‘Love Island’ bosses are considering abandoning plans to stage a winter version of the reality dating show in South Africa because of safety concerns for the contestants.
Producers on the ITV2 programme – which is hosted by Caroline Flack – had arranged to set up the villa in Cape Town for the series scheduled to air in January 2020 but there has been a spike in violent gang-related crimes in the city with new figures showing that the murder rate has risen to 12 murders a day which rises to approximately 50 killings at weekends.
The deaths are related to gang feuds over the drug trade and President Ramaphosa has even sent in the army to some of the most violent areas of Cape Town to try and get the situation under control.
The Daily Star newspaper reports that ‘Love Island’ producers are now considering a different location for the series in order to ensure none of the contestants are put in any danger during their time on the programme.
It is the second problem to hit the planning stage of the programme.
It was previously reported that health and safety experts were going to have to be drafted in to rid the villa of venomous snakes, poisonous spiders, scorpions and hungry big cats.
A source said: "Health and safety experts will be specially drafted in to help look out for deadly snakes and other poisonous creepy-crawlies. There will be a specialist medic on hand, too, so contestants can get urgent medical attention.
"This is a very different kettle of fish to filming in mainland Europe.
"The South African outback is a hive of wildlife activity and exactly why it is a top destination for safaris. Scorpions and spiders are likely to be lurking in contestants’ shoes – these won’t kill you but they will put you in hospital if you’re bitten."
Love Island bosses rethinking Cape Town for new villa
