons will deliver some highly anticipated post-Christmas romance and drama from our new and luxurious location.”

Angela Jain, MD for ITV Studios Entertainment, added: “We love making Love Island for ITV2. The show’s success is testament to the magnificent production team that decamp to Mallorca every year to deliver the award-winning show with its trademark warmth, wit and wide-ranging appeal. And now 2020 is going to have even more love than before.”

Love Island UK is produced by ITV Studios Entertainment and Motion Content Group and distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.