It appears that bosses at ITV are planning to launch a spin-off Love Island series for the 'middle-aged' with 'normal bodies'.
The news follows calls from fans of the hit show for producers to represent a wider variety of bodies and include older cast members.
Filming for the 'mature series' is meant to start this year if reports in The Sun are to be believed.
The spin-off series is said to have the working title ‘Your Mum, My Dad’, and will feature contestants’ children trying to help their parents find romance, reports The Manc.
“Times change and the current generation in their 40s and 50s still care about how they look, are fit and healthy, into fashion and are ready to let their hair down,” a source told The Sun.
The spin-off will feature contestants’ children trying to help their parents find romance / Credit: ITV
“This show will give those who settled down young a second chance at love while they still feel in their prime.”
The source also suggested that contestants in the proposed new mature series may offer something that the main Love Island series hasn’t achieved – “intelligent conversation”
“They know their minds, will be capable of intelligent conversation, and are likely to be much more adventurous.
“All ingredients regular Love Island sometimes lacks.”
The topic of age has been a significant talking point for Love Island fans right from the start this year, especially after it was confirmed that 19-year-old Gemma Owen, daughter of former professional footballer Michael Owen, would be a contestant – making her one of the youngest to take part in the show’s history.
Her entry sparked numerous online conversations about whether there should be a minimum age to enter the villa, and whether people are emotionally mature enough for the Love Island experience at that formative time in their lives.
The oldest contestants on this year’s series appear to be current contestant Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu at 27-years-old, and Jay Younger and Charlie Radnedge, who were both 28 and have since been dumped from the Island.
While producers are declining to confirm whether there is some truth to the reports, if this “middle-aged” spin-off series does become a reality, ITV hopes it will begin airing in 2023.
Featured Image – ITV
News
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month
Clementine Hall
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd July 2022 
