Davina McCall admits she ‘begged’ ITV to let her present Love Island spin-off
DAVINA McCall has revealed she’s desperate to host a Love Island spin-off show with middle-aged singletons.
The star – who shot to fame in 1998 as the presenter of Channel 4’s dating show Streetmate – has pitched the idea to ITV bosses who said they were working on a similar concept.
Davina, 55, said: “I’ve got no embarrassment or shame in emailing a TV company and going ‘have you thought about this? What about this? Can I do this?’
“I’m literally begging ITV to let me present mid-life Love Island.
“I could fill a villa in Love Island with middle aged people with the best back stories you have ever heard in your life.
“They’ve lived a life, they’re widows, they’re people who have been through horrific divorces.”
Doubling down on the idea, she told Steven Bartlett on his Diary of a CEO podcast: “They’re people who have split up with somebody and decided they want to try going out with people of the same sex.
“They are interesting people, I’d watch that show!
“They said ‘we’re thinking of doing something similar, we’ll think about you for that.'”
“Well if I hadn’t sent that email they would have never though of me!”
Davina she has high hopes it will happen saying she has manifested her goals in the past.
She said: “I got offered Long Lost Family, and I’ve been filming that programme now for 13 years. It makes me feel so good that show. And I’ve helped so many people on it.
“So I always think, ‘well just start walking in that direction and something else will come a long’.
“But never just sit down and wait.
“You know I’ve never sat down and just thought ‘I’ll wait for something to happen to me’.”
The Sun last year revealed the channel was working on a concept called Your Mum, My Dad, which was quickly dubbed Love Island for oldies.
Bosses behind Your Mum, My Dad had been casting people in their 40s and 50s – with “normal” bodies and back stories – for a pilot.
The planned show was looking to give those who settled down young a second chance at love, with the help of their own kids.
It comes as reality TV stars Sam Thompson and Indiyah Polack have been announced by ITV as regular panellists on Love Island’s Aftersun programme.
The pair will join new Love Island host, TV and radio presenter Maya Jama, in London every Sunday night live for Love Island: Aftersun to dive into the latest goings-on in the villa.
The series shares unseen clips and interviews with the celebrities and Islanders’ family and friends.
Maya, 28, has taken over as host from Laura Whitmore, 37, who announced in August that she was stepping down.
She will also host the usual summer edition in Majorca later in the year.
