ITV's highly anticipated Love Island All Stars series is finally set to hit screens after a dramatic delay caused by raging wildfires near its South African filming location. The show will now make its debut on Thursday 15 January at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Production Halted by Safety Evacuation
The launch, originally scheduled for Monday, was postponed at the last minute when wildfires in the Franschhoek wine region, close to Cape Town, led to the evacuation of the area surrounding the TV villa. While the celebrity contestants had not yet arrived, the production crew were on site and had to be moved to safety as emergency services battled the blaze.
In an official statement, ITV confirmed the decision, placing the welfare of cast and crew first. "Health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first," a spokesperson said, announcing the transmission would be delayed until a new date could be confirmed.
Maya Jama's Glamorous Return and Pre-Show Woes
Host Maya Jama heralded the show's return, posting a video to social media where she appeared in a stunning all-white gown. "We are back up and running. I’m obviously in glam - I’m going to the villa to start filming in a minute," she told her followers.
However, the 31-year-old presenter's trip has not been without its own mishaps. She revealed she was forced to sleep on a hotel sofa after a "big black beetle" landed on her bed, leaving her too unsettled to sleep properly. This followed a bout of flu that struck just before her flight, with Jama joking on Instagram that she was "Vitamin c’d up and praying the sun deletes it all."
Islanders Ready for Second Shot at Love
The Love Island All Stars format brings back former fan favourites from the show's history for another chance at finding romance. The confirmed cast for the 2026 series includes Millie Court from series 7 and Charlie Frederick from series 4, among others.
With the wildfires now under control and the villa secured, viewers can expect the first episode to air as planned on Thursday evening. An additional full episode will also be broadcast on Saturday at 9pm, giving fans a double dose of drama to kick off the new series.
