The 2017 series was a cultural phenomenon which gained unprecedented success and won celebrity fans from Liam Gallagher and Jeremy Corbyn.
And the 2018 series of dating show Love Island pulled in a record 2.9m viewers on its debut episode, more than double the figures from 2017’s launch show.
The hotly anticipated debut episode saw eleven sexy singletons enter the Majorcan villa, and fans couldn’t get enough of chemistry, spats and big egos as Love Island became the highest rating programme at 9pm, peaking at a whopping 3.4m viewers.
Summer of love: The 2018 series of dating show Love Island looks set to dwarf the success of last year after it pulled in a record 2.9m viewers on its debut episode, more than double the figures from 2017’s launch show
Last year’s launch show, which ultimately saw Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies crowned king and queen of the villa, was watched by 1.3m viewers.
An ITV spokesman told MailOnline the launch show had also overtaken the series three finale’s record-breaking ratings, marking the show’s biggest ever launch show.
They said: ‘Last night’s launch is ITV2’s highest overnight rating since records go back, overtaking the previous record holder which was the Love Island series 3 finale (2.6m/12.5% share).
‘Additionally, a peak of 480,000 people watched the simulcast live on ITV Hub.
Phenomenon: Last year’s launch show, which ultimately saw Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies (above) crowned king and queen of the villa, was watched by 1.3m viewers
Shocking twist: Muscle-bound hunk Adam Collard was thrown into the Love Island villa as a wild card during the season premiere episode on Monday night, as he was introduced as the ninth contestant — after the girls had all been coupled up
Drama aplenty: Dani Dyer appeared to be content with pen merchant Jack Fincham until Adam became the proverbial spanner in the works
‘52% of last night’s launch audience were 16-34 year-olds with 1.5m 16-34 year old viewers watching and a 48% share of 16-34 year old viewing. This was up on last year’s launch by 900k viewers and 28 share points.
‘Only Britain’s Got Talent on ITV main channel has had bigger audiences for this demographic on any channel so far this year.
In comparison, series two of the hit show, which was won by Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey, with Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen as runner-up, launched with 825,000 viewers.
Series one, airing in 2015, launched with 597k viewers and was won by Max Morley and Jessica Hayes.
You ok hun? Olivia Attwood and Chris Hughes won viewers on 2017’s series with their spats and intense chemistry
A source also revealed to MailOnline that a mammoth 565,000 tweets about the show were sent during the launch episode, with more than 40,000 alone sent about Dr Alex George.
This figure was again more the double the amount sent during 2017’s launch episode.
Eyal Booker, Dani Dyer Samira Mighty and Adam Collard were the top contestants tweeted about during the show.
The premiere episode of Love Island’s new season quickly became dramatic as show bosses added a huge twist by throwing muscle-bound hunk Adam Collard into the mix, moments after contestants had been coupled up.
Hunky but still single: A source also revealed to MailOnline that a mammoth 565,000 tweets about the show were sent during the launch episode, with more than 40,000 alone sent about Dr Alex George (above)
On Monday night, viewers of the popular ITV2 show watched as one stunning bikini-clad contestant after another was paired with a potential love match, before they suddenly learned that a new man would be able to poach their partner in under 24 hours.
As 22-year-old personal trainer Adam — who stands at an imposing 6’5″ — strode his way into the Majorca villa, he immediately shook things up by declaring that he had his eye on Dani Dyer.
Though captivating, the twist had viewers at home begging for more, when the episode ended before Adam had made his choice in a particularly juicy cliff-hanger.
LOVE ISLAND 2018: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
At it again: Dani has already tried to become a reality star this year on ITV’s Survival Of The Fittest… but failed to get through the first 24 hours
Name: Dani Dyer
Age: 21
Occupation: Barmaid
Location: East London
Claim To Fame: Aside from the fact that she made a 24-hour appearance on Survival Of The Fittest in February [she was sent home after the first challenge due to an injury], her father is EastEnders actor Danny Dyer. Her dad is said to have been ‘livid’ that she had to leave Survival Of The Fittest, despite Dani admitting that he was ‘very protective’ about her going on the show in the first place.
Worst Quality: ‘Sometimes I’m a bit too much,’ she admits.
