Love Island 2020: First look at brand new South African villa

The brand new winter edition of Love Island is set to kick off on January 8, 2020.

Ahead of the show’s return, stunning aerial shots of the brand new villa have been unveiled, showing construction underway on the luxurious abode as the ITVBe show prepares to host a new batch of sexy singletons.

The spacious abode, which is allocated in South Africa’s most exclusive area, Constantia, looks even more lavish than the show’s usual Mallorcan villa – and twice the square footage.

Owned by businessman John Schooling, the property is rumoured to be rented out for R2 million per month, the equivalent of roughly £105,000 pcm for the four-month period including construction time. 

The first look images show local workers working hard under the blazing sunshine in order to get the villa ready in time, putting the finishing touches in place ahead of the reality show’s grand return. 

The spacious property boasts a contemporary style and features floor-to-ceiling windows, providing contestants with breathtaking views. 

Shipping containers can be seen at the edge of the compound as the race against the clock begins – with just two months left to perfect everything. 

Host Caroline Flack has already been out to visit the villa, shooting the promos ahead of the first ever winter edition of the programme.

The debut winter series will air in the second week of January – but the show will run for two weeks less than the summer season.

Insiders confirmed to MailOnline last month that staff working on the show are jetting off to Cape Town, South Africa, on New Year’s Day and have a week to prepare before the launch on January 8.  

Islanders will meet in a brand new villa that has been built especially for the show, with Iain Stirling, 31, returning as narrator as well as host Caroline. 

The new cast will fly out just days before the series begins, but bosses will recruit ‘test Islanders’ in the lead up to ensure they know the best places to create maximum drama.

A TV source told MailOnline: ‘The new Winter Love Island will launch the second week of January.

‘Bosses are still deciding on the final date but it is thought to be January 8 – a week after staff arrive in South Africa.

‘It has been decided that the show will run for six weeks instead of the usual eight.

‘The new cast of singletons fly out just days before the launch but bosses work with test Islanders to uncover the best spots in the villa to create drama.’