The Love Island final attracted a peak audience of more than 4 million viewers on Monday night, making it ITV2's most-watched programme ever. The dating show, which saw Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham crowned winners, averaged 3.6 million viewers, with around half in the coveted 16-34 age range.
The audience figure does not include the 1.9 million live stream requests on ITV Hub, nor viewers of spin-off shows Aftersun and Hot List. The success comes despite the final clashing with the Africa Cup of Nations final, which angered some viewers on social media.
Love Island has become a cultural phenomenon, convincing young audiences to watch live television at a set time. The show's format has been sold internationally, with Australian and German versions already airing, and a US version reportedly in development.
The programme has also generated significant revenue through merchandise, selling 260,000 official water bottles at £15 each, and boosting the careers of its winners, who now earn money as Instagram influencers.
