Season 3 (Australia)

**Season 3** is the third season of the Australian version of Love Island, hosted by Sophie Monk and premiering October 11th,2021 on 9Now.

## Production

Due to Covid restrictions the third season of the show didn't air during 2020, however during the Nine network's upfront presentation in September 2020, it was confirmed that the show would indeed be returning for a third season in 2021. This would later be reaffirmed by Channel 9 on April 8th,2021, upon the opening of the auditions for the third season.

At that time, host Sophie Monk's future on the show became uncertain as it had also been revealed that she'd be hosting another show; "Beauty and the Geek". However these fears were later quelled by Channel 9 on July 19th,2021 when the channel announced that Sophie would indeed be returning to host the third season of the show.

During Channel 9's 2022 upfront showcase on September 21st,2021 , it was confirmed that this season would start airing from October 4th,2021. However 2 days later on September 23rd, it was revealed that a member of the production crew for the show had managed to contract COVID which shut the surrounding area into a snap-lockdown. Due to the backlash from the local government of Byron Bay's backlash, the season's start-date was pushed back to October 11th,2021 instead.

### Casting

Auditions for the third season of the show, were officially opened by Channel 9 on April 8th,2021. Like with the previous seasons, producers were looking for young and attractive single boys and girls who are between the ages of 19 and 32. To take part in the show , by filling out an application and sending in an audition video.

### Villa

During Nine's upfront in September 2020, it was confirmed that the show would be filming in a villa situated in Gold Coast, Australia. This was later changed to being a villa that'd be located in Queensland, Port Douglas where Sophie Monk was situated. However thanks to COVID restrictions being in put into place by the state's premier, the show was forced to move to another villa situated in the small town of Federal, that's just 25 minutes from Byron's Bay.

The first pre-construction images of the new villa were released September 17th,2021. The villa in question is a one-floor luxury villa, featuring 5 bedrooms, a large indoor kitchen area, bathroom, lounge and a number of outdoor seating areas alongside the pool. On September 23rd,2021 it was revealed that a member of the production crew had contracted COVID, forcing the local area into a snap-lockdown. This fact put the production of the show at odds with the local government who were adverse to allowing them to film the show after the COVID case, with the mayor looking to try and shut-down production on the show. However this being said, the producers announced on September 26th,2021 that they were still looking to go ahead with the show, while keeping in line with the COVID-restrictions.

## Islanders

Channel 9 started to officially reveal the initial line-up for the third season on October 1st,2021, revealing the first 4 islanders who would be taking part. The rest of the line-up will be revealed at a later date.

## References

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