Love Island's winter series is axed by ITV

\'Love Island\'s winter series has been axed.

ITV has already been forced to cancel this year\'s summer edition of the hit show and the broadcaster has now decided to scrap its planned winter version, too.

However, ITV has promised that the programme - which is presented by Laura Whitmore - will be "bigger and better than ever" in 2021.

The broadcaster told MailOnline: "\'Love Island UK\' will return bigger and better than ever with an extended run in summer 2021."

The decision to scrap the summer and winter editions of \'Love Island\' has come amid ongoing uncertainty relating to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pre-production on the winter 2021 series was due to take place in the coming weeks, but due to social distancing measures, the series has proven to be impossible to stage.

Kevin Lygo, ITV\'s director of television, previously conceded it simply wasn\'t possible to shoot the summer edition of the show in the midst of the health crisis.

Speaking earlier this year, he explained: "We have tried every which way to make \'Love Island\' this summer but logistically it\'s just not possible to produce it in a way that safeguards the wellbeing of everyone involved and that for us is the priority.

"In normal circumstances we would be preparing very soon to travel out to the location in Mallorca to get the villa ready but clearly that\'s now out of the question.

"We are very sorry for fans of the show but making it safely is our prime concern and \'Love Island\' will be back stronger than ever in 2021."