'Love Island' bosses are reportedly facing a potential insurance crisis.

Laura Whitmore

Laura Whitmore

The upcoming series is at risk of being scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic, with insurance firms apparently refusing to cover the programme if it's filmed outside the UK.

An insider told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper: "Producers are looking at ways of making it work.

"The current plan is to fly crew and contestants out to Majorca two weeks before filming starts and then isolate everyone. But even with these measures, insurance companies won't offer cover.

"ITV can't do the series without insurance. If the series is airing and even just one person tests positive for the virus, the whole thing would have to be shut down immediately. That's too much of a risk without insurance."

ITV bosses are eager to stage the show - which is hosted by Laura Whitmore - because it's one of the broadcaster's most-watched programmes.

However, Kevin Lygo, the head of studios at the company, has admitted it poses a logistical nightmare due to the current social distancing guidelines.

Kevin recently said: "What signal might it be sending out if we're doing a show where everybody is crammed together, slavering over each other, and the rest of the world is told 'Don't go near anyone in the park'?

"I'm a little uneasy about that, so we will make a decision in a proper way quite soon."

Another of the broadcaster's most high-profile shows, 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!', is also said to be at risk of being postponed due to the pandemic.


Tagged in