Love Island Launch Scuppered by South African Wildfires
Filming for the highly anticipated new series of Love Island: All Stars has been thrown into chaos after devastating wildfires in South Africa forced producers to postpone the launch indefinitely. The show's host, Maya Jama, found herself holed up at a villa as bosses waited for the all-clear.
Maya Jama's Sun-Soaked Snaps Amid the Delay
While waiting for production to resume, the 31-year-old television presenter took to Instagram on Sunday to share a series of stunning bikini photos. Posing poolside in a chic brown halterneck two-piece, Maya soaked up the sun at her South African accommodation. She captioned the post with a simple clock emoji, hinting at her impatience for the series to finally begin, a sentiment shared by legions of fans.
The sunny display came against a backdrop of serious disruption. ITV confirmed on Saturday that the launch episode, scheduled for Monday, had been cancelled. This decision followed the precautionary evacuation of the famous Ludus Magnus Estate villa, located an hour from Cape Town in the Western Cape, after wildfires caused road closures in the area.
Production Halted Indefinitely for Safety Reasons
The situation has since escalated, with reports indicating that filming has now been pushed back indefinitely. Emergency services worked through the night in the Wemmershoek area to contain the blazes, which have been raging across the Western and Eastern Cape due to high temperatures, strong winds, and dry conditions.
A source close to the production stated that bosses have no choice but to wait until the area is deemed completely safe, with ongoing risk and health and safety assessments taking priority. An official ITV statement emphasised that 'health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first'.
The new series, which features former islanders returning for another shot at love, was due to begin filming this past weekend. Residents in several areas, including Zwartenbosch and Oyster Bay Road, have also been evacuated due to the separate fires.
Producers were initially scrambling to salvage the launch but have now confirmed the unavoidable delay. A new transmission date for Love Island: All Stars is yet to be announced.
