Love Island might undergo its most significant transformation yet as producers consider expanding beyond the confines of Majorca.
In anticipation of the show’s 10-year anniversary in 2025, ITV Studios reportedly plans to quadruple its weekly budget to secure a new location. One potential contender is a striking property in Portugal’s picturesque Algarve, described as being “shaped like a UFO.” A team from ITV Studios is scheduled to visit the property later this month to assess its suitability. Demands from production bosses include ample wardrobe space, trademark features like a spacious terrace garden and swimming pool, and a separate hideaway area.
According to a source, ITV Studios is actively scouting properties for a potential future series and is willing to spend £20,000 a week to secure the right location. The Algarve villa stands out for its unique circular and modern design, having previously been used for a French reality show, making it well-equipped for filming.
Love Island is set to return to ITV2 this summer, maintaining its current villa, Sa Vinyassa, located on the outskirts of Cala d’Or in Majorca, at a rental cost of £5,000 a week. The original villa in Ses Salines was sold in 2022 for £2.57 million. Meanwhile, All Stars and Winter Love Island are filmed at a lavish mansion in the winelands outside Cape Town, South Africa, costing £9,000 a night.
Fronted by Maya Jama, the future of the franchise beyond this year remains uncertain, although sources suggest that producers are determined to pull out all the stops for its milestone 10-year anniversary, following a decline in viewership.
The most recent All Stars series in South Africa, which concluded in February, garnered the lowest-ever ratings for a Love Island final, with only one million viewers tuning in. However, ITVX streaming platform views brought the total to 1.3 million, on par with last year’s winter series final. The highest-rated final was in 2019, attracting 3.7 million viewers, followed closely by 2018, which drew in 3.6 million viewers.
ITV expressed anticipation for the forthcoming series of Love Island this summer, affirming their return to Mallorca and the iconic villa.
