Love Island has just been cancelled and people are divided, this is why

In retrospect, two seasons of Love Island in a year could not be allowed to happen.

It was too greedy; viewers gorged themselves on watching another set of singletons trapped in a South African villa, just months after the 2019 summer series had ended.

The result was disappointing. Audiences felt that winter Love Island didn’t spark the same joy that its summer sibling did.

It wasn’t a flop per se (it was still the most-watched show among 16 to 34 year olds) but viewing figures were down and interest seemed lukewarm.

That tepid response also coincided with the tragic death of host Caroline Flack, whose image was so entwined with the rise of Love Island, some credited a large chunk of the show’s initial success with her “relatability”.

Flack’s death by suicide in February 2020 marked the third time in two years someone associated with the show had taken their own life.

There were also questions about the formulaic nature of the show and the impact its endorsement of fast fashion and cosmetic surgery would have on young viewers.

So in the run up to the 2020 summer series, Love Island was carrying serious baggage.

Now ITV has announced that, despite efforts, the 2020 series will not be going ahead.

It proved “logistically not possible” to produce the show, Kevin Lygo, Director of Television at ITV told The Sun:

We have tried every which way to make Love Island this summer but logistically it's just not possible to produce it in a way that safeguards the wellbeing of everyone involved and that for us is the priority.

In normal circumstances we would be preparing very soon to travel out to the location in Mallorca to get the villa ready but clearly that’s now out of the question.

We are very sorry for fans of the show but making it safely is our prime concern and Love Island will be back stronger than ever in 2021.

In the meantime Love Island fans can still enjoy all six series on BritBox. 

Reactions to the announcement have been mixed.

One Twitter user said it was a “blessing in disguise” and that the show should be a once-a-year event, like the Olympics (not like the Olympics at all, which are famously once every four years).

Others suggested a change of location to save the show (for the record, Cornwall has already been ruled out).

Former contestant Malin Andersson said she was “so glad” the series had been cancelled.

Andersson has previously accused the show of failing to give participants sufficient support and aftercare.

Some said they didn’t want the show to return, full stop.

But many were mourning their newly freed up evenings, especially if the country is still under lockdown come June. Don't they know time is the most precious gift one can receive?

Spare a thought though for the environment-ruining fast fashion brands who will now have to come up with some other way to advertise lucratively to millions. Oh no!

See you for now Love Island.

This is not au revoir though, only à bientôt…