‘I manifested and it came true!’ Davina McCall, 55, CONFIRMS she will present ‘Love Island for oldies’ The Romance Retreat after ‘begging’ ITV producers to let her participate
Davina McCall has been confirmed as the new host of ITV’s upcoming reality show The Romance Retreat.
The former Big Brother host will take the reins on the new series, dubbed Love Island for Old Men, after being linked with the show earlier this year.
Confirming her involvement on Thursday, McCall, 55, admitted she had pleaded with ITV broadcasters to let her headline the show, which is expected to air later this year.
In a video posted to his Instagram page, he said: ‘I made it happen. I wanted there to be a new awesome dating show for adults.
‘People who have lived a life, have gone through bad, moving, hard, hard experiences. They have baggage but they deserve love.
And it is happening. It’s coming to ITV1 soon and we want to know if you want to be on it.
New role: Davina McCall has been confirmed as the new host of ITV’s upcoming reality show The Romance Retreat, dubbed ‘Love Island for oldies’
Dream come true: Confirming her role on Thursday, McCall admitted that she begged ITV broadcasters to let her headline the show, which is expected to air later this year.
Captioning the video, she wrote: ‘OMG…I came out and it came true! I’ll be hosting a NEW adult dating series for ITV1!
‘This is a show for single parents who have lived a life, have stories to tell about their past dates and deserve another chance at love and I’ll help you. Everything will take place in the most romantic place on the field!
We are still casting, so if you want my help finding love and you have a child over 18, what are you waiting for? (particularly eligible men… where are you?!’
He concluded the post, writing: ‘Sign up here itv.com/beontv It’s going to be AMAZING!’
McCall’s announcement comes after the network announced in January that it was working on casting for the show.
A spokesperson for the channel said: ‘ITV1 is looking for vibrant single parents from across 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.”
In January ITV sources revealed that he was about to agree to present the show, in which single parents will live in a villa.
They told The Mail on Sunday that McCall, who floated the idea and has become an unofficial spokesperson for middle-aged women, was their number one choice.
“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.”
McCall described his idea earlier 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 backstories 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.
The ITV website initially promoted a search for contestants for the series with the announcement: ‘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.”