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Love Island first look teases show shake-up in launch episode

Maya Jama and the male contestants hint at a Love Island twist. (ITV)
Maya Jama and the male contestants hint at a Love Island twist. (ITV)

Love Island is set to return tonight and will begin with a twist in the first episode, early release pictures have shown.

ITV2 has offered fans a sneak peek at what will go down in the launch episode, the first to be hosted by Maya Jama.

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Presenter Jama is shown looking glamorous as she arrives in a helicopter to the South African villa, where she is joined by the first 10 singles who make their big entrance to the show.

Host Maya Jama makes her entrance in a helicopter. (ITV)
Host Maya Jama makes her entrance in a helicopter. (ITV)

Eagle-eyed viewers will spot that the format looks to have had a shake-up for its second-ever winter series, as this time the women take control by picking who they want to couple up with.

In recent series, the show has begun with the women lining up by the pool as the men enter the villa one by one and choose who they want to be paired with.

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But the first photos from episode one show the men meeting with Jama at the firepit this time before lining up by the pool, and the women entering one by one and giving their thoughts on the line-up to Jama.

This series, the men line up for the women to choose from. (ITV)
This series, the men line up for the women to choose from. (ITV)

Of course, as usual if a contestant wants to choose a partner already in a couple, they will have the chance to steal them away at the start of the show.

Viewers will also see a series of bombshell contestants dropped into the villa throughout the show who will shake things up for the existing couples.

Maya Jama gives contestant Lana her pick of partners. (ITV)
Maya Jama gives contestant Lana her pick of partners. (ITV)

The switch back to putting the women in control, which used to happen when the series first launched, may be welcomed by viewers who made huge numbers of complaints to Ofcom over last summer's series.

Complaints were mostly on the theme of misogynistic behaviour from the male contestants, and there was also criticism from Women's Aid over the decision to bring back previous contestant Adam Collard, who had been accused of emotionally abusive behaviour.

Love Island returns tonight at 9pm on ITV2.