ITV bosses are reportedly gearing up to launch a Love Island series but for middle aged people with 'normal bodies'.
The current version of the show focuses primarily on teens and young people in their 20s who have been chosen due to their physical features. The show has previously been slammed for promoting unattainable beauty standards and for featuring a lack of diversity among its cast.
The updated Love Island seems to be in response to fans calls for more 'real' contestants, who aren't appearing on the show solely for fame. A source told The Sun : “Times change and the current generation in their 40s and 50s still care about how they look, are fit and healthy, into fashion and are ready to let their hair down.
“This show will give those who settled down young a second chance at love while they still feel in their prime. And, let’s face it, they know their minds, will be capable of intelligent conversation and are likely to be much more adventurous — all ingredients regular Love Island sometimes lacks.”
TV bosses are looking to air a more mature edition of the hit show that body-perfect contestants on the regular ITV2 series are “too young” and have little of interest to say. Many contestants will go through vigorous gym and plastic surgery transformations ahead of their stint on the ITV show, costing them thousands before even stepping foot in the villa.
Ex Love Island star Rosie Williams recently admitted that spent “thousands” ahead of her debut. She told OK: "As soon as I heard that they were interested, it dawned on me that this wasn’t just a bit of fun – I might actually appear on the show. I needed to prepare myself for that possibility.
“From then on, everything I did was with Love Island in mind. The first thing I did was amp up my exercise routine and start going to the gym every day. I also started to eat better so that I wouldn’t feel bloated if I entered the villa.”
Rosie added: “I rushed to get the rest of my beauty treatments booked in. I spent the time I had left getting pre-bonded hair extensions, having semi-permanent eyelashes applied and getting my nails done.”
Filming for the new and improved version of Love Island is set to begin later this year with its working title “Your Mum, My Dad”, will start later this year ahead of a hoped-for screening in 2023. Some viewers have called for older contestants and wondered if the hot youngsters are emotionally mature enough for the experience.
The show is being primed as a pilot by Love Island maker Lifted Entertainment in the hopes of turning it into a full series.
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