Love Island 2021: You can now apply for a place in the villa on TINDER ahead of epic summer comeback
LOVE Island’s next crop of contestants might be familiar to some Tinder users – and they might even have swiped right on the next TV show star.
That’s because, for the first time, those looking for love can now apply to appear on this year’s show directly through the popular dating app.
From March 22, Swipe Cards will appear in between Tinder members’ stack of potential matches.
They then have to simply swipe right on the Swipe Card and their official Tinder profile will be submitted to the Tinder team for review and verification.
If selected, Tinder members will then be added to a Priority List and guaranteed to be seen by the casting team.
Renate Nyborg, EMEA General Manager at Tinder, said of the exciting partnership: “Bringing together the world’s most popular dating app and an iconic dating show is the perfect match!
“Tinder has the UK’s widest and most diverse community of singletons, so as this long-awaited dating season heats up, being on Tinder can change everything…
“Whether that’s sparking new connections, or kicking off your journey to the Love Island villa!”
Simon Daglish, ITV Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, said: “We love when brands like Tinder couple up with our programmes and it’s a perfect partner for the hugely anticipated return of Love Island this summer.”
Earlier this year, ITV bosses confirmed the matchmaking series – last filmed in South Africa – would make its return.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo has confirmed Love Island will be back this year as he announced the channel’s bumper schedule for 2021.
“There’s so much to look forward to on ITV this spring and into summer, with the Euros and the return of Love Island, but much more besides,” he said.
Bosses promise there will be “lots of twists and turns” in the hotly anticipated new series.
ITV bosses say viewers can expect shock recouplings, unexpected splits and dramatic exits.
Love Island has not been air since its first – and so far only – winter edition concluded in February last year.
Earlier this year The Sun reported producers have struggled to make the sun-kissed show, which has filmed in Spain and South Africa, work amid Covid restrictions.
Asked if Love Island would be filming in the UK this summer, Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of the channel, admitted: “I genuinely don’t know.
“We will want to put Love Island on air because it’s been off air for a little while. We didn’t do it last summer. We are looking at all our options at the moment. The pandemic makes it hard.”
Most read in Reality
An insider told The Sun that sites in Devon, Cornwall and Wales – where I’m a Celebrity relocated to – have been put forward for a 2021 series in their search for perfect back-up locations if they can’t film in Mallorca.
Contracts for this year’s show have Mallorca written into them but a source said there were back-up options on the table if travel restrictions meant travel to the country were to be off limits.
An insider explained: “In a perfect world Love Island would be filmed at original villa they use in Mallorca.
“But the pandemic has meant contingency plans are more important than ever and other locations have been discussed for the show.”