Love Island: All Stars is gearing up for its explosive third season, promising drama and "unfinished business" when it returns to ITV2 and ITVX on Monday 12 January at 9pm. However, a surprising revelation has emerged about how much the returning fan favourites are actually paid for their villa stint.
Reality TV Pay Gap Exposed
While stars like Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury have built multi-million pound empires after finding fame on the show, appearing on the series itself is far from a lucrative gig. A source has revealed that the entire All Stars cast receives a flat fee of just £2,000 per week.
This means if a contestant stays in the villa for the entire run, they will bank just over £8,000. The source told The Sun: "Obviously it's more than they'd earn doing a regular job, but as far as reality TV salaries go, it's not that huge." They highlighted that the cast could earn significantly more on other shows like Strictly Come Dancing or from club appearances and Instagram promotions.
Why Do They Return?
The motivation for returning, therefore, appears to be exposure rather than immediate financial gain. The source added: "The reason they sign up, however, is nothing to do with the money - it's great exposure which allows them to cash in when they leave the villa."
This pay pales in comparison to other celebrity shows. While the BBC does not confirm figures, it has been reported that Strictly Come Dancing contestants earn a flat rate of around £25,000, rising to £75,000 for finalists – over nine times the potential All Stars earnings.
Meet the Returning Islanders
The line-up for the new season is packed with familiar faces seeking a second chance at love or fame. The confirmed returning Islanders include:
- Millie Court – Winner from series seven, returning after her split from fellow winner Liam Reardon.
- Whitney Adebayo – A fan favourite from a previous series.
- Jess Harding – Winner from series ten.
- Belle Hassan – From series five.
- Jack Keating – Son of Boyzone's Ronan Keating, originally from series eight.
- Other returning stars include Ciaran Davies, Sean Stone, Tommy Bradley, Charlie Frederick, Shaq Muhammad, Leanne Amaning, and Helena Ford.
ITV has teased that the "unfinished business" theme could see exes reunited in the villa. Narrator Iain Stirling commented on the theme, saying: "Yeah, I really like it. It's been sort of unwritten for a while now, isn't it? So it's quite nice to move it into the forefront."
Fan Reaction and Expectations
Viewers have had mixed reactions to the All Stars concept. Some have expressed cynicism on social media platform X, with one user writing: "Something very tragic about the love island all stars concept. Just a bunch of z list people desperately clawing at fame." Another echoed: "What’s the point in all stars?... it’s just a cling for some more fame."
Despite the criticism, many fans are already picking their winners and are excited for the drama. Support is rallying behind stars like Whitney and Millie, with one fan declaring: "My winner already." Another viewer admitted: "Said I was done with love island but this all stars cast is tea."
The Mirror contacted ITV for comment regarding the salary details. Love Island: All Stars launches its third season on January 12.
