This Summer’s most talked about TV hit, Love Island, will return for a brand new series in 2018.

The seven week series has seen its islanders’ antics become one of the country’s biggest conversation topics, with record ratings making it ITV2’s most successful format amongst 16-34s.

Now in its third series, fully aggregated data, which is currently available up until 9th July, shows that Love Island has to date hit a top total cross-platform audience of 3.8 million viewers (for the episode broadcast on 7th July).

This top total audience saw Love Island attract 2.044 million viewers on live and VOSDAL overnights, with a further 871,000 viewers time-shifting this episode and watching it back within a window of 1-7 days via their TV set, as well as a further 897,000 online views, either simulcast views through ITV Hub or catch up through ITV Hub on non TV platforms (ioS, Android, ITV.com) bringing the combined total audience across platforms for this episode to 3.8 million viewers.

In terms of Live and VOSDAL overnight TV ratings, Love Island is averaging 1.7million viewers/8.8% share of viewing so far across the series to date – which is up 744,000 viewers/+79% year-on-year and is more than triple the audience of series one.

In terms of TV consolidated ratings, Love Island has attracted a top audience of 2.9million viewers/13.4% share. The series so far has averaged 2.4 million viewers with a 10.1% share of viewing, which is up nearly one million viewers/64% year on year. (Consolidated data is currently available up until July 16th).

Younger audiences are driving the ratings, with the series averaging (for Live and VOSDAL overnights) 936,000 viewers/a 30.2% share of 16-34s which is up 90% year on year and is more than four-times the 16-34 audience achieved by series one. Looking at consolidated data for 16-34 viewing, Love Island is to date averaging 1.4 million 16-34 viewers per episode, and a 32.3% share which is up by over half a million viewers/67% year-on-year. For 16-24s Love Island is averaging 685,000 viewers per episode, and a 41.7% share of their viewing (up 51% year year).

The series, which sees sexy singletons searching for love in a sunshine paradise, has generated numerous watercooler moments, with the exploits of couples including Kem and Amber, Camilla and Jamie and Olivia and Chris keeping viewers gripped throughout the Summer.

Head of Digital Channels & Acquisitions Paul Mortimer said:

“At ITV2, we couldn't be more thrilled with how Love Island fever has gripped the nation. Now established as the perfect series to start the summer, we’re delighted to be bringing the show back for our young  adult audience in 2018.”

ITV Studios' Creative Director for Entertainment, Richard Cowles, said:

“We are delighted that viewers have embraced Love Island so wholeheartedly; it has become the most talked about show of the summer.  We are thrilled that we will be back with a new series next year.”

Love Island is an ITV Studios and Motion Content Group co-production.

Notes on aggregated audiences:
Non TV catchup and simulcast data is comparable with BARB's TV data, the calculation is as follows:
Based on average 000s (rather than requests or unique browsers).
Based on viewing in the 7 days following transmission (rather than the full 30 days of availability).
Based only on the specific episode (rather than all current available episodes).
Assuming one viewer watching tablet / mobile / PC / Mac.
Total measured consumption is divided by the programme duration to give average viewing.

Press contact: 
justin.jeffreys@itv.com

Watch highlights from 2017's season of Love Island, below: