ITV’s Love Island All Stars hit by casting ‘challenge’ after US show The Games signed up raft of legends
DRAMA on Love Island usually revolves around backstabbing, partner swaps and secret snogs.
But an intriguing new storyline is brewing — and it has proved to be challenging for ITV bosses.
US channel Peacock has unveiled the cast for its new spin-off Love Island Games, which combines the search for romance with a series of physical tasks.
But the epic line-up features some of the most popular Islanders from the UK series, who ITV had been eyeing for its own upcoming legends spin-off, Love Island All Stars.
The likes of Megan Barton-Hanson, Curtis Pritchard and Liberty Poole had been considered must-haves for ITV’s ten-year anniversary special, which is set to be filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, in January.
Instead they are currently busy filming for America’s rival programme in Fiji.
Love Island Games even has Maya Jama, Iain Stirling and show legend Maura Higgins as hosts.
A TV source said: “It’s all turned into a love triangle of epic proportions with ITV’s own legends caught between two huge programmes.
“None of the Islanders are bound to appear on ITV’s All Stars so, of course, were thrilled to take up the booking for Peacock’s Games.
But it is hard to see the same names appearing on Games and then also All Stars because they both require lengthy time away from home.
Explosive links
“Games has managed to book the cream of the crop in Megan and Liberty especially.
“It’s hard to see how Games won’t be stealing All Stars’ thunder.”
An agent source told me the Islanders have been reassured that appearing on Peacock’s Games would not stop ITV booking them for its All Stars.
They added: “But it does beg the question, ‘What if my client finds love on Games, how would they then say yes to All Stars?’”
ITV has been involved in the production of Love Island Games — which is being made by its ITV America arm — so the casting didn’t come as a shock when it was released on Wednesday night.
Fans are already gagging to watch the Peacock show, which will air in the UK on Sky and Now, due to the explosive links between its cast.
Curtis will be appearing alongside ex Maura, while Megan will come up against fling Eyal Booker, and Georgia Steele will be reunited with “kissgate” date Jack Fowler.
Scott Van-der-Sluis, Toby Aromolaran and Mike Boateng also join from the UK.
Daisy has run into a ghost
DAISY MAY COOPER is being haunted by a headless ghost in her own home.
The This Country actress says she has witnessed a paranormal pair of legs running around in the Cotswolds new-build.
She told the Adam Buxton Podcast: “I’ve had some weird things happen.
“I was in my house, which is brand new and near a lake.
“Nobody’s ever lived in it – a brand new build out in the Cotswolds.
“I woke up at three in the morning and had my two-year-old son in the bed.
“We both woke up and saw just a pair of legs in what looked like PE shorts running around the bed and then it was gone – it stopped just before the hips and was a pair of legs.
“I mean it was just a few seconds. We both watched it run around the bed
“I’m convinced he saw it too, unless I’m just trying to put that into him.
“What sort of apparition just comes as legs?”
GEMMA IS A LIKELY CULPRIT
GEMMA ARTERTON looks ready for action in new Disney+ drama Culprits.
The King’s Man actress looks to be in disguise – with a blue wig and bulletproof vest – as she keeps under the radar as Dianne.
She will joined by Eddie Izzard, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Nathan Steward-Jarrett and Niamh Algar in the series, which tells the story of a group of ex-con artists.
Dianne is a member of the heist crew being targetted one by one by a mysterious assassin after the group disbanded, trying to leave their old lives behind.
The eight-part series will follow the ensuing mayhem for the gang, as they realise it won’t be as easy as they suspected to shake off their shady past.
It starts on Disney+ on November 8.
SHAYNE WARD has revealed the advice he gave “extras” on his new drama The Good Ship Murder, which begins next Friday.
Filmed on a real cruise liner, he told the 6,000 passengers seen in the background of shots: “Enjoy yourself and you can lie down tomorrow on the lounger and recover from the hangover.”
STEVEN SPIELBERG, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s new series, Masters Of The Air, has finally unveiled the date of its premiere.
The Second World War drama will be available to stream on Apple TV+ from January 26 next year, with new episodes touching down every Friday until March 15.