Love Island will air TWO series in 2023 as winter show RETURNS to South Africa

Love Island will air two series in 2023, with the landmark winter series returning to South Africa after three years away.

The new series of the show will come to ITV2 and new channel ITVX in the New Year, with January seeing a fresh batch of Islanders heading to South Africa on a quest for love and romance.  

Meanwhile, summer 2023 will see the dating show return to Mallorca for another eight week run.

The landmark debut winter series aired in January 2020 – shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic – and was won by Paige Turley and Finn Tapp.

Plans for a second winter series were shelved in 2021 amid concerns surrounding the pandemic. 

Paige and Finn said in the wake of the announcement: ‘Love Island enabled us to find love with someone that without the show, our paths would never have crossed. 

‘We both found everything that we’d asked for in a partner in each other and we now live together in Manchester (we’ve been here for almost two years). We’ve got a new amazing group of friends and literally couldn’t imagine life without each other.’   

Ratings juggernaut: Love Island 2022 scored its biggest launch show ratings since the 2019 series with a a whopping five million viewers tuning in to the saucy series’ first episode earlier this month (pictured Gemma Owen and Luca Bish on the current series)

Wow: 2020 winter series alum Callum Jones and Molly Smith are another show success story – and are still together 2.5 years on

Paul Mortimer, Director of Reality Commissioning and Controller, ITV2, said ‘Love Island has once again proved itself to be the nation’s favourite talking point across the summer, and we’re always blown away by the show’s ongoing impact and talkability amongst our younger audience. So, rather than just serving up a Summer of Love, we thought we’d make 2023 the Year of Love with two full series of the show.’

Mike Spencer, Executive Producer at Lifted Entertainment, said ‘After eight brilliant series, we are excited to be serving up two helpings of love in 2023 by kicking off in January at a stunning new villa in South Africa. We can look forward to more romances, bromances and everything in between as we embark on another epic year of love.’

Love Island 2022 scored its biggest launch show ratings since the 2019 series with a a whopping five million viewers tuning in to the saucy series’ first episode earlier this month.

Smitten: Series two runners-up Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen were the first Love Island couple to tie the knot in 2018, 2 years after meeting on the show. They recently welcomed a son, Abel

Yay: While series two winners Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey wed in 2019 and are now parents to two children

Love: Fellow 2017 series alum Dom Lever and Jess Shears wed in 2018 and now share a son. They are expecting a second boy imminently

Family: 2017 runners-up Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt are now parents to two daughters and tied the knot last year

The opening saw a rise of 0.2 million viewers based on 2021’s launch, with the following series going on to be streamed a staggering 32 million times.

Consolidated data has confirmed that the Love Island launch is now officially the biggest programme of the year for the 16-34 year old demographic.

For 16-34 year old viewers the show  averaged 1.8m TV viewers with a 61.6% share of viewing, making it the second most watched programme so far this year for this demographic – only being marginally beaten by the Eurovision song contest.  

The 2019 series was eventually won by Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea. 

Love Island has been a ratings juggernaut since the series was rebooted back in 2015, with the wildly popular 2017 series – won by Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay – making the show a national institution.

The 2017 show saw phrases such as ‘my type on paper’, ‘putting my eggs in one basket’ and ‘I used to be in Blazin’ Squad’ embraced by the national consciousness, with even rapper Stormzy getting involved. 

Still together: 2019 series runners-up Tommy Fury and Molly Mae Hague are together three years on – and the last remaining couple to stay together from the series

The series that started it all: The 2017 series became a national phenomenon, thanks to catchphrases, memes and cast members such as Olivia Attwood and Chris Hughes (pictured)

The show has sparked spawned countless long term couplings, and resulted in four weddings and seven babies.

Series two runners-up Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen were the first Love Island couple to tie the knot in 2018, 2 years after meeting on the show. They recently welcomed a son, Abel.  

Olivia said: ‘Love Island changed every aspect of our life. From meeting someone, to falling in love, to getting to getting married and having a baby on the way and completely changing our careers. 

‘The experience opened up so many new and different doors, as well as so many new experiences for Alex and I. The best part was obviously meeting each other and now having a baby! 

‘The experience has changed us both as people and has given us such an individual life experience.’  

While series two winners Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey wed in 2019 and are now parents to two children.

Mixing series: 2019 star Lucie Donlan is now engaged to 2020 finalist Luke Mabbott

2017 runners-up Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt are now parents to two daughters and tied the knot last year.

Fellow 2017 series alum Dom Lever and Jess Shears wed in 2018 and now share a son. They are expecting a second boy imminently. 

Dom said: ‘For me Love Island changed everything about my life. I met my wife, mother of my children, and moved across the country for a better life. Not to mention it changed the course of my career and now I get to spend everything with my family and working for myself.’ 

2019 series runners-up Molly Mae Hague and Tommy Fury are still together three years on, while 2020 winter series contestants Molly Smith and Callum Jones are still smitten.

