Love Island might 'do an I'm a Celebrity' and find a new location, while X Factor might not return, says ITV’s director of television.
Kevin Lygo has been discussing the future of some of the channel’s most popular programmes - and says that although things are generally going well at ITV, some series are suffering a few more setbacks.
During coronavirus lockdown, all production was ceased, with only some of the programmes, such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale finding a way to start back up again safely with strict social distancing measures in place.
But some of the channel’s biggest entertainment series, including Love Island and X Factor, are not quite so certain.
After all, how can you socially distance in a hot tub?
Most recently, I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! was announced to be making a return, but in a very different location at a castle in North Wales as opposed to the Australian outback.
And this could perhaps be a model that Love Island could follow in the future, said Mr Lygo.
Talking about the dating series, which is usually filmed in Mallorca, the next series of which was postponed until next year, he explained that ITV were “assuming it will return”.
He told the virtual Edinburgh TV Festival: “It’s a really important show and a wonderful show. I think we took the decision with a heavy heart to cancel the winter series. In the summer, look, it’s a long way away and so we hope we’ll be there (in Spain).
“They are shooting it now in America, they’re doing it in Las Vegas… there are ways, you know - you isolate people beforehand, so at this stage it is still a long way away and we will proceed along the basis that we are going to do it.
“If we don’t do it in Mallorca, maybe we’ll have to think like I’m A Celebrity, we’ll find a new place to do it or something. We need it and we are assuming it will return”.
Asked if The X Factor will definitely make a comeback in 2021, and what changes will be made to the format, Kevin Lygo explained that nothing was in stone.
“It’s not definitely returning, it might return,” he replied.
“It was our most successful entertainment show for the best part of a decade and you need to be wary of changes, there were too many changes towards the end of the run.
“I’m sure X Factor will be back at some stage, it’s really when is the right moment.
“Simon (Cowell) controls it, when does he want it to come back? How does he want it to come back? And hopefully we can be a part of it.”
