Love Island Australia to go ahead with a week delay after Byron mayor snub

Nobody said the path to falling in love was easy – but love will find a way when Love Island Australia premieres a week later than originally scheduled. The show will now air Monday, October 11, at 8.45pm after The Block on Channel Nine and 9Now. 

The Islanders must couple up, stay together, and win over the hearts of the public, all while surviving the temptations of beautiful bombshells entering the villa. 

The reality TV show will be hosted by Sophie Monk alongside new addition, comedian Stephen Mullan, as the narrator, and Abbie Chatfield as host of Afterparty each Thursday night. 

There was recently concern about whether or not the program would be going ahead, as fellow ITV Studios Australia program I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here saw a crew member spend time in the Northern Rivers community while infections with Covid. Ultimately, this led to a lockdown of the area.

In response, Byron Shire mayor Michael Lyon said he had “lost all confidence” in ITV. “It shows these protections are still based on an honour system. I thought crew members were going to be limited to within the production, certainly not allowed to be going out and about,” he said.

“I’ve made my position clear to the other councillors, ’m not in favour of [Love Island] anymore. The general consensus is that we’re going to try to rescind the approval.”

Despite this, production will be going ahead.

9Network’s program director, Hamish Turner said: We acknowledge the Mayor’s comments and although disappointing we are planning to ensure Love Island production, which has not commenced filming, is completed within existing regulations to ensure the show is ready for our audiences. All productions are conducted in accordance with the strictest health and safety regulations, testing, and isolation”.

Love Island Australia is produced by ITV Studios Australia for Channel Nine with assistance from Screen NSW’s Made In NSW Fund.