Love Island’s All Stars is set to return for its second series in South Africa, a year after the spin-off show made its debut on ITV2, with Molly Smith and Tom Clare walking away as the winners.
This year, Maya Jama will be back to welcome 12 more returning Islanders who are on the hunt for love. Among the familiar faces returning to the reality dating show are Curtis Pritchard, Scott Thomas, and Kaz Crossley. They’ll be joined by Series 11 contestant Ronnie Vint, series five star Elma Pazar, and Catherine Agbaje from series 10.
Rounding off this year’s line-up are Nas Majeed from series six, Olivia Hawkins from series nine, Luca Bish from series eight, India Reynolds from series five, and Marcel Somerville and Gabby Allen from series three – who had a rather messy break up, reports the Mirror.
The villa has undergone an all-stars makeover, with a gold theme running throughout to make the famous faces feel at home. The house catchphrases that adorned the walls and mirrors as a tribute to past series have been removed, as bosses aim to give the house a fresher feel.
The kitchen area, known to long-term viewers as the scene of some of the show’s biggest arguments, has undergone a significant makeover. It now wouldn’t look out of place in Barbie’s dream-house, thanks to the bold pink stripes adorning the walls, ceiling and even the fridge.
Love Island bosses have confessed they’re unsure how the vibrant revamp will be received by TV audiences – whether it will captivate or cause headaches due to the intense stripes.
A new feature that viewers will be eager to see is the Secret Garden, a secluded area within the villa. This special spot, hidden from the main action, offers its occupants ultimate privacy for clandestine activities.
The interior of this space feels entirely different from the rest of the villa, with layers of foliage hiding the walls. Decorative lanterns ensure that islanders can sneak off for some alone time, day or night.
This brand new area also comes with its own set of rules. Islanders are permitted to enter the Secret Garden whenever they wish, but only with someone who isn’t their partner. Producers are hoping that this private space will encourage affairs, gossiping and plenty of backstabbing.
“It’s the Secret Garden for a reason,” explains Love Island’s executive producer Mike Spence, the mastermind behind the concept. “What happens in here could potentially stay in here… or it could get shown at Movie Night, the PDA Awards. But it’s so chilled in here, it’s private, you feel like you are away from it all.”
“Basically if you want to do something naughty you can come and do it in here,” quips host Maya Jama, who is an avid supporter of the show’s latest tantalising addition.
Yet, beyond the potential for mischief, the show’s creators are also aiming for this villa to become a backdrop for blooming romances. The Hideaway stands out as an idyllic spot for couples to indulge in uninterrupted time together, now boasting a lavish revamp for the All Stars season.
With a colour palette of deep purples and rich golds, it provides an opulent setting for nights filled with passion. To further enhance the allure, this series introduces a pool to the adjacent outdoor area a spot for contestants to cool down should the atmosphere heat up.
Moreover, the Hide boasts not just one but two double beds, prompting speculation among producers of a possible ‘throuple’ – an unprecedented twist in the history of Love Island. Producer Mike shared: “It’s not the traditional coupling up format. There is another double bed. Maybe we’ll see a sleepover in here.”
ITV bosses are hoping for some sparks to fly, but intimate bedroom scenes will no longer be aired, reflecting the evolution of the series over its nine-year run. Mike said: “It’s very tastefully shot. Times have changed, for us it’s more of a nod to what’s happening.”
If you’re not part of a couple in the Hideaway, you might find yourself relegated to one of the living room’s single beds. The lounge has seven concealed beds that can be flipped down to provide sleeping space for those left out.
“We’ll have more people coming in so we’ll need these beds,” Mike explained. “We’ve got an incredible group of bombshells lined up. But Joey Essex is not coming back! We’ll give him a break. We love him but he’s not coming back.”
The villa’s exterior has also seen some changes, with the infamous coloured bean bags (including the ‘cursed’ yellow chair) being replaced with pristine white ones. The main bedroom follows this minimalist theme with white and grey bed sheets to keep the islanders comfortable. However, any islander hoping for a peaceful night’s sleep may be in for a surprise as the beds have been pushed closer together than ever before. What happens after dark may not necessarily stay hidden….
And it’s not just the villa that’s undergone a transformation, with the series set to experience a number of significant shake-ups from the very first episode.
Love Island’s executive producer Mike Spencer has expressed excitement for the new series, revealing: “We have a brand new opener. Maya doesn’t even know what’s going to happen. It’s a really exciting totally new way of starting the series. There will be lots of new things in episode one and it will feel very different to Love Island or All Stars.”
Maya shared her thoughts too: “It’s the biggest opener yet, but I don’t know anything! I find out everything literally just before the viewers do. But I prefer it that way. I don’t ever want to be responsible for anything getting out. I say, ‘Tell me last minute! I’ll find out when you guys do.’ And that way my reactions are more genuine as well.”
Mike added more insights into what’s to come: “We kicked off last All Stars with Molly and Callum. So we’re not looking to do that again,” and noted that familiar faces would return with a twist: “We had Jake Cornish and Liberty Poole in the opening line up again. But with the amount of islanders we have of course there will be exes in the mix.”
Discussing the anticipated developments in the new season, he stated: “There will be tons of twists and turns planned. We learned so much from the last All Stars. It feels so different to the main series, the viewers are already invested in the islander’s backstories.
“They know them from before, they know them from social media or the careers they’ve taken after. It’s easy to think ‘Oh yes Curtis, we know what he’s like’ – but will he be the same? You don’t know.”
Love Island All Stars launches on ITV2 and ITVX on Monday 13 January at 9pm.