Sam Thompson will no longer be performing Love Island: Aftersun.
The former I’m a celebrity… Get me out of here! winner is a regular customer on the Love Island has been on the panel of the spin-off program since 2023, but this year he will not be involved much because he is busy with other projects.
A source said The sun in the Sunday paper: “Sam’s schedule is packed and producers are going in a different direction, so there will be some commotion at Aftersun.”
They continued: “ITV are keen to leverage new talent, especially by picking from their pool of influencers and TikTokkers to boost ratings.”
“Sam may return as a guest, he still loves the show, but he won’t be a regular,” the insider said.
A spokesperson for the former Made in Chelsea star confirmed that Sam has taken a step back to focus on his “many other” presenting projects.
His rep said: “Sam absolutely loved his time as part of the Love Island team and the show will always have a special place in his heart, but he felt 2026 was the year to focus on his many other ITV projects.”
“Sam is a huge part of the ITV family and is looking forward to his upcoming presenting role on the I’m A Celeb South Africa Finale,” the spokesperson added.
Love Island: Aftersun is also led by host Maya Jama, but was not aired in conjunction with the recent broadcast Love Island All Stars for logistical reasons.
An insider explains: “They didn’t have Aftersun last time either because Maya is based in South Africa during filming. Flying her back and forth to London for a short show just isn’t practical.”
“It’s about making everything work seamlessly without compromising the main show,” they further said.
Meanwhile, Sam recently admitted that having a reality TV background can be a “double-edged sword” when it comes to career advancement.
During a screening of his new YouTube documentary, Sam explained: “It’s weird, isn’t it? Because when you do reality TV, I started in my early 20s, and you do this stuff and in the beginning there was no social media, right?”
He also said, “So you do these shows and right afterward you go get another job, whatever that is, and it was a fun time in your twenties.”
“And then you do this show and the industry kind of pops up in your face when all these doors happen, you try to walk through the doors and they’re closed really tight,” Sam Thompson explained while discussing how being a part of reality TV can sometimes affect a person.
