ITV’s highly anticipated Love Island All Stars series has been thrown into uncertainty after a large wildfire broke out near the villa, forcing producers to evacuate the set and postpone filming at the last minute.
Production was due to begin today, with host Maya Jama and the full cast expected to travel to the villa to start filming.
However, ITV bosses made the decision to halt plans after the fire, which was reported to be moving dangerously close to the production site in South Africa.
Sources close to the show confirmed that all contestants and crew members were kept away from the villa as a safety precaution, with filming cancelled for the day.
According to insiders, the decision was made swiftly to avoid any risk should the fire spread further.
One source described the situation as a “major headache” for ITV, explaining that the safety of everyone involved had to come first.
“A fire broke out close to the villa and it was considered too dangerous to have Maya, the cast, or the production team on site,” the source said. “Filming has been cancelled today, and the hope is that it can resume tomorrow if conditions improve.”
The unexpected delay has created pressure for the production team, as Love Island All Stars is scheduled to launch on Monday night, leaving a tight window to capture enough footage.
Insiders admitted that if the wildfire continues to pose a threat, filming could be pushed back further, potentially impacting the show’s planned premiere date.
“It’s a very tense wait for everyone involved,” the source added. “If the fire remains a risk, the launch could be delayed again. ITV will not take chances when it comes to welfare.”
ITV later confirmed the situation in an official statement, saying: “Owing to an ongoing wildfire in the area, we have evacuated the Love Island production site as a precautionary measure.”
The disruption comes just weeks after the full Love Island All Stars line-up was revealed, generating huge excitement among fans.
The cast reportedly includes former winners Millie Court and Jess Harding, alongside well-known Islanders such as Belle Hassan, Whitney Adebayo, Helena Ford, and Leanne Amaning, who make up the initial group of female contestants.
On the men’s side, Tommy Bradley is set to return to the villa just six months after his last appearance.
He is joined by Sean Stone, Charlie Frederick, Ciaran Davies, Shaq Muhammad, and Jack Keating, creating a line-up packed with familiar faces and unfinished storylines.
Adding to the drama, several high-profile bombshells are also waiting in the wings. Olivia Hawkins, Ronnie Vint, Samie Elishi, and Scott van-der-Sluis have reportedly already flown to South Africa and are on standby to enter the villa once filming resumes.
A source previously teased that this year’s bombshells are among the boldest yet.
“The producers have lined up Islanders who aren’t afraid to shake things up,” they said. “They’re ready to step on toes and disrupt established couples from day one.”
For now, Love Island fans will have to wait anxiously for updates as ITV monitors the wildfire situation.
While producers remain hopeful that filming can restart soon, the incident has highlighted how unpredictable external factors can threaten even the most carefully planned reality TV productions.