By Amy Adams, Love Island Superfan
Listen up, reality TV fans, because the tea is piping hot: the BBC’s Stranded on Honeymoon Island, touted as their answer to Love Island, is reportedly facing the axe after just one season. Despite a hefty £5 million budget and Davina McCall’s star power, the show tanked in the ratings, pulling a measly 848,000 viewers for its September 3, 2025, premiere on BBC One—barely edging out a Nazi U-boat documentary on BBC Two! By its third episode, viewership plummeted to 517,000, and critics like The Sun’s Ally Ross branded it a “horror show.” So, what went wrong with this tropical dating experiment? As a Love Island stan, I’m diving deep into why Stranded sank, how it compares to our beloved villa drama, and what this means for reality TV fans. Grab your cocktail and let’s unpack the mess!
The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Ratings Disaster
When Stranded on Honeymoon Island debuted on September 3, 2025, the BBC had high hopes it would capture the Love Island magic for a broader audience. Instead, it was a ratings flop from the jump. The premiere’s 848,000 viewers were dwarfed by ITV’s Long Lost Family, hosted by Davina McCall, which pulled over 2 million in the same 9pm slot. By Friday’s episode, viewership crashed to 517,000—outshone by Jeremy Clarkson’s Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on ITV with 1.4 million. Ouch.
A TV insider didn’t hold back, telling The Sun, “These are abysmal viewing figures by anyone’s standards, but for a prime-time slot on BBC One, it’s beyond belief.” They pinned the blame on a mismatched format: “Trying to create something with a flavour of Love Island, then serving it to a traditionally mature audience, was a terrible idea.” The £5 million price tag—covering flights for dozens of contestants and crew to the Philippines—only made the sting worse. Fans on X echoed the sentiment, with one posting, “#StrandedOnHoneymoonIsland feels like Love Island’s awkward cousin. BBC One? Really? This belongs on E4. 😬” Another quipped, “£5M for 500k viewers? My tax money deserves better! #BBCFlop.”
What Was Stranded on Honeymoon Island Anyway?
For those who missed it (and apparently, many did), Stranded on Honeymoon Island was the BBC’s bold attempt to mix Love Island’s steamy romance, Married at First Sight’s commitment drama, and Survivor’s survival stakes. The setup? Twelve singles speed-date for five minutes, get paired by experts, “marry” in a non-binding ceremony, and spend 21 days stranded on a tropical island in the Philippines. No phones, no luxuries—just beach huts, bugs, and each other. Hosted by Davina McCall, the show promised to test if love could bloom in isolation.
Contestants like Hannah, 29, and Helen, 35, raved about the “authenticity” of stripping away modern distractions, with Hannah telling the BBC, “It’s less superficial. You’re not told what conversations to have.” But critics weren’t buying it. Ally Ross called it “12 gobby exhibitionists having a tax-funded holiday,” slamming its misplaced home on BBC One instead of a youth-driven channel like ITV2. Fans on X agreed: “Why is the BBC trying to outdo Love Island? Stick to dramas and docs! #StrandedOnHoneymoonIsland.”
Want the full scoop on the show’s premise? Check our beginner’s guide to reality dating shows for context on how Stranded fits into the genre.
Why Did Stranded Flop So Hard?
So, why did a £5 million show with Davina McCall’s charm crash and burn? Let’s break it down, Love Island style.
1. Wrong Channel, Wrong Audience
The BBC aimed to pull younger viewers to BBC iPlayer, but plopping Stranded on BBC One, known for mature hits like Call the Midwife, was a head-scratcher. Love Island thrives on ITV2, targeting 18-34-year-olds who vibe with its cheeky drama. Stranded’s older cast (average age ~30) and serious “social experiment” vibe felt out of place for BBC One’s audience, who weren’t ready for speed-dating shenanigans. One X user summed it up: “BBC One for a Love Island knockoff? My gran turned it off in 5 minutes. #StrandedFlop.”
