Love Island fans were left scratching their heads after ITV2 mistakenly broadcast an erroneous promotional graphic before the latest episode of the reality dating show. The blunder occurred as viewers tuned in on Monday, July 13, to watch the program, which is now in its 13th series.
Continuity Announcer's Mismatch
As is standard for most broadcasters, the episode was introduced by a continuity announcer. The voiceover stated: "The World Cup is all about finding the perfect match, and so is this, just with more flirting. With strong language and adult content, forget the golden boot, we're chasing the ideal partnership now on ITV2, it's brand new Love Island." However, the on-screen graphic displayed the CITV logo instead of anything related to Love Island.
CITV, which stood for Children's ITV, originally aired as a late afternoon programming slot on the ITV network before becoming a dedicated channel in 2006 on Freeview. From 2023, its content was accessible via ITVX Kids, with some programs airing on ITV2 during early morning slots. The channel was completely axed earlier this year, though a 24/7 live stream for children remains on ITVX.
Fan Reactions on Social Media
Unsurprisingly, Love Island enthusiasts were baffled by the error, which seemed to promote a children's brand right before an adult-oriented show. Many took to social media to react. One fan posted: "Did ITV mean to advertise CITV before Love Island?" Another admitted: "As a TV nerd I cannot explain the excitement I just felt at ITV2 accidentally using the CITV ident before Love Island like that. Sooooo hilarious." A third asked: "Why did it say CITV? Girl this is definitely not a kids programme." And one commented: "What do you mean ITV2 just used a CITV ident to go into Love Island."
Series Milestones and Spin-Offs
The 13th series of Love Island has marked several firsts, including the time of day Islanders entered the villa and the early introduction of two bombshells. Presenter Maya Jama has returned for hosting duties while also attending World Cup fixtures in the USA. A new spin-off vodcast titled The Debrief, featuring three former Islanders from the previous series, analyzes all the drama. Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
