ISLE BE BACK...

5 more years of TV hit

LOVE Island is set to stay on telly for five more years, we can reveal.

The reality series has been a huge ratings hit this summer and the biggest show in ITV2’s history.

Channel boss Angela Jain, inset, told the Daily Star Sunday: “It is a show that will evolve and live and breathe.

“My hope is that it is going to be on telly for the next five years. So who knows where it will go.”

Love Island is now considered a “jewel in the crown” for ITV.

This series, audiences have been peaking at almost four million viewers.

And it regularly pulls the most viewers in the plum 9pm slot. One instalment even beat the BBC flagship soap EastEnders.

A show insider said: “Love

Island was a hit last summer and ITV bosses were thrilled. But this series has been even bigger.

“It is pulling in a large number of younger viewers which makes the show very appealing to advertisers.

“Love Island is a key brand for ITV now. The plan is for it to become a firm fixture in the network’s schedule.”

Producers are keeping viewers hooked with shock twists and regular evictions. Ratings tend to spike when contestants are axed.

Big Brother lost out to Love Island in the ratings last summer.

Channel 5 bosses were so nervous of another thrashing this year they have delayed this year’s series until the autumn.

Our source added: “When Love Island was revived in 2015, producers joked they wanted to kill off Big Brother. “And three years on it looks like they might have done just that. “Channel 5 have still not even announced when BB will be back. “Usually it would be in full swing, but this summer there’s no sign of it. They know they have no chance of getting viewers while Love Island is on.”

Love Island’s success was cemented earlier this year when it won at the prestigious BAFTA TV Awards.

It took home the best reality and constructed factual category at the awards.