Love Island All Stars: Bringing Back Fan Favorites in Hopes of Restoring Viewership

Love Island is making a comeback with a twist. The latest season, titled Love Island All Stars, brings back former contestants in an effort to revive the show’s viewership. This time, the singles are not only familiar faces, but many of them already know each other. Best friends Kaz Kamwi and Liberty Poole, who appeared on series seven, are among the returning islanders, alongside Liberty’s ex, Jake Cornish.

The cast also features familiar characters outside of the villa. Georgia Harrison, known for her advocacy on women’s safety, and Chris Taylor from series five, who had a cameo in last year’s Barbie movie, are also included in the lineup. The question remains: can the reintroduction of fan favorites from Love Island’s heyday between 2017 and 2019 bring back the viewership figures seen during that period?

It’s no secret that Love Island fans have been losing interest lately. The 2022 summer series premiere had an average audience of 2.4 million viewers, compared to 3.3 million for the 2018 launch episode. Love Island All Stars may be a new and exciting format for ITV, but it’s undoubtedly a gamble.

Culture journalist Lauren O’Neill believes that this gamble could pay off and draw back “fatigued” fans. She suggests that people who had previously lost interest in Love Island might return for the personalities rather than the format itself. Lauren points out the success of All Stars formats for shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and expresses cautious optimism.

One lingering question is whether islanders are on the show for fame or love. Reports suggest that All Stars cast members are being paid significantly higher fees than first-timers, and ITV has lifted the social media ban for veteran contestants. This means that friends and family can post on the islanders’ social media accounts during their time in the villa, keeping their social media following engaged and potentially stirring up off-screen drama. Additionally, many Love Islanders already know each other, which allows for a smoother interaction among the contestants.

Indiyah Polack, a former islander hosting the official Love Island podcast, believes that the existing familiarity between the islanders will reduce the need for icebreakers. According to Love Island’s executive producer Mike Spencer, viewers can expect to learn about past flings between the contestants that haven’t made headlines before. This unique dynamic, combined with the possibility of behind-the-scenes drama, could make Love Island All Stars a compelling watch for fans.

Contestant Georgia Harrison is confident that the show’s history and relationships between islanders off-camera will make Love Island All Stars “absolute TV gold.” Meanwhile, Jessie Wynter, who has appeared on both the Australian and UK versions of Love Island, anticipates that viewers might witness a different side of the returning islanders, thanks to their newfound fame and media training.

Only time will tell if the gamble to bring back fan favorites pays off in terms of viewership. ITV is hoping audiences won’t “pie” the launch episode, and the ratings will reflect a successful revival of Love Island’s popularity.