Things are heating up this winter. (Picture: ITV)
Your cold nights are about to get hotter as the return of Winter Love Island is just around the corner.
The hit ITV dating show is set to have a winter series and a summer one in 2023, with the first round of bombshells, bust-ups, bromances, and a brand new host coming to you later this month.
But when does the next instalment of Love Island start, and what else has been confirmed about the winter series?
Here is everything we know so far.
When will Winter Love Island 2023 start?
ITV bosses are yet to confirm the exact start date, but it has been reported that Winter Love Island could begin on Monday, January 16 2023.
As it happens, this is Blue Monday – often dubbed the most depressing day of the year.
Love Island returns in January 2023 – but not to Majorca (Picture: ITV)
A source has been quoted as saying: ‘Love Island bosses have planned for the show to start on Blue Monday – which is bound to give fans a massive lift on such a gloomy day.’
There is also some speculation that the show could start a day earlier, January 15, as the first Winter Love Island series kicked off on a Sunday.
This will be the first time that Love Island has aired in winter since 2020. It also means that the show will be on our TV screens most nights for the best part of four months. What a treat!
Where is Winter Love Island 2023 filmed?
The winter stars will once again be ditching their usual Majorcan villa in favour of a South African version.
South Africa’s position in the Southern Hemisphere allows it to experience warmer temperatures than the UK – meaning the islanders won’t need to swap swimsuits for snowboots.
ITV bosses confirmed that the singletons will be heading into a brand spanking new villa.
Ludus Magnus is said to be Winter Love Island’s new villa (Picture: ludusmagnus.co.za)
And reports say the new luxury, 17-bedroom pad is worth £1.2 million, located in the Franschhoek winelands near Cape Town.
The villa, called Ludus Magnus after a Roman gladiator school, is a paradise for fitness fans – decked out with an Olympic training pool, 400m running track, state-of-the-art rugby field, and a zip line.
The property, set across 25 acres, also has access to a private lake, which has its very own Love Island, beach, and palm trees.
It’s expected that the summer series will, as usual, return to Majorca.
More: Love Island
Who will be hosting it?
Maya Jama will be taking on hosting duties for both of the new series in 2023.
It was announced that the last series of Love Island would be Laura Whitmore’s final as host of the show after stepping into the role following the tragic death of Caroline Flack.
Laura Whitmore had been the face of the hit show since 2020, but in August it was revealed that she wouldn’t be returning for another series.
Maya Jama will be taking on the iconic role (Picture: John Phillips/Getty Images)
After confirming her exit on Instagram, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘Laura has been a fantastic host across the last three series of the show.
‘We are so grateful for everything she has brought to the programme but understand and respect her decision, and we look forward to working with her on upcoming ITV projects.’
The news sent the internet rife with rumours as to who could replace Whitmore, with popular names including former contestants Maura Higgins and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, comedian Katherine Ryan, actress Emily Atack, and dancer AJ Odudu.
After plenty of speculation on who might take her place, it was made public that Maya Jama would be hosting the show from now on, with Whitmore taking to Instagram to voice her support, saying: ‘Yes girl!! So delighted for you! You’re gonna be fab❤️x.’
An insider had previously said: ‘Maya was ITV’s dream option. She is fun, beautiful and a brilliant presenter.’
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Maya has since made her debut in two trailers teasing the show, the second of which was released as the New Year kicked off.
The insider also told The Sun that Jama was ‘discussed’ as a ‘possible replacement’ for Caroline Flack before Whitmore had been chosen two years ago, ‘but now the time is right.’
It is understood that Whitmore’s husband Iain Stirling will continue to provide the show’s iconic comedic voiceover.
When will the contestants be revealed?
Who will follow in the winning footsteps of Ekin-Su and Davide? (Picture :Rex Shutterstock)
It’s not yet been confirmed when we will find out who is going into the villa – but contestants are typically revealed around a week or so before the series kicks off.
So, if the show does begin on January 16, we could be meeting our new Islanders as soon as the start of next week.
The new contestants will face some major changes on the show amid a shake-up in the duty of care – which will include their social media accounts being dormant while they are in the villa.
The new rule bans participants and loved ones from posting online while filming the show to ‘protect both the Islanders and their families from ‘the adverse effects of social media’.
Additionally, ahead of entering the villa, the cast will also receive guidance and training around being mutually respectful in relationships, including how to understand the patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviour.
When was the last Winter Love Island series and who won it?
The first and only Winter Love Island aired in 2020 and saw Paige Turley and Finn Tapp win the show.
The pair beat Siannise Fudge and Luke T, Luke M and Demi Jones, and Jess and Ched to the crown.
Paige and Finn, who are still together, said of the show’s return: ‘Love Island enabled us to find love with someone that without the show, our paths would never have crossed.
Paige and Finn, winners of Winter Love Island 2020 (Picture: Joe Maher/Getty Images)
‘We both found everything that we’d asked for in a partner in each other and we now live together in Manchester (we’ve been here for almost two years).’
They added: ‘We’ve got a new amazing group of friends and literally couldn’t imagine life without each other.’
Of course, the last series we saw, which aired in summer 2022, was won by Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti.
How can you apply for Love Island?
Fancy a trip to a villa surrounded by gorgeous singles? You’d be mad not to.
If you want to take part in a future series of Love Island, applications are open now and you can apply here.
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The ad states: ‘ITV2 are looking for vibrant singles from across the UK who want to head to the sun, in search of love.
‘The chosen cast will spend time in a luxury villa, getting to know one another, but to remain in paradise they must win the hearts of the public and their fellow Islanders who ultimately decide their fate on Love Island.’
There are a few caveats to think about before you apply, though.
You must be 18 or over to enter and have a passport that’s less than 10 years old and valid for a minimum of six months after the programme end date provided by the broadcaster.
You’ll need to be available for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks and must keep ITV aware of any changes to your passport or travel eligibility.
Love Island returns in January 2023.
MORE : BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent labels The Apprentice 2023 cast as being ‘more like Love Island’
MORE : Laura Whitmore admits she would have stayed on as Love Island host under different conditions
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Thing are heating up this winter.
