ITV has been forced to pull the plug on filming Love Island: All Stars due to ongoing wildfires in South Africa.
The broadcaster announced on Saturday afternoon that the launch show had been postponed until an unknown date after cast and crew were forced to evacuate the set.
‘Further to a production evacuation owing to ongoing wildfires in the area, our assessment of the location site has concluded that filming will need to be postponed,’ an ITV spokesperson shared.
‘Health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first, and therefore the transmission of Love Island: All Stars will be delayed until a date to be confirmed,’ they added.
The ITV2 show, hosted by Maya Jama, had been due to kick off its third series on Monday evening at 9pm.
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It’s currently unknown what will replace it in the schedule or when the production will be able to return to site in Franschhoek, South Africa.
The Sun had previously reported that scheduling shooting on the show today had been cancelled after it was deemed ‘too dangerous’ to have Jama and the crew there.
A source told the publication: ‘They have now cancelled filming today and are hoping to resume tomorrow. ITV will always put the welfare of the cast and crew above the show.
‘But this is a huge headache and will make everything a far closer call when it comes to getting enough footage in the can for Monday night’s launch show.
‘Naturally, if the fire is still posing a risk the show will be pushed back again.’
And that is what has come to pass.
A spin-off of ITV’s popular reality dating show Love Island, this third series of All Stars was welcoming back famous past contestants who had remained unlucky in love.
Fans had been thrilled this time around to see the return of famous Love Island faces including former series 7 winner Millie Court, as well as Boyzone singer Ronan Keating’s son Jack Keating, who appeared on series 8.
Similar to the main show, the contestants all mingle in a luxury villa, undertaking challenges and coupling up – with the aim of finding love (and landing the £50,000 cash prize).
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