LOVE Island has become the latest show to face an uncertain future following the Global Coronavirus pandemic, and the upcoming 2020 summer series has reportedly been AXED, Politicalite can exclusively reveal.

The show – that is usually filmed in Majorca on the Balearic Islands, part of Spain in the summer is facing crisis amid the Coronavirus pandemic, and with no end in sight to the global health crisis – the show is not likely to air this year, an ITV insider told Politicalite.

“The show has been put on Hiatus until 2021 given the global pandemic, it’s not possible to film or broadcast the show given the current climate.”

“The show will most likely return for another Winter series given the current situation” said the source.

Spain has closed its border to foreigners amid the Coronavirus crisis.

In the last four days, the number cases detected in the Balearics increased by 1.88% compared to the national level of 1.94% but there’s still a long way to go.

Another four people died in from Covid-19 on Friday, taking the number of fatalities to 26 reported local media. 

This weekend the number of people killed after testing positive for the COVID-19 rose by 838 to with 6,528 dead and 78,797 cases.

SPAINISH LOCKDOWN

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez recently toughened Spain’s lockdown – closing all non-essential workplaces in Spain to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

“These are very tough, sad, bitter days. But they are decisive because they are the ones in which we have to measure ourselves. And then we will have an entire life to remember that in the difficult times, resisting, united, Spain made the grade,” he said.

LIVE TELLY IN CRISIS

LIVE Telly – a stalwart of ITV output is facing crisis – and the channel is scrambling to fill schedules amid the pandemic that has halted the majority of ITV productions. 

ITV bosses were said to have held ‘crisis talks’ over a number of shows affected by Coronavirus – including Saturday Night Takeaway, The Voice, Corrie and the future of BGT and now, Love Island.

ITV hasn’t seen such a crisis since the technicians strike of 1979 – in which the network was forced off the air for THREE MONTHS. 

Years later ITV is facing it’s biggest crisis – with ratings winners such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale having to suspend filming with emergency plans to ‘ration’ remaining stock of episodes that are stockpiled until the early summer – but with Government plans to extend the lockdown – it looks like major shows will be taken off air or rationed. 

“ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday 23 March.” the broadcaster said last week.

“We’ve been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the Government’s latest health guidelines, to ensure we’ve episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer.”

“However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming.

Daytime hits such as Loose Women and Lorraine have been placed on hiatus – with the daytime airing repeats and Lorraine Kelly joining Piers Morgan for an extended GMB from 9-10am.

“We’re focusing our efforts on providing to viewers the latest news on the rapidly changing situation which aims to offer some stability and continuity in all our lives whilst so many of us are at home right now,” said ITV.

“That’s why we have taken this tough decision to protect our GMB News programme in the morning and keep This Morning on air for as long as possible”.

Live shows such as Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night takeaway were forced to air clips of previous shows in this weekends edition and The Voice is airing ‘best bits’ after Live shows were cancelled over COVID-19.

The pre-recorded shows of the upcoming season of Britain’s Got Talent will air in April but due to social-distancing rules, the live shows will not air until it is safe to do so said a source familiar with the plans.

The moves show just how much COVID-19 is affecting the Entertainment in Britain and the world.

We have contacted ITV for comment but have not yet received a reply.