The latest ratings for ITV2 flagship Love Island made for grim reading on Tuesday after combined viewing figures fell more than two million short of the impressive numbers set during its 2022 grand finale.
Fans of the beleaguered show had already expressed their dismay after Jess Harding and unpopular late arrival Sammy Root were crowned winners ahead of clear favourites Lochan Nowacki and Whitney Adebayo.
But figures suggest interest in the show, which airs nightly and commanded more than two million viewers an episode at its peak, has dramatically waned following its relaunch in 2015.
Only 1.5 million tuned in to watch as Jess and Sammy won Monday evening’s final, a marginal increase on the 1.1 million who watched Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan win its second winter series in March.
But latest figures represents an alarming change in fortunes and a marked difference from 12-months ago, when an impressive 3.4 million viewers watched Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti win its eighth series across ITV2 and ITV Hub.
Not good: The latest ratings for Love Island made for grim reading on Tuesday after combined viewing figures fell more than two million short of the numbers set during its 2022 grand finale
Increase: The Love Island 2022 finale was watched by 3.4 million viewers across ITV2 and ITV Hub, up 100,000 compared to 2021
On that occasion ratings suggested a 100,000 surge in viewing figures and made it the most successful final since 2019, when Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea claimed the winner’s crown.
However, it was a significant decrease from the opening episode of the 2022 series, during which a whopping five million viewers tuned in.
Despite a dip across its two month run, the eighth series broke streaming records, with over 250 million streams across the series – making it the most watched series ever on ITV Hub.
An ITV2 spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Last night, Love Island came to an end with 1.5m viewers across all devices. It was up on the final of series 9 shown earlier this year by +0.2m viewers.
‘It had 0.5m 16-34 TV viewers, up on the final earlier in the year by +0.2m viewers. It was the most watched programme for 16-34s on any channel yesterday.
‘For 16-34s, Love Island has won the overnight 9pm slot 45 times. That’s over 90% of episodes, excluding Unseen Bits.
‘Love Island has had over 300m streams on ITVX so far this year (based on streams to all series of Love Island).’
TV insiders confirmed to MailOnline that the winter series will be replaced next year with the All Stars season, which will feature Love Island contestants from previous shows filmed not only in the UK but US and Australia.
Low: Only 1.1 million people tuned in to see Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan crowned the winners of Love Island’s winter series in March
What does the future hold? The winter series of Love Island has been axed amid tumbling ratings (pictured, host Maya Jama)
A source revealed: ‘The winter series of Love Island has been axed for a second time… viewers just aren’t interested in watching the show twice a year.
‘It will be replaced by a brand new All Stars series, which will feature former Islanders who are still looking for love.
‘In terms of iconic Love Island stars who are now happily married including the likes of Olivia Attwood, producers are looking into cameo appearances so that they still involve fan favourites from the years gone by.’
MailOnline understands that the All Stars series will be filmed in South Africa and casting producers are currently recruiting single former stars of the show to sign up.
Megan Barton-Hanson, 29, who rose to fame on the 2018 series, is believed to be taking part while Georgia Steel, 25, known for her catchphrase ‘I’m loyal’, is also high on the wish list.
Maura Higgins, 32, star of the 2019 series, was approached but has ruled herself due to now being in a relationship with Hollywood stunt double Bobby Holland Hanton.
She said this month: ‘I can’t see myself ever doing that again, no. I’ve been asked, but I’ve said no. I just think, I’ve done it once, I’ve had my time on Love Island. I don’t really want to go back in time, I want to look to the future.’
A spokesperson for ITV told MailOnline: ‘Love Island returns to ITV2 and ITVX in 2024.’
