Love Island Australia’s future in doubt after host Sophie Monk appears on rival network 10 for The Masked Singer
The future of Channel Nine’s Love Island Australia is uncertain after host Sophie Monk appeared on rival network 10 this week.
The blonde bombshell was unveiled as one of the contestants on 10’s The Masked Singer on Monday night, leading to speculation that her contract with Nine could be done.
A third season of Love Island Australia was first thrown into doubt back in March, due to to the coronavirus outbreak.
Will it be back? The future of Channel Nine’s Love Island Australia is uncertain after host Sophie Monk appeared on rival network 10 this week. (Pictured: Sophie on The Masked Singer)
Nine’s programming director Hamish Turner told TV Tonight at the time that the network was in discussions with ITV over the future of the show in light of the ‘current circumstances’ surrounding the pandemic.
‘Last time we were discussing what the future of that held and where we were going to shoot. That conversation has obviously shifted again with the current circumstances that we’re in,’ he added.
‘We’re still working with ITV if there is a show this year how you can get that to air.
End of an era? The blonde bombshell was unveiled as one of the contestants on 10’s The Masked Singer on Monday night, leading to speculation that her contract with Nine could be done. (Pictured: Sophie on Love Island)
‘We’re obviously in extraordinary times and there are certain things out of our control that have put a bit of a spanner in the works. We’re working through those at the moment.’
However, rumours that the show would in fact return started back up in May.
While the series suffered low ratings last year, its huge online presence has gained interest from the network’s biggest rival.
Popular: While the series suffered low ratings last year, its huge online presence has gained interest from the network’s biggest rival. (Pictured: Jessie Wynter)
Nine had been keeping the final verdict for the dating reality show ‘up in the air’ for months, but TV Tonight reported that Channel Seven is keen to buy the rights to the popular dating series.
According to TV Tonight, Seven are hoping to grow the audience of their streaming service 7Now with the show.
The publication reports that Seven wants to swoop in and snatch up rights to Love Island Australia, as well as the UK version of the series.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Nine for comment.
Change: Rumours have swirled that Channel Seven could buy the rights to Love Island Australia. (Pictured: Natasha Webster)
Monday night’s episode of The Masked Singer saw Sophie revealed as the Dragonfly.
After taking off her mask, judge Jackie ‘O’ Henderson admitted to feeling like an ‘idiot’.
The radio star, 45, had previously called close pal Sophie to ask whether she was in fact Dragonfly on an earlier episode.
‘I’m so sorry, darling. I am so sorry,’ Sophie, 40, told Jackie after having lied to her.
‘Do you know how hard that was for me? Keeping that lie for that long,’ she added.
It’s me! Monday night’s episode of The Masked Singer saw Sophie revealed as the Dragonfly