ITV’s highly anticipated reality series Love Island: All Stars has been hit with yet another setback, as filming has been postponed for a second time due to escalating wildfires near the show’s South African villa.
The disruption comes just days before the spin-off series was scheduled to launch, raising fresh concerns about the production’s future and its tightly planned broadcast schedule.
The new season, which brings back familiar faces from previous editions of Love Island for another chance at romance, was originally set to begin filming over the weekend, with the first episode due to air on Monday.
However, ITV confirmed on Saturday that the launch episode had been cancelled following emergency road closures caused by nearby fires.
According to reports, the situation worsened overnight as firefighters continued battling multiple blazes in the Wemmershoek area, not far from the villa’s location.
Local authorities worked through the night to contain the fires, which have been fueled by extreme heat, strong winds, and prolonged dry conditions across parts of South Africa.
A source close to the production told UK media that executives had little choice but to delay filming indefinitely until the area is officially declared safe.
“Bosses have no choice but to wait,” the insider said. “The desire is to resume as soon as possible, but health and safety assessments are ongoing and will not be rushed.”
In a statement released by ITV, the broadcaster emphasized that the wellbeing of cast and crew remains the top priority.
“Further to a production evacuation owing to ongoing wildfires in the area, our assessment of the location site has concluded that filming will need to be postponed,” the statement read.
“Health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first, and therefore the transmission of Love Island: All Stars will be delayed until a date to be confirmed.”
The Love Island villa is located at the Ludus Magnus Estate, roughly an hour outside Cape Town in the Western Cape.
While the villa itself has not been damaged, it was evacuated as a precautionary measure earlier this week.
Residents in surrounding regions—including parts of the Eastern and Western Cape—have also been forced to flee their homes as fires spread through several communities.
The production delay is a significant blow for ITV, particularly given the strong buzz surrounding the All Stars format.
The confirmed line-up reportedly includes two former winners, high-profile finalists, and contestants whose past relationships remain a talking point among fans.
Names linked to the series include Whitney Adebayo, Millie Court, Belle Hassan, Helena Ford, Jess Harding, and Leanne Amaning, alongside male Islanders such as Jack Keating, Shaq Muhammad, and Tommy Bradley.
Adding to the turbulent start, host Maya Jama also revealed she had been battling flu symptoms just days before traveling to South Africa.
Sharing an update on social media during her long-haul flight, the presenter admitted she was feeling unwell but hopeful that sunshine and rest would help her recover in time for filming.
As wildfires continue to affect large parts of the region, ITV has not confirmed a revised launch date.
For now, fans will have to wait as producers monitor conditions closely, with safety taking precedence over the show’s return to screens.