Love Island has returned for 2023 with the winter edition of the popular ITV2 dating show. Voiced by Iain Stirling and hosted by new presenter Maya Jama, the ninth season will see a fresh batch of contestants return to South Africa.
The last winter version of the show took place in 2020 and saw Paige Turley and Finn Tapp win the show. This year's line-up, including payroll administrator Anna-May Robey from Swansea, farmer and TikTok star Will Young, and student and makeup artist Lana Jenkins, will be hoping to follow in their footsteps.
And while the show has been in South Africa before, for 2023 the Islanders are getting a brand new villa. Their new pad boasts a heart-shaped entrance, three swimming pools and a shaded sofa area that looks out over the South African scenery.
Read more: Love Island 2023 cast in full including bombshells as winter line-up enters villa
The bar and kitchen area is undercover with the motto "Eat. Sleep. Crack on. Repeat" lit up in neon pink letters across the bar. Back for Winter Love Island are the famous day beds, where loyal islanders may stay the night during Casa Amor, and they have gorgeous pink flowers climbing over the frames. You can see pictures from inside the new villa here.
The villa is based in Franschhoek, near Cape Town, on a 25-acre property. The summer series of Love Island takes place in Mallorca, with season 8 being filmed in a villa in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar.
The first episode will see presenter Maya, who takes over hosting duties from Laura Whitmore, arrive at the pad in a helicopter, before inviting the boys to gather at the fire pit and quizzing them on what they’re looking for. You can read more on this here.
Love Island starts on Monday, January 16 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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Win a £50 Just Eat voucher to celebrate the return of winter Love Island
