ITV plan major shake-up to Love Island launch night with Islanders set to fly out any day
ITV will be pulling out all the stops when Love Island returns in June.
I can reveal the channel plans to launch the dating show simultaneously across ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX for the first time ever.
Which will almost certainly guarantee host Maya Jama will bag the biggest audience of the night.
A source said: “ITV want to throw their weight behind Love Island and make sure it has a big, glitzy moment when the 11th series kicks off next month.
“Showing it across every channel means creating what they hope will be a big TV moment. It shows there is still a real commitment to the format even nine years on.”
ITV used the same ‘simulcast’ schedule for Big Brother’s launch last October, which netted 2.5million overnight viewers. The source added: “Using the full might of ITV means reaching every demographic, including the crucial 16-34s.
“A cynic would say it also means wringing every inch out of the rating potential to prop up the stats, which have been dwindling recently.”
Last summer’s launch hit 1.7million when streaming figures from ITVX were included. Meanwhile, The Sun can reveal a hunky Welsh rugby player is joining the hunt for love.
Ciaran Davies plays for rugby union team Tondu.
A source said: “Ciaran caught the eye of Love Island bosses.
“He’s gorgeous with a fit, athletic build that will send the girls in the villa wild, but he’s also a sweet boy next door from Wales.
“He’s been in talks for weeks and is set to jet out to the villa in Majorca in the coming week or so.”
MATTHEW OUT FOR REVENGE
THE cast of BBC One revenge thriller Reunion has been announced – and will see Matthew Gurney play deaf man Daniel Brennan who has just been released from prison.
The four-part series sees him struggle to integrate into the hearing world as he tries to write his wrongs and reconnect with his estranged daughter Carly, played by Lara Peake.
The pair will be joined on screen by Anne-Marie Duff as Christine, who is desperate to uncover the truth of Brennan’s crimes.
Eddie Marsan and Rose-Ayling Ellis will play Christine’s husband and daughter.
The show is currently filming in Yorkshire and will air on BBC One and iPlayer.
BRIAN’S BACK IN CONTROL
THE Controller is back for more in Prime Video’s 007: Road To A Million.
Succession star Brian Cox will reprise his role as the puppet master tasked with setting the James-Bond inspired challenges for the contestants in the reality series.
I exclusively revealed last year that the format, which sees contestants battle it out to win £1million, would be returning before the first series even hit screens.
The show – which is the brainchild of Hollywood producers behind the 007 movies – featured challenges including trekking the Amazon and ascending volcanoes.
A huge prize fund of £9million was previously set aside for the nine couples taking part as they travelled far and wide across the globe for the dangerous missions.
Production on the new series is expected to start this summer.
PRIDE'S MINED IN SKY DOC
A NEW documentary will tell the real-life stories behind hit film Pride.
The 2014 movie starred George MacKay, Joe Gilgun, Andrew Scott and Dominic West as miners and gay activists during the 1980s miners’ strike.
Now the true story behind the film will be heard, forty years on.
Striking With Pride: United At The Coalface will feature interviews with Mike Jackson and Jonathan Blake, founders of Lesbians And Gays Support The Miners.
They will be joined by former Labour MP Sian James, who was played by Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning in the film.
The programme will air on Sky Documentaries on June 1.