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Forget Blue Monday – this January some of the best TV EVER is returning: Love Island, the winter edition. That's right, a whole new gaggle of islanders are set to be packing their bags and heading to a brand new villa in South Africa for a new season filled with snogging, doing bits and backstabbing and we cannot wait. 

And we've just found out exactly when the new islanders will be gracing our screens in their skimpiest bikinis and bicep-bulging tees: it has been confirmed that Love Island will begin on Monday, 16 January at 9pm on ITV2. SO soon!

And now, new details have been revealed about the launch show – namely that viewers will be allowed to choose the first bombshell that goes into the villa. 

Fans can choose between 25-year-old Ellie Spence, a business development executive, or Tom Clare, a 23-year-old semi-pro footballer from Barnsley. Eek. Voting via the Love Island app opened at 8am on Thursday 12 January and closes at 9pm on Friday January 13. 

We also know that a new host has been confirmed, and it's none other than queen of radio and screen, Maya Jama – and going by the looks of the winter 2023 series trailer, she's going to be EPIC.

In the 30-second teaser, Maya is seen riding a pink velvet bejewelled bucking bronco in a stunning plunging jumpsuit embellished with sparkling stars and moons, saying to the camera, “It's time to grab love by the horns, I am ready, are you?”

The star was officially confirmed as the new host of Love Island back in October, replacing Laura Whitmore, who announced her exit from the ITV2 reality show following its eighth series in August.

Speaking about her exciting new role, Maya said: “I’ve always been such a massive Love Island fan and I’m so excited to be hosting one of the nation’s favourite shows! I can’t wait to get into the Villa to meet all of the Islanders.”

ITV2 controller Paul Mortimer said of Maya’s appointment: “Finding a new host to follow the wonderful Laura Whitmore was never going to be easy.

“In Maya Jama though, we have another high profile fan of the show who’ll be a great addition to the Love Island family. Cool, charming and charismatic, I speak for us all when I say Maya will also bring a unique presenting style to the show, as did Laura and, of course, the very much missed Caroline Flack. We’re very pleased to have her on board.”

In a statement about her departure from the show, Laura paid homage to her late friend, Caroline Flack: “I was only planning to fill in for Caroline for a series and it turned into three series. I hope I did you proud Caroline.”

We think you did a brilliant job, Laura, thank you for your service to all things binge-worthy TV. 

The 2023 winter series of the show will take place in South Africa, in an all-new villa, before returning for its usual summer season in Mallorca. Back in November, pictures of the eco-friendly luxury house was revealed, showing it to be the biggest one yet of all the series, boasting a giant pool and sweeping mountain views, surrounded by palm trees in a protected area in the heart of the Franschhoek wine valley in South Africa's ‘millionaire row.' Sounds pretty dreamy to us.

Show bosses have apparently been working to tighten up the safety of the Islanders after previous villas have seen intruders sneak in.

We're so ready for a bit of escapism. See you on the sofa…

Love Island starts on Monday 16th January at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

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