Courtesy of Peacock
There’s a new take onLove Islandcoming, and it’s chock-full of some fan-favorite faces from around the world.
While the franchise started with the U.K. version in 2015 before expanding to Germany in 2017, Australia and Sweden in 2018, the U.S. in 2019 and France in 2020, this new series is the first of its kind.
Some previous seasons have introduced the idea of cast crossovers —Love Island USAseason 5 saw UK’sScott Van-der-Sluiscross borders, and U.K. season 9 saw Australia’sJessie Wynterfind love with British farmerWill— but there’s never been this much of a mix-up — until now!
The spinoff series brings together fan-favorite Islanders from across the globe to try their hand at a second shot at love. It will feature the set-up viewers have come to love — weekly recouplings, partners sharing beds and plenty of drama-filled screaming matches — but introduces a new twist.
Per a press release, the new iteration of the beloved dating show brings romance and competition together as Islanders are “faced with both team and couples' challenges, all while navigating dating, eliminations, recoupling, dramatic arrivals, and new competition twists and turns that help control the game like never before.”
Who’s in the cast?
The cast of the spinoff series is made up of 13 female Islanders and 13 male Islanders, all of whom have appeared on a version of the show before. Of the 26 contestants, four hail from Australia, 10 from the U.S., 9 from the U.K. and one from France, Germany and Sweden respectively. Just one of the Islanders has appeared on both U.K. and U.S. seasons: Scott Van-der-Sluis.
Among the returning U.K. Islanders is season 4’sGeorgia SteelandJack Fowler, who shared a drama-incurring kiss on their first time in the villa, as well as former flamesEyal BookerandMegan Barton-Hanson, whose romance didn’t last but was fiery and physical from the get-go. Barton-Hanson came in fourth place on her season — but not with Booker.
Courtesy of Peacock/NBC
Curtis Pritchard (season 5), who was boxerTommy Fury’s closest confidante during their time in the villa in 2019, will also make his return, along withMike Boatengfrom season 6, the first installment ofWinter Love Island, and season 10’s Scott Van-der Sluis, who, much to audience’s chagrin, appeared onLove Island USAseason 5 just weeks after wrapping up his time in the U.K. villa this summer.
The Australian Islanders are also bringing the drama. Among the cast is Mitch Hibberd andTina Provis, who won season 3 and dated for several months afterward before they split. They both then madeLove Islandhistory as they returned as bombshells the following season.
Australia season 4’s Jessica Losurdo andCallum Holeare also returning.
As for the American Islanders, two winners are making their return to the villa:Justine Ndiba(season 2) andZeta Morrison(season 4).Ndiba split from Caleb Corprewless than four months after winning, while Morrison and her beau, Timmy Pandolfi, also broke things off shortly after coming in first place.
Former coupleCely Vazquez and Johnny Middlebrooksare also set to return to the villa, as they look for a second shot at love followingtheir split shortly after season 2. In astatementat the time, Vazquez said it was “simply time for each of us to focus on our own personal journey” as she announced the breakup.
Deb Chubbwill also look for love again less than a year afterher breakup with Jesse Brayfollowing their third place run on season 4.
Kyra GreenandRay Ganttfrom season 1,Carrington Rodriguezfrom season 2,Courtney Boernerfrom season 4 and Imani Wheeler from season 5 are also returning.
Aurelia Lamprechtis the German contestant. She competed on season 4 ofLove Island DEin 2020. She left the villa single after less than a month.
ModelSteph Blackosis representing France in the spinoff. He competed on season 2 ofLove Island Franceand spent just about a month in the villa before he was dumped.
All the way fromLove Island Sweden,Lisa Celanderreturns to the villa after spending less than a month on the show earlier this year.
Who’s the host?
Love Island U.K.hostMaya Jamawill be the host of the spinoff series. Jama, 29, replacedLaura Whitmoreas host for the 2023 winter installment, season 9, and helmed the summer season as well.
Iain Stirling, who has narrated all ten seasons of the U.K. version as well as the USA series since its inception in 2019, also returns to narrate the spinoff, bringing his beloved wittiness to Fiji as he revisits some of his old subjects.
Love Island U.K.veteranMaura Higginsis also joining the party in Fiji as she resumes her role as the show’s social ambassador, which she began this summer for season 5 of the US series.
Several other “surprise guests” are due to “drop in throughout the season” as well, per a press release.
When Will It Premiere — and How Can I Watch?
The show premieres Wednesday, Nov. 1 onPeacock. There will be six episodes per week, with one day off — a schedule comparable to otherLove Islandseasons.
On Oct. 19, the first trailer for the series dropped and featured the same kinds of backstabbing, secrets and lustful drama that fans have come to love.
In the trailer, Jama told the Islanders, “Things are going to be very different this time around,” as she revealed that “the challenges will determine everything” and that the winners of the show would go home with a $100,000 prize.
“These games have the claws coming out,” USA veteran Cely said in a confessional, while UK Islander Megan later admitted, “It’s way more intense than I was expecting.”
During a particularly heated scene from a recoupling, Australia’s Jess said, “I’d rather be coupled up with a friend than a f—— snake.”
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source: people.com
