Love Island

Love Island axed - Nov 25 2006
ITV has pulled the plug on ailing ’celebrity’ reality show Love Island.

The reality show returned this year with the likes of Bianca Gascoigne and Calum Best and hosts Fearne Cotton and Patrick Kielty.

Celebrity was dropped from the title of the second series and the format was altered.

But the show, which was brought back following a glitzy ITV launch, attracted poor viewing figures.

The grand finale was watched by 4.4 million viewers - down 1.5 million on last year when Jayne Middlemiss and Fran Cosgrave won the title.

In the same month, more than eight million people tuned in to see Tourette’s sufferer Pete Bennett win Big Brother.

At today’s ITV1 season launch, the broadcaster’s director of television Simon Shaps announced that Love Island had been axed.

He revealed that the broadcaster did not know why the second series had not taken off with viewers, but that it had carried out research to find out.

He said: "I thought the show was terrifically made and terrifically produced. I have nothing but admiration for the people who made it, who are now doing I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

"It was a brilliantly-made show. But in the end the numbers were not strong enough."

He maintained that ITV had not made a mistake by making a second series, estimated to have cost £12 million, saying: "The show performed incredibly well in its first series.

"When you recommission a show there’s always an element of risk. These things are not certain."


Love Island 2006

The list of ‘celebs’ not appearing in this years show is endless. (The Cheeky Girls, Jono Coleman and Michelle McMannus are just some of the not so famous names that have been in the frame at various points.) But who are the lucky (desperate?) eleven who will be getting paid to sun themselves on a beautiful island paradise for our viewing pleasure, under the guise of finding love?  And, more tantalisingly, will this series produce another Paul Danan-style creepy loser in love?

The Lover Islanders have already been pictured limbering up for Monday’s start of the matchmaking show by lounging around the pool and (if they’re female) undertaking the first of what will no doubt be numerous bikini changes. Just in case you are finding it hard pressed to recognise who these people are and why they’re looking for love, we look at the celebrity and love credentials of the final line-up.

Sophie Anderton
Who? Sophie is probably better known for her battles with drink and drugs, than for her modelling. She is an old hand at this reality TV lark, having appeared in I’m a Celebrity…. She claims to have now conquered her demons, and to prove this point, recently completed the London Marathon in 5 hours and 49 minutes.
Unlucky in love? Split with fiancé, night club owner Mark Alexiou last year, had a tempestuous four year relationship with disgraced former Chelsea goalkeeper, Mark Bosnitch, recently seen getting cosy with Guns ‘n’ Roses front man, Axl Rose.

Alicia Douvall
Who? Glamour model. Notorious party girl. Kiss and tell queen. Surgically enhanced bedmate to the stars. Hit pay-dirt with a brief engagement to cross-dressing basketball star, Denis Rodman and once claimed to be carrying P Diddy’s child.
Unlucky in love? Douvall’s list of romantic conquests reads like a role-call of the usual party-curcuit lotharios. As well as Diddy and Rodman, she has been linked to Mick Hucknell, Shaggy, Jack Nicholson, Lee Ryan, Dane Bowers, Dwight Yorke, Simon Cowell and Dean Gaffney.

Colleen Shannon
Who? Playboy’s 50th Anniversary Playmate, model, actress, DJ and musician (we’ve given her website the benefit of the doubt.) And now, Love Island contestant.
Unlucky in love? You’ve only been in the UK five minutes, and already Calum Best is coming on to you. The party boy sent a bottle of wine over to Colleen’s table when she was over here Djing recently. Unfortunately a mix up saw the bubbly going to Rooney’s missus, Coleen McLoughlin, instead.

Kelle Bryan
Who? The former member of Eternal has recently started performing again with ex-band mates Esther and Vernie Bennett. However, Kelle wasn’t invited to Esther’s wedding to fellow contestant, Shane Lynch, so there may be some bad feeling there.
Unlucky in love? Split from long-term partner Renee.

Bianca Gascoigne
Who? Paul Gascoigne’s step-daughter and the youngest of the 11 hopefuls. When not searching for love in tropical Fiji, she is a fashion buyer for Di Millo’s boutique in Harrods and a self-confessed party girl.
Unlucky in love? A bit too young to have collected much in the way of ex’s.

Lady Victoria Hervey
Who? The past-IT girl and former boutique owner moved to LA a few years ago to pursue a career in acting. The result? A five-line role in thriller, RX. Recently announced she was quitting acting.
Unlucky in love? Jamie Theakston, linked to Steve Coogan at this years Cannes Film Festival

Shane Lynch
Who? Ex-Boyzone singer-turned soap actor and born again Christian. Has taken a vow of celibacy so we’re not expecting too much love action from this contestant. Shane is also no stranger to reality TV, having appeared in The Games.
Unlucky in love? His ex-wife is former Eternal singer, Esther Bennett.

Leo Ihenacho
Who? Who, indeed. Probably the least recognisable of this year’s line-up, Leo is apparently in dance act The Streets.
Unlucky in love? Sorry, but that’s about all we know.

Lee Otway
Who? Played David “Bombhead” Burke in Hollyoaks. You may also recognise him from Soapstar Superstar and Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes (he was Richard Marx.) Could Lee be this years Paul Danan?
Unlucky in love? Lee has managed to keep his love life under wraps. Or maybe no-one cares.

Brendan Cole
Who? As a regular dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, Brendan has developed a reputation as the show’s resident bad-boy and ladies’ man. Famously dumped fiancée and fellow dancer Camilla Daller for his celebrity partner, newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, though the relationship didn’t last. Also told another dance partner, GMTV presenter Fiona Philips, that she’d “make a crap s**g, love.” Charming.
Unlucky in love? See above.

Chris Brosnan
Who? Producer and adopted son of Pierce. Celebrating sobriety after years of drug addiction which landed him in jail on more than one occasion. 
Unlucky in love? Ex’s include Sophie Anderton which could make for interesting viewing.

… and Paul Danan. Yes, Danan is set to be the secret “surprise” guest in series 2 so will be getting another chance to exercise his pathetic wooing techniques. Lets face it, he needs all the help he can get.

By Cher Tippetts, MyVillage, 10th July