Fijian government concerned over Love Island’s sleazy tone of show

Channel 9 producers have reportedly been forced to look in their own backyard to secure a location for the next season of Love Island after their chosen location’s government was concerned about the show.

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Channel 9 producers have reportedly been forced to look in their own backyard to secure a location for the next season of Love Island.

While last year’s much hyped dating series was filmed in Spain, the 2019 instalment was due to be set in tropical Fiji. However the Fijian government was apparently concerned by the sleazy tone of the show and kiboshed the plans.

With Fiji out of the running, Sunday Confidential can reveal a location in sunny Queensland is now on the cards.

Love Island Australia is looking to film in Fiji but the government was concerned about the sleazy tone of the show. Picture: Supplied/Channel 9

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While less glamorous than Spain or Fiji, the new location does have convenience in its favour.

Working to Australian time will make editing and cutting of the program easier for production staff, who struggled with the eight-hour time difference last year.

Love Island follows a group of “gorgeous, young and single” Australians who holiday together with the possibility of finding love.

The new filming location comes as the Sophie Monk-hosted dating series will shift from 9GO! to Nine’s primary channel.

Sophie Monk hosts the show. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

The first season was won by Grant Crapp and Tayla Damir. But the couple split weeks after the finale. Supplied/Channel 9

While last year’s series drew modest numbers to 9Go!, it was an enormous success when live and streaming figures were combined.

The series lured a global audience of 142 million, taking into account television viewers, streaming catch-ups and YouTube viewers.

Casting is currently underway with producers asking reality star wannabes, “do you have the smile, sex appeal and sass it takes to be on Love Island?

Last year’s winning couple Tayla Damir and Grant Crapp only lasted two weeks in the outside world. Damir has since moved on with fellow contestant Dom Thomas.