FOR the past five years, it’s been the spot where Love Island contestants have been pied off, got their kit off and occasionally kicked off.
Now I can reveal that ITV2 bosses are giving the current villa the chop – and looking for a new location for the dating show on the island of Majorca.
It will appear for the first time on this summer’s series, with producers considering moving to the foothills of mountains, by a lake or to the coast.
That could see the team behind Love Island introduce a range of new elements, but it will still include everyone’s best loved characteristics such as the fire pit and swimming pool.
The ITV2 and ITV Hub show is the most popular show with 16 to 34 year olds on ITV.
A TV insider said: “ITV bosses think this is the right moment to refresh this element of the show, just as they did in series three back in 2017.
“Love Island moved from a location in Santanyi in southern Majorca, which was its home for series one and two, to the current villa in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, in the north-east.
“Now they’re considering a range of options, but want to stay on the island which has provided the perfect sunny backdrop for the show.
“Bosses are conscious of the fact that this is also an opportunity to consider all the new elements they could introduce to enhance the show even further.
“For fans of Love Island this is huge news and they’ll be eager to see what the new villa looks like and how much it could change the show.”
The eighth series of the show is set to return this summer on ITV2, with the process of recruiting the new contestants already well under way.
Let’s hope the bosses had better remember to send them the change of address.
Set pulses racing
LUCIEN Laviscount sets pulses racing in Netflix hit Emily In Paris and now he’s about to do likewise in his new role as a gym instructor.
I can reveal the Burnley-born hunk has landed a new role in new BBC Three comedy Peacock, from the makers of Channel 4 cult series Friday Night Dinner.
He plays Jay, the new personal trainer at Sportif Leisure centre who usurps his senior Andy Peacock, played by People Just Do Nothing star Allan ‘Seapa’ Mustafa, in the gym pecking order, which only adds to his colleagues growing identity crisis.
A TV source said: “Lucien’s character is insanely ripped and makes Andy so jealous.
“It’s the perfect role for Lucien who has such a huge following thanks to romantic drama Emily In Paris and fans can look forward to seeing plenty of workout scenes.”
The three-part series, filmed in Liverpool and expected to air later this year, is Lucien’s first notable work since Emily In Paris, in which he plays London banker Alfie in series two, Emily’s love interest.
He’s previously starred in Waterloo Road and Coronation Street, and also has credits on Shameless and Skins on his acting resume.
But perhaps his most famous TV role before gaining international stardom was his 2011 appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in which he struck up a romance with Kerry Katona.
They also posed on the cover of OK! magazine for a glossy couples’ shoot afterwards.
It’s unlikely that’s on his CV.
True-life tales of job grief
BBC Three have announced a new hour-long drama about a distribution centre.
Life And Death In The Warehouse is inspired by real accounts from different companies around the world.
Peaky Blinders actress Aimee-Ffion Edwards plays trainee manager Megan Roberts, who joins the same firm as her pregnant childhood pal Alys, who is played by Poppy Lee Friar.
Megan encourages Alys to increase her “pick-up rate” but the strain puts the baby at risk.
The drama gives an insight into working conditions such as CCTV surveillance, toilet-break checks and sackings.
Line Of Duty’s Craig Parkinson plays senior manager Danny.
Executive producer Aysha Rafaele said: “I hope this will help raise awareness of the taxing demands many young people are facing in their workplace today.”
Grumpy start by Romesh
COMEDIAN Romesh Ranganathan was a real grouch when he started out.
The Weakest Link host says his dead-pan style was caused by nerves – but he is finally able to enjoy himself on screen.
He told That Gaby Roslin Podcast: “I was grumpy when I first started TV. I think that came from nerves or you don’t feel comfortable enough to be yourself yet.
“So when I started doing panel shows and stuff I was super-dead pan and really grumpy, or I came across as really grumpy.
“I’ve got a default grumpy face, so if I’m not expressing emotion I look like I hate what is happening.
“That’s part of the problem. But as I got more relaxed I’ve become more chilled out.”
The big pay cheques certainly cheer him up.
Nicholas fed up of ‘plonker’ laughs
ONLY Fools And Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst is desperate to avoid the fame the sitcom gave him as Del Boy’s brother Rodney, according to a former co-star.
Michael Fenton Stevens, who played a holiday rep in 1989 episode The Unlucky Winner Is . . . , claims he disguises his appearance in public to avoid being called catchphrase names such “plonker” and “Dave” on the street.
He added that the tragic death of his son Archie, 20, from leukaemia in 2020, has also deeply affected him.
Speaking on the Only Fools And Horses podcast, Michael said: “I bumped into Nick in the street, before his son died sadly.
“He still has to have a baseball cap and hide himself a bit. People all the time go, ‘You plonker!’.
“That can be wearing, I think. He sort of keeps himself to himself a bit.
“I worked with his son and it’s terribly sad. I haven’t seen him since but I feel for him, it must be awful.”
