- POPSUGAR Australia
- Celebrity
- What’s Happening With Love Island Australia? Here’s What We Know
What’s Happening With Love Island Australia? Here’s What We Know
by
Basmah Qazi
Channel Nine
Love Island Australia is scheduled to air on October 4, but things are off to a rocky start. It all began when a crew member from I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here tested positive to COVID-19, threatening the future of the dating reality show.
After the case came to light, Byron Bay, the Tweed Shire and Kempsey in northern NSW plunged into a snap seven-day lockdown.
Both Love Island Australia and I’m A Celeb are produced by ITV studios.
Mayor Michael Lyon issued a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday, saying that he is assessing the situation and is looking to revoke council approval for the production of the show.
“I am looking into our options this morning to rescind Council approval for the Love Island production, from the same studios that brought I’m A Celebrity, and COVID, to the region,” he wrote.
He continued to explain that despite enforcing a 14-day isolation period for all cast and crew, it seems that measure will simply not be possible.
“As part of that approval issued recently, which allows them to film for longer than 30 days in Federal, I insisted on a 14-day isolation period whereby any cast or crew coming from an area with cases would not come into contact with people from our region.
“It is clear that this is not possible to implement given what has happened in the last few days. Council approval was only one part of the process, it hasn‘t yet had ministerial approval so I’d say it is unlikely to proceed.
“It is so devastating to be in lockdown again and it is clear the ‘honour’ system relied on by the state government is deeply flawed.
“It is worth noting that people coming here for work don’t actually have to show a negative Covid test, this was thankfully part of the filming protocol that allowed this early detection.
“Perhaps our calls for a tightening of restrictions will now finally be heeded.”
The reality show, which was inspired by the UK format, was expected to bring $5 million to the local economy.
Earlier in the week, it was reported a fully vaccinated woman from the crew travelled from Sydney to Byron Bay and visited multiple non-essential locations while infected with the virus.
A spokesperson for Nine has said: “We are working with production and authorities as we find a way to deliver the show for our audience.”
But while the Mayor’s threats do hold weight, the chances of the show getting canned is unlikely. According to TV Blackbox, the council does not have the authority to halt production.
