Love Island 2022: Launch episode of series eight beats last year’s debut as 3million tune in – 500k more than last series – to watch latest crop of singletons move into Mallorcan villa
- The figures are an increase on last year’s opening episode, which was watched by 2.47million viewers – and peaked with 2.9million
- The series eight launch averaged 2.4million viewers and had the biggest TV audience of the year for younger viewers with 1.1million betwen 16-34
- With overnight ITV Hub viewing on non-TV devices (PC, mobile and tablet) included, the average audience rose to 3 million viewers across devices
- Latest news and updates on all of your favourite Love Island contestants
Love Island‘s launch episode peaked with 3million viewers on Monday night as legions of viewers watched the latest crop of singles move into the Mallorcan villa.
The figures are an increase on last year’s opening episode, which was watched by 2.47million viewers – and peaked with 2.9million – after facing competition from Euro 2020 and Wimbledon.
The series eight launch averaged 2.4million viewers across the 90 minutes and had the biggest TV audience of the year for younger viewers with 1.1million betwen 16-34.
Success: Love Island’s launch episode peaked with 3million viewers on Monday night as legions of viewers watched the latest crop of singles move into the Mallorcan villa
With overnight ITV Hub viewing on non-TV devices (PC, mobile and tablet) included, the average overnight audience rose to 3 million viewers across devices.
The show also had a million more viewers than the overnight audience for any Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime programme launch in 2022 to date.
The launch also had a bigger audience than the programming on Channel 4, Channel 5 and BBC Two combined.
The 2021 series – which aired in January and was filmed in South Africa, had 2.5million tuning into it’s launch episode.
Audience: The figures are an increase on last year’s opening episode, which was watched by 2.47million viewers after facing competition from Euro 2020 and Wimbledon (host Laura Whitmore pictured)
The show has yet to reach the heights of its 2019 series, which had 3.3million tuning in to the first episode.
The series kicked off with a dramatic twist as viewers were given the chance to vote for this year’s first couples for the first time, but romances have already been put to the test with the arrival of hunky bombshell Davide Sanclimenti.
The couples at the end of episode one were Gemma Owen and Liam Llewellyn, Amber and Dami, Indiyah Polack and Ikenna Ekwonna, Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page and Luca Bish and Paige Thorne.
Love Island producers have confirmed to MailOnline that while food-eating challenges have been scrapped, sex is still on the menu, and they will assess each moment of pleasure between the Islanders on a case-by-case basis.
Popular: The series eight launch averaged 2.4million viewers across the 90 minutes and had the biggest TV audience of the year for younger viewers with 1.1million betwen 16-34.
Asked by MailOnline if the 2022 series will show sex scenes unlike last year, executive producer Mike Spencer admitted there was no black out ban in place.
He said: ‘We don’t decide anything in advance. You just don’t know until you see the footage, genuinely, we are so reactive we are cutting around the clock.
‘If something happens, we are cutting it overnight so until you see something it is hard to make a judgment and you just have to go with what is right.
‘The show does get it right, it’s suggestive and funny, music is a massive thing, and we will continue to do that but until we see it it’s difficult to tell and it depends on who it is.’
The new villa, which is Love Island’s third, is located just 10 minutes from last year’s base but bosses were keen to give the show a ‘glow up’ ahead of its eighth series.
Average: With overnight ITV Hub viewing on non-TV devices (PC, mobile and tablet) included, the average overnight audience rose to 3 million viewers across devices
And the emphasis is on size, with bigger bedrooms, and more outdoor space, giving the 12 hopefuls lots of opportunity for romance to blossom.
Mike said: ‘We decided we wanted to have a new summer. We have a new designer on board called Patrick Watson and we viewed quite a few villas and this one was by far the best.
‘We want the viewers to tune in and know it’s Love Island but with a glow up. We started construction two months’ ago and the villa still isn’t finished.’
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITV Hub. Episodes are available the following morning on BritBox.
