ITV fury as Dani Dyer break-up throws its Christmas Love Island special into turmoil
ITV bosses have been left broken-hearted by the decision of Love Island winners Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham to split – because it has plunged two of their high-profile shows into chaos.
Dani took to social media on Thursday to announce the romance was over, just as a publicity blitz for ITV’s Love Island Christmas special was swinging into action.
The couple were also close to finishing filming for Jack And Dani: Life After Love Island, a spin-off show following their relationship, which was due to begin in January.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘This is a disaster. Dani’s announcement came out of nowhere. It is all very embarrassing given that the Love Island Christmas special is being trailed. They are the stars of the show and now there is not enough time to film it all.’
The insider added: ‘ITV know this will affect their ratings. As for the show in the New Year, it is still scheduled to air but, again, it will all appear disingenuous. This split came out of nowhere and nobody had any time to prepare.’
ITV bosses had been grooming Dani, 22, and stationery salesman Jack, 26, to become the ‘faces’ of ITV2 and attract younger viewers and advertisers. It is understood that she was paid a ‘high six-figure’ fee to take part.
While Dani’s chaste behaviour on Love Island won the approval of many of its 3.6million viewers, she today admits her relationship with Jack became harder away from the cameras.
In an interview with You magazine, conducted and printed before the split, she admitted: ‘People said Love Island was testing, but it was a bubble. Coming out, that was the real test.’
Dani, whose father, Danny, is a star on BBC’s EastEnders, said she was disappointed that Jack suggested to a tabloid newspaper that their sex life had been disappointing. But she maintained that he was the outstanding male competitor in the Majorcan villa where the reality show was filmed, adding: ‘There wasn’t anyone fit to tie his bootlaces on Love Island.’