Alison Hammond says middle-aged Love Island will be 'much more interesting'

20 January 2023 , 11:13

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Alison Hammond says middle-aged Love Island will be 'much more interesting'

This Morning host Alison Hammond has praised ITV’s decision to launch a Love Island spin-off show for middle-aged parents after applications opened.

ITV announced an official casting call for single parents looking for love as they confirmed the new dating series this week.

The show, titled The Romance Retreat, will have a similar set up to Love Island as contestants make their way to a luxurious villa in the quest for a connection.

Giving wannabes a glimpse of the plush pad, producers released a snap of the stunning villa, but have not yet disclosed its sunny location.

TV presenter Alison told co-host Dermot O’Leary she would like to enter the new ITV series, noting she would need her son to enter her.

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ITV announced an official casting call for single parents (ITV)

She said: “I’m so happy about this. It’s going to be amazing. It’s going to be so much more interesting.”

Smiling at her co-host and guests Gyles Brandreth and Carol Vorderman, she added: “I’m totally eligible. I’m ready.”

The casting announcement for the show read: "This is the ONLY dating show where single parents can search for love, by spending time in a luxury retreat, where all the parents have been nominated by their grown up children.”

A peek at the potential villa to be used on The Romance Retreat (ITV)

While the concept appears similar to the popular ITV2 series, it remains unclear whether there will be a cash prize on offer for the eventual winners. Applications must be completed by March 31.

Fans who have been pleading for a more ‘natural’ cast for Love Island are sure to be impressed with news – as will Davina McCall, who recently admitted she had been ‘begging’ ITV bosses to hire her to host such a show.

Speaking on an edition of the Diary of a CEO podcast, she admitted she doesn't hold any embarrassment or shame in emailing a network's big boss about potential show ideas.

She told host Stephen Bartlett: “I could fill a villa in Love Island with middle-aged people with the best back stories you have ever heard in your life.

Davina McCall wants to present the show (Getty Images)

“They've lived a life – they're widows, they're people who have been through horrific divorces. They are people who have split up with somebody and decided they want to try going out with somebody the same sex as them. They're like interesting people. I'd watch that show.”

Davina is currently a judge on The Masked Singer and admitted ITV had told her they would consider her for a potential new proposal they had set up.

She added: "I was like, ''I need to present it please''. They said, 'We're looking at something else that's quite similar, we might consider you for that''."

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