LOVE ISLAND 2022: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
Paige Thorne
Name: Paige Thorne
Age: 24
Location: Swansea
Occupation: Paramedic
Who is their type on paper? ‘In Swansea there is just no-one I can find.
I haven’t got to swipe. So, hopefully they can just come to me now!
‘I came out of a relationship and I was just so done with guys. Then I was like, ‘Ok, I’m bored now’
Indiyah Polack
Name: Indiyah Polack
Age: 23
Location: London
Occupation: Hotel waitress
Who is their type on paper? ‘It’s quite hard to date without being influenced by social media and stuff like that.
Love Island is a great place to get to know someone one-on-one.
I don’t think I have ever been out with two guys who are quite the same.’
Tasha Ghouri
Name: Tasha Ghouri
Age: 23
Location: Thirsk
Occupation: Model and dancer
Who is their type on paper? ‘My dating life has been a shambles.
This is an opportunity for me to find ‘the one’ and have a great summer at the same time.
I’m definitely ready for a relationship. I’m 23 now so I’m ready to get to know someone and travel with them.’
Gemma Owen
Name: Gemma Owen
Age: 19
Location: Chester
Occupation: International Dressage Rider and Business Owner
Who is their type on paper? ‘I am open to finding love, I’m wanting to have a really fun summer.
I would say I’m fun, flirty and fiery. I think I’m good at giving advice, I’m a good person to talk to, I’m very honest.
If I want the same guy, I’d do it but in a nice respectful way.
Andrew Le Page
Name: Andrew Le Page
Age: 27
Location: Guernsey
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Who is their type on paper? ‘When I’m with someone I’m very loyal.
I’m a good boyfriend as when I’m with someone I’m all for them.
I’m actually single for once, so I thought why not?
This is the best time to give it a go.’
Luca Bish
Name: Luca Bish
Age: 23
Location: Brighton
Occupation: Fishmonger
Who is their type on paper? ‘I prefer to meet girls out and about. I think when you go looking for it, it’s not as easy though, it’s like you’re too desperate for it.
If I think you’re the one or I like you, I’ll take you out on a date but other than that, if we talk and I don’t like where it’s going – then I won’t be throwing out dates.
Dami Hope
Name: Dami Hope
Age: 26
Location: Dublin
Occupation: Senior Microbiologist
Who is their type on paper? ‘I will be talking to different girls, it might not go well with some.
When I’m actually in a relationship, I think it’s a star sign thing.
I’m an Aries but I’m very passionate – I always used to put that person first. I’m really good at being in a team’.
Liam Llewellyn
Name: Liam Llewellyn
Age: 22
Location: Newport, South Wales
Occupation: Masters Student
Who is their type on paper? ’22 is a really nice age to meet someone, you’ve got your years ahead of you so you have time to grow together.
Love Island is a great opportunity to meet someone, you’re in with a load of different types so you can get to grips with what you really like.’
Davide Sanclimenti
Name: Davide Sanclimenti
Age: 27
Location: Rome (lives in Manchester)
Occupation: Business owner
Who is their type on paper? ‘A lot of English girls actually love me.
They love to be around me and I love to be around them. I want to find my soulmate.
Find my person so I can actually build something in the future, grow with them, be a family. ‘
Ikenna Ekwonna
Name: Ikenna Ekwonna
Age: 23
Location: Nottingham
Occupation: Pharmaceutical Sales
Who is their type on paper? ‘I’ve only been in one past relationship but now I think I’m at the age where I could find someone.
Hopefully, I’m going to bring spontaneity and excitement.
I’m not really shy to speak to people I don’t really care too much about what people think.’
Amber Beckford
Name: Amber Beckford
Age: 24
Location: London
Occupation: Nanny
Who is their type on paper? ‘I don’t like guys that show off.
I don’t like flashy guys – just have a personality and make me laugh.
There was this one guy and he was trying to purposefully show off his car keys and we were literally in the middle of a restaurant!’
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Originally posted 2022-06-07 12:32:15.