Love Island: What time does it start tonight and how is the winter edition different from the summer series?

Current season is based in South Africa, bringing sunshine to UK viewers through the winter months

The winter edition of Love Island is well underway.

While the show usually airs during long, light-filled, sweltering summer evenings, this time viewers might be watching it under a blanket with a warm brew.

This is only the second-ever winter edition of the ITV2 show, which hasn’t aired since 2020 due to Covid restrictions. It is also the first series with Maya Jama as the show’s new host.

Here’s everything you need to know, from when tonight’s episode is on to how it’s different from the summer edition.

When is Love Island on tonight?

Love Island airs nightly at 9pm on ITV2 from Sunday to Friday, with an Unseen Bits episode airing every Saturday, and spin-off series After Sun following the show each Sunday.

How long will the series go on for?

The winter edition is expected to be roughly the same length as the summer series – usually eight weeks. This means we can expect the final to air in mid-March.

‘Love Island’ villa in Cape Twon (ITV)

How is the winter edition different to the summer series?

The big difference about the winter edition of Love Island is that it’s filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, instead of in Majorca, Spain.

The property – which has views of Table Mountain – is worth more than £5m, and has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a rugby pitch, a zip line, a 400m running track, and a private lake.

It is said to have 17 bedrooms and is named Ludus Magnus after Rome’s ancient gladiator school.

This season also happens to be the first one in which Maya Jama is the host (taking over from Laura Whitmore).

For the first time, contestants’ socials will be dormant while they’re in the villa in efforts to prevent the “adverse effects of social media”.

And in another unprecedented move from show bosses, viewers have the chance to choose the first male or female bombshell to enter the villa.