Ulrika Jonsson says she has a greater zest for life now than she did in her 20s - as she makes a bid to host middle aged Love Island.
The former Gladiators presenter appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain today, where she chatted about plans for a new series of Love Island aimed at single parents. The network has called for single parents to sign up for The Romance Retreat, which has a similar set up to the popular ITV2 reality show, currently airing its Winter edition.
Now Ulrika has admitted she'd love to host the new series, insisting she is the perfect person for the job as she is single herself.
Speaking on the ITV breakfast show today, she said: "If you're hosting that programme, you should have a wealth of experience in modern day dating which is very different than them olden days where you see and meet people in the pub.
"Yes, being single should be a pre-requisite. Just because you've over 50 doesn't mean you've given up in life and you don't want new adventures. I have a greater zest for life now than I probably did in my 20s and 30s."
The Romance Retreat will have a similar set up to Love Island as contestants make their way to a luxurious villa in the quest to find love. While the concept appears similar to the popular ITV2 series, it remains unclear whether there will be a cash prize on offer for the eventual winners and we are yet to know exactly where it will be held.
" This is the ONLY dating show where single parents can search for love, by spending time in a luxury retreat, where all the parents have been nominated by their grown up children," the official casting call revealed, " Any applications must be completed by March 31."
Davina McCall previously revealed she'd be up for hosting a middle-aged version of Love Island.
"I could fill a villa in Love Island with middle-aged people with the best back stories you have ever heard in your life," she said on the Diary of a CEO podcast, "They've lived a life – they're widows, they're people who have been through horrific divorces.
"They are people who have split up with somebody and decided they want to try going out with somebody the same sex as them. They're like interesting people. I'd watch that show. I was like, 'I need to present it please'.
"They said, 'We're looking at something else that's quite similar, we might consider you for that.'"