2. Repetitive Format, No Spark
Critics panned the pacing—inews called it “mind-numbingly repetitive” as each couple’s journey (speed date, fake wedding, island life) followed the same formula. Unlike Love Island’s constant bombshells and recouplings, Stranded lacked dynamic twists. The Guardian praised the “endearing” cast, but even they couldn’t save a setup that felt like “Married at First Sight meets Survivor without the thrill.” Compare that to Love Island USA Season 7’s non-stop drama (check our Season 7 cast update), and Stranded just couldn’t compete.
3. Budget Backlash
That £5 million budget became a lightning rod for criticism. Flying contestants and crew 13,000 miles round-trip to the Philippines didn’t help when viewers saw “beach huts and bugs” instead of glossy villa glamour. The Daily Mail’s Christopher Stevens called it “tasteless” and a “mockery of marital vows,” arguing the BBC squandered public funds. Fans on X were livid: “£5M for Stranded? I could’ve produced Love Island for half that! #BBCWaste.”
4. Competition Crushed It
Stranded aired against heavyweights like ITV’s Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and even BBC Two’s U-boat doc. Meanwhile, Love Island USA and Love Is Blind UK were dominating streaming platforms. The BBC’s claim that “overnight ratings don’t define success” in an “on-demand world” didn’t convince fans, who pointed out iPlayer views weren’t saving it either. One X post nailed it: “Why watch Stranded when I can binge Love Island USA on Peacock? #Priorities.”
Dive into our Love Island USA vs. UK comparison to see why ITV’s formula keeps winning.
Davina McCall Isn’t to Blame
Let’s be clear: Davina McCall isn’t the issue. Her Long Lost Family doubled Stranded’s viewers in the same slot, proving her star power. On Stranded, she only appeared briefly at the speed-dating kickoff and finale, leaving fans wanting more. “Davina deserved better than this,” one X user wrote. “She’s reality TV gold, but Stranded was a snooze.” Davina herself hyped the show’s “deep learning” about relationships, but even her charm couldn’t save a sinking ship.
Fan Poll: Should Davina host another dating show?
- Yes, she’s reality TV royalty!
- No, stick to Long Lost Family.
- Only if it’s on ITV2.
Drop your vote in the comments or on X with #LoveIslandStarPoll!
How Does This Compare to Love Island’s Success?
Love Island (UK and USA) thrives on a simple formula: hot singles, a glossy villa, and endless drama. Stranded tried to mimic the romance but added survival stakes that felt forced. Love Island USA Season 7’s Nic and Olandria, for example, kept fans hooked with their VMA red carpet debut (read our Nic and Olandria VMA breakdown). Stranded’s cast, while likeable, didn’t spark the same buzz. The Guardian noted their “gorgeously endearing” vibe, but without Love Island’s recoupling chaos, it fell flat.
Stranded also missed Love Island’s social media game. X is flooded with #LoveIslandUSA posts, while #StrandedOnHoneymoonIsland barely trended. Check our guide to Love Island’s social media impact for tips on how shows build fanbases.
The BBC’s Reality TV Curse?
This isn’t the BBC’s first reality flop. In 2023, Joel Dommett’s Survivor reboot cost £30 million but averaged just 2.6 million viewers, leading to its cancellation. Stranded’s failure raises questions about the BBC’s reality TV strategy. Are they chasing trends instead of playing to their strengths? Fans on X think so: “BBC should stick to The Traitors. Leave dating shows to ITV2. #StrandedOnHoneymoonIsland.”
What’s next? The BBC might pivot to iPlayer-focused micro-series or lean on proven hits like The Traitors. For Love Island fans, this is a reminder of why ITV’s formula reigns supreme. Want to compare more reality flops? Our top reality TV fails of 2025 has you covered.
What’s Next for Stranded’s Cast and Fans?
With cancellation looming, what happens to Stranded’s couples? Contestants like Hannah and Helen won hearts with their raw authenticity, but without a second season, their stories might fade. Fans are already petitioning on X: “Give #StrandedOnHoneymoonIsland a shot on iPlayer! The cast deserves it.” Meanwhile, Love Island fans can keep up with villa stars like Huda Mustafa’s NFL moment.
Got thoughts on Stranded’s flop? Drop them below or tag us on X (@LoveIslandStar). Subscribe to our Love Island Star newsletter for the latest reality TV tea!
