Love Island bosses set to launch this year’s show with two villas and increase number of contestants
LOVE Island bosses are set to open this year's show with two villas — and increase the number of contestants.
It comes after more than 60,000 singletons signed up for the new series in the space of 12 hours.
The show's last series brought ITV2 its highest ever viewing figures, with 2.4million tuning in to witness Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay being crowned winners in July.
And now the channel has become so overwhelmed by applications that bigwigs are planning on increasing the number of contestants and use another property to house them.
A source said: "Planning for this year's Love Island is well underway and producers already have some big plans up their sleeves.
"Given just how massively popular the show became last year they're desperate to make sure the next series really kicks off with a bang.
"They're planning on the season opener beginning with two big villas - just like they introduced midway through last series.
"And they want to throw in nearly double the amount of contestants to really stir things up.
"Planning is still in the early stages but what is for sure is that it's going to be bigger than ever."
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As they wait for a new instalment of the show, fans have been getting their reality romance fix from ITV2's Survival Of The Fittest.
It has been hailed as the “winter Love Island” but there is one similarity that is causing outrage among die-hard devotees.
The show launched on Sunday night and saw information relayed to the glamorous South African camp members via technology, mirroring what happens in the Love Island villa.
However some viewers have been taking issue that the wording of the famous “I’ve got a text” catchphrase has been subtly changed.
Contestants on Survival of the Fittest yell out “I’ve got a message” instead, and it appears people aren’t comfortable with change.
Furthermore, the show’s stars don’t receive texts on their phones but on their smart watches.
Survival Of The Fittest started on Sunday, February 11 at 9pm on ITV2 with a special hour-and-a-half launch show.
It sees a group of hot, young singles sent to the South African Savannah to take part in the ultimate battle of the sexes, involving mental and physical challenges.