LOVE Island has faced another major blow to its hopes of airing this summer as it’s been reported insurance firms ‘won’t cover it’ amid the coronavirus crisis.
Despite bosses investigating a number of ways to make the Majorcan villa safe from the deadly virus, it still doesn’t appear to be enough to convince insurers to back it.
A source told the Daily Star: “Producers are looking at ways of making it work. The current plan is to fly crew and contestants out to Majorca two weeks before filming starts and then isolate everyone.
“But even with these measures, insurance companies won’t offer cover.
“ITV can’t do the series without insurance. If the series is airing and even just one person tests positive for the virus, the whole thing would have to be shut down immediately.”
It comes after ITV boss Kevin Lygo revealed the show was close to being cancelled.
The telly chief revealed the channel is concerned that seeing the Islanders “slavering over each other” in the sun would send a bad message for everyone social-distancing at home.
Speaking at the Edinburgh Television Festival, he said: “We’re approaching the moment of is it feasible? Will Majorca open its doors?
“What signal might it be sending out if we’re doing a show where everyone is crammed together slavering over each other, and the rest of the world is told not to go near anyone in the park?”
Lygo also dismissed reports the show will be filmed in Cornwall as an alternative to its regular Majorcan villa.
ITV had looked into the possibility of having in the South West of England but decided it “wouldn’t be the same”.
In a very honest exchange Lygo said the channel was close to running out of new soap material and anticipated ITV will be forced to show repeats to fill its schedule as the crisis continues.
Last week HOAR revealed applications for the show have hit a record high during lockdown with more than 12,000 sex-starved singletons seeking a place on the summer series.
The ITV2 show’s production team are drafting in extra staff to help interview the candidates, despite its future hanging in the balance.
Wannabe islanders will be quizzed over web conferencing tool Zoom in the coming weeks and a shortlist created.
Bosses believe the spike in numbers is due to the applicants not getting any bedroom action during isolation.
A TV insider said: “Applications have gone through the roof since lockdown.
“Never before have so many people applied in this six-week time span.
“Over seventy per cent of the applications have come from 18 to 28-year-olds and the videos being sent in have been more creative than ever as people have more time on their hands.”
The insider added: “Once candidates have been whittled down to a shortlist, they’ll be interviewed face-to-face.”
