Winter Love Island 2023 start date, line-up, host and…

Winter Love Island 2023 start date, line-up, host and location

Love Island is back less than six months after Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti were crowned winners. Season 9 will see the return of winter Love Island, which is held in South Africa and last took place in 2020.

Finn Tapp and Paige Turnley won the first and only winter Love Island so far and now a line-up of brand new hopefuls are eager to follow in their footsteps. Among this year's line-up is 20-year-old payroll administrator Anna-May Robey from Swansea, Michelle Keegan's body-double Olivia Hawkins and TikTok star and Farmer Will Young. You can see the winter Love Island line-up in full here.

This year some big changes will take place, with Maya Jama taking over presenting duties from Laura Whitmore. ITV bosses have also announced that islanders will pause social media activity for the duration of the series.

Usually, family members and friends take over the contestants' accounts while they are on the show, but the broadcaster has confirmed their platforms will remain dormant while they are in the villa, so that nothing is published on their behalf. The announcement was made as part of Love Island's duty of care measures and aims to protect both the islanders and their families from the adverse effects of social media.

Here's everything you need to know about winter Love Island 2023, from the start date to the contestants, filming locations and host of season 9.

When does the new Love Island start?

Winter Love Island 2023 starts officially on Monday, January 16 at 9pm on ITV2 and the broadcaster's new streaming service ITVX. The launch show is always a bumper episode as the contestants are introduced to one another for the first time.

It means the episode will air for one hour and 35 minutes, ending at 10:35pm.

Where is winter Love Island filmed?

The winter version of the popular dating show takes place in South Africa. Meanwhile, the summer series is always filmed in Mallorca.

Speaking about the new location, Executive Producer at Lifted Entertainment, Mike Spencer, said: "After eight brilliant series, we are excited to be serving up two helpings of love in 2023 by kicking off in January at a stunning new villa in South Africa. We can look forward to more romances, bromances and everything in between as we embark on another epic year of love." You can see inside the new Love Island villa here.

Who is the winter Love Island 2023 presenter?

Maya Jama is the new host of Love Island (ITV)

Maya Jama will be taking over hosting duties from Laura Whitmore when the new series of Love Island starts. Maya said: "I've always been such a massive Love Island fan and I’m so excited to be hosting one of the nation’s favourite shows! I can’t wait to get into the Villa to meet all of the Islanders."

When the annoucement was made back in October, Director of Reality Programming & Acquisitions and Controller, ITV2, ItvBe & CITV, Paul Mortimer said: "Finding a new host to follow the wonderful Laura Whitmore was never going to be easy. In Maya Jama though, we have another high profile fan of the show who’ll be a great addition to the Love Island family. Cool, charming and charismatic, I speak for us all when I say Maya will also bring a unique presenting style to the show, as did Laura and, of course, the very much missed Caroline Flack. We’re very pleased to have her on board."