Molly said: ‘Love Island gave me the experience of a lifetime, the best memories that I will cherish forever, and of course, my soul mate.’ 

LOVE ISLAND 2022: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

Paige  Thorne

Name: Paige Thorne

Age: 24

Location: Swansea

Occupation: Paramedic

Who is their type on paper? ‘In Swansea there is just no-one I can find. 

‘I haven’t got to swipe. So, hopefully they can just come to me now!

‘I came out of a relationship and I was just so done with guys. Then I was like, ‘Ok, I’m bored now’

Indiyah Polack

 Name: Indiyah Polack

Age: 23

Location: London

Occupation: Hotel waitress

Who is their type on paper? ‘It’s quite hard to date without being influenced by social media and stuff like that.

‘Love Island is a great place to get to know someone one-on-one. 

‘I don’t think I have ever been out with two guys who are quite the same.’

Tasha Ghouri

Name: Tasha Ghouri

Age: 23

Location: Thirsk

Occupation: Model and dancer

Who is their type on paper? ‘My dating life has been a shambles.

‘This is an opportunity for me to find ‘the one’ and have a great summer at the same time. 

‘I’m definitely ready for a relationship. I’m 23 now so I’m ready to get to know someone and travel with them.’

Gemma Owen

Name: Gemma Owen

Age: 19

Location: Chester

Occupation: International Dressage Rider and Business Owner

Who is their type on paper? ‘I am open to finding love, I’m wanting to have a really fun summer. 

‘I would say I’m fun, flirty and fiery. I think I’m good at giving advice, I’m a good person to talk to, I’m very honest. 

‘If I want the same guy, I’d do it but in a nice respectful way.

Andrew Le Page

Name: Andrew Le Page

Age: 27

Location: Guernsey

Occupation: Real Estate Agent

Who is their type on paper? ‘When I’m with someone I’m very loyal.

‘I’m a good boyfriend as when I’m with someone I’m all for them.

‘I’m actually single for once, so I thought why not?

This is the best time to give it a go.’ 

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu

Name: Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu

Age: 27

Location: Essex

Occupation: Actress

Who is their type on paper? ‘I’m quite picky and I’m not just looking for looks, I’m looking for brains! 

‘I’m looking for someone with intelligence, someone who can have good chats. Nothing like cockiness!’

Jay Younger

Name: Jay Younger

Age: 28

Location: Edinburgh

Occupation: Investment analyst

Who is their type on paper? ‘I am a slow burner for sure, yeah. I don’t fall easily.

‘I quite like self sufficiency in girls.’ 

Dami Hope

Name: Dami Hope

Age: 26

Location: Dublin

Occupation: Senior Microbiologist

Who is their type on paper? ‘I will be talking to different girls, it might not go well with some.

‘When I’m actually in a relationship, I think it’s a star sign thing.

‘I’m an Aries but I’m very passionate – I always used to put that person first. I’m really good at being in a team’.

Davide Sanclimenti

 Name: Davide Sanclimenti

Age: 27

Location: Rome (lives in Manchester)

Occupation: Business owner

Who is their type on paper? ‘A lot of English girls actually love me.

‘They love to be around me and I love to be around them. I want to find my soulmate.

‘Find my person so I can actually build something in the future, grow with them, be a family. ‘

Luca Bish

 Name: Luca Bish

Age: 23

Location: Brighton 

Occupation: Fishmonger

Who is their type on paper? ‘I prefer to meet girls out and about. I think when you go looking for it, it’s not as easy though, it’s like you’re too desperate for it.

‘If I think you’re the one or I like you, I’ll take you out on a date but other than that, if we talk and I don’t like where it’s going – then I won’t be throwing out dates.’

Jacques O’Neill

Name:  Jacques O’Neill

Age: 23

Location: Cumbria

Occupation: Rugby League Player

Who is their type on paper? ‘I think it needs to be the right person, at the right time. 

‘I was saying to my mum the other day that I want a girl. And I’m now ready to settle down.’

Antigoni Buxton

Name: Antigoni Buxton

Age: 26

Location: London

Occupation: Singer-songwriter

Why Love Island? I’ve been single for almost a year and a half and for the whole of the last year my goal has been to have as many different experiences as possible. 

‘I really just want to say ‘yes’ to things. Why not? It’ll be fun.’

Danica Taylor

 Name: Danica Taylor

Age: 21

Location: Leicester

Occupation: Dancer

Who is their type on paper? ‘I am the type of girlfriend that I want to do so much with you – deep conversations, silly activities.

‘If you say let’s go canoeing all day even though I am quite a glam girl, I am down for it.’

Charlie Radnedge

Name: Charlie Radnedge

Age: 28

Location: London

Occupation: Real estate developer

Why do you think you’re a catch? ‘I am probably slightly more mature than some other people in the Villa. I’ve got some things figured out. I think I’m ready to settle down, basically.’