Davina McCall, 55, to present ‘Love Island for middle-aged people’ after pitching an idea to ITV bosses

ITV are hiring Davina McCall as the host of a new dating show called ‘Love Island for Middle Ages’.

Network sources say he is about to agree to host The Romance Retreat, in which single parents will live in a villa.

They told The Mail on Sunday that Ms McCall, who floated the idea and has become an unofficial spokesperson for middle-aged women, was their number one choice.

Beach babe: Davina McCall, 55, is signing on to ITV as the host of a new dating show dubbed ‘Love Island for the middle-aged’

“Davina is the perfect fit, she’s bubbly, fun and has endured her own relationship issues as well,” a source said. “Until she met her boyfriend, she was also a single mom.”

Ms McCall, 55, described her idea earlier this month on Steven Bartlett’s podcast, The Diary of a CEO, saying: “I could fill a villa on Love Island with middle-aged people with the best stories background music you’ve ever heard in your life”.

They have lived one life: they are widows, they are people who have been through horrible divorces. They are people who have separated from someone and have decided that they want to try dating someone of the same sex. They’re like interesting people. I would watch that show.

New program: Network sources say that he is about to agree to present the program The Romance Retreat, in which single parents will live in a villa

New program: Network sources say that he is about to agree to present the program The Romance Retreat, in which single parents will live in a villa

'Young buck': The Mail was told on Sunday that Ms McCall, who pitched the idea and has become an unofficial spokesperson for middle-aged women, was their number one pick (summer 2022 cast)

‘Young buck’: The Mail was told on Sunday that Ms McCall, who pitched the idea and has become an unofficial spokesperson for middle-aged women, was their number one pick (summer 2022 cast)

The ITV website recently promoted a search for contestants for the series, saying: ‘ITV1 is looking for vibrant single parents from all over the UK who are looking for love, for a new dating show!

“This is the ONLY dating show where single parents can find love, spending time in a luxury retreat, where all the parents have been nominated by their adult children.”

McCall, a mother of three, a judge on the ITV show The Masked Singer, was first married to Andrew Leggett, but they separated after only a few months.

She divorced her second husband, presenter Matthew Robertson, in 2017 and is now with hairdresser Michael Douglas, 48. They moved in together before Christmas.

One of Ms McCall’s first television roles was on the Channel 4 dating series Streetmate.

The show saw her scour the country looking for singles and then try to find them her perfect match by grabbing passersby in hopes of finding love.

Hosting duties: The Mail was told on Sunday that Ms McCall, who pitched the idea and has become an unofficial spokesperson for middle-aged women, was their number one choice (pictures as a judge on The Masked Singer )

Hosting duties: The Mail was told on Sunday that Ms McCall, who pitched the idea and has become an unofficial spokesperson for middle-aged women, was their number one choice (pictures as a judge on The Masked Singer )

Villa: The Romance Retreat and will see the contestants stay in a luxurious villa in an attempt to find love (pictured winter 2023 villa)

Villa: The Romance Retreat and will see the contestants stay in a luxurious villa in an attempt to find love (pictured winter 2023 villa)

in an official yellthe network seeks to cast “vibrant single parents from across the UK who are looking for love”.

The Romance Retreat and will see the contestants stay in a luxurious villa in an attempt to find love.

It appears that the show is very similar to its Love Island concept, however it is unclear if the winners of The Romance Retreat will win a cash prize at the end of the series.

Last week, Ulrika Jonsson threw her hat into the ring to introduce the show before Davina’s name was even mentioned.

The 55-year-old presenter stated that she he has a “greater zest for life now” compared to his 20s, when he made an offer to take the job, during Good Morning Britain on Monday.

She said: ‘If you’re hosting that show, you need to have a great deal of modern dating experience, which is very different to the old days where you see and meet people in the pub.

Yes, being single should be a prerequisite. Just because you’re over 50 doesn’t mean you’ve given up on life and don’t want new adventures.

“I have a greater zest for life now than I probably did in my 20s and 30s.”

Hopeful: Last week, Ulrika Jonsson, 55, threw her hat into the ring to introduce the show before Davina's name was mentioned

Hopeful: Last week, Ulrika Jonsson, 55, threw her hat into the ring to introduce the show before Davina’s name was mentioned