Doctor Dreamy: Alex admits being filmed 24 hours is ‘worrying’
Name: Dr Alex George
Age: 27
Occupation: A&E Doctor
Location: Carmarthen, West Wales
Biggest Turn Off: Alex admits that he doesn’t like ‘high maintenance girls’. Elaborating on this, the hunky doctor says: ‘I think it’s brilliant to look good but spending three hours to get ready to go and walk on the beach is too much for me.’
Past Relationships: A four year relationship. It ended three years ago. Alex is looking for love [but also fancies himself as a new TV doctor].
New to dating: Hayley is a self-professed inexperienced dater
Name: Hayley Hughes
Age: 21
Occupation: Model
Location: Liverpool
Claim To Fame: Hayley was once in an ITV advert [not for Love Island].
Past Relationships: One relationship and a self-professed inexperienced dater. She says: ‘I’ve only slept with one guy. I was with him for five years. We got together at such a young age, when I was 16. You just grow up, and grow apart. I knew the relationship was over before it was over. I don’t think he’ll like seeing me on the show.’
He’s booked: Eyal is a model and has had ‘quite a few’ relationships
Name: Eyal Booker
Age: 22
Occupation: Model
Location: London
Claim To Fame: Eyal was once in a pop band called EverYoung. ‘We had small time success and toured the country, built up a little fan base and there was fan girl hysteria,’ he says.
Biggest Worry: ‘I’m a bit nervous but I think anyone would be! My parents, my sister and my Gran might see something that they don’t necessarily want to see. Besides that, I’m excited,’ he admits.
Fasten Your Seat-belts: Laura is an air stewardess
Name: Laura Anderson
Age: 29
Occupation: Cabin Crew
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Looking For: Laura says she wants ‘a rugged, real man’ and ‘someone that knows what they want’.
Past Relationships: She admits to having had ‘loads of boyfriends – nine’ and that ‘two have been in the public eye’.
Thoughts On Cheating: ‘It’s the lowest of the low. I have been cheated on, and I have cheated once,’ she admits.
Squeaky: Kendall worries her voice will annoy people
Name: Kendall Rae-Knight
Age: 26
Occupation: Retail Manager
Location: Blackpool
Worst Attribute: Kendall doesn’t like her own voice, branding it ‘high and squeaky’.
Claim To Fame: She once won Miss North West and represented the whole of the North West in the Miss England final, which was in 2015. ‘I stopped most of the pageants and modelling when I met my ex. I’d probably do more modelling in the future,’ she adds, hinting at her aspirations for the future.
Wind up: Niall isn’t fussed about loyalty to other guys
Name: Niall Aslam
Age: 23
Occupation: Student and Construction Worker
Location: Coventry
Biggest Worry: ‘Being the first one voted out. I’ve also got a worry that I’m going to get pied constantly,’ Niall says.
Thoughts On Loyalty: Niall doesn’t seem too worried about swooping in on another guy’s turf. He says: ‘I don’t care who a lad is if he is big, better looking, I’m still going in there and I’ll still rock up and try and chat up his missus.’
Good dater: Wes has ‘never had a bad date’
Name: Wes Nelson
Age: 20
Occupation: Electrical and Nuclear Systems Design Engineer
Location: Staffordshire
Dating History: Wes declares that he has ‘never had a bad date’ and that ‘they’ve all been pretty good’.
Best Feature: His cheekbones apparently win him many a-compliment.
Worst Quality: He’s always late.
Chequered past: Adam admits he has a history of cheating
Name: Adam Collard
Age: 22
Occupation: Personal Trainer and Gym Director
Location: Newcastle
Dating [And Cheating] History: Adam admits he’s cheated before and that although he felt guilty about it he was young at the time. He claims he ‘gets a lot of attention’ when he is dating someone and that he once walked out on a first date because it was so terrible.
Loves the limelight: Samira has appeared on stage in Mamma Mia
Name: Samira Mighty
Age: 22
Occupation: West End Performer
Location: London
Claim To Fame: Samira says her experience on stage has given her a taste of stardom having appeared in Mamma Mia and Dreamgirls. ‘Everyone in the West End knows everybody. So it will be a big shock when they see me on this show,’ she says.
Clumsy: Jack says he’s a total klutz
Name: Jack Fincham
Age: 26
Occupation: Stationery Sales Manager
Location: Kent
Wosrt Date: ‘I took a girl out to a lovely pub next to the Thames and I was trying to be cool, ordered some drinks for us and then as I put my hand up to pay for them, I knocked the drinks back on to the barman and they poured down him and smashed on the floor. He was fuming,’ recalls Jack.