ITV is reportedly planning to bring back the Winter edition of Love Island early next year.

The dating show has been a mainstay of the ITV2 summer schedules since 2015, bringing in ratings in excess of 6 million viewers to the channel.

In 2020 the programme's success led ITV to launch a Winter version, albeit based in South Africa rather than Mallorca and airing over January and February.

Shortly after the series ended the coronavirus pandemic struck, leading ITV to cancel the main summer 2020 edition of the show and putting the Winter edition on ice.

According to The Sun, however, now that most coronavirus restrictions have been removed, producers are planning to bring back the Winter edition in January 2023.

"Love Island bosses enjoyed the one and only series of Winter Love Island, but it was just before the pandemic raged so was shelved for 2021," a source told the newspaper.

"When they started casting for this summer's series they thought there's definitely enough talent to do a second series again so have started the plans for a 2023 Winter Love Island.

"The series generally is really important for them as it attracts the all-important younger viewers, so if they can get a second series in one year then everyone will be delighted."

This year's Summer edition is scheduled to begin on ITV2 early next month.