‘Love Island’ was watched by 2.9 million people as the new series launched on Monday night (04.06.18).
The reality TV show – which stars the likes of 20-year-old Wes Nelson, an electrical and nuclear systems design engineer – kicked off this year’s run in a big way with a huge audience to start the week with more than double the number who tuned in for the first episode in 2017.
According to the MailOnline, as well as the show’s record-breaking audience, the launch show also hit a peak of 3.4 million viewers shortly after the episode started at 9pm on ITV2.
Comparatively, last year’s launch show was watched by 1.3 million people.
ITV said in a statement: "Last night’s launch is ITV2’s highest overnight rating since records go back, overtaking the previous record holder which was the ‘Love Island’ series three finale (2.6 million).
"Additionally, a peak of 480,000 people watched the simulcast live on ITV Hub.
"52 per cent of last night’s launch audience were 16-34 year-olds with 1.5 million 16-34 year old viewers watching.
"Only ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ on ITV main channel has had bigger audiences for this demographic on any channel so far this year."
The new series – hosted again by Caroline Flack – sees 11 singletons looking for love, including Danny Dyer’s daughter Dani.
Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies were crowned winners last year.
Love Island pulls in biggest ever launch audience
