SAM THOMPSON is stepping down from his role on Love Island: Aftersun.
I’m A Celeb winner Sam has appeared as a regular on the panel since 2023, but won’t be involved this summer.
Sam Thompson will not be returning for Love Island: Aftersun Credit: Getty
He appeared on the show for three years Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
An insider reveals: “Sam’s schedule is jam packed and producers are going in a different direction so there’ll be a bit of a shake-up on Aftersun.
“ITV is really keen on harnessing new talent especially plucking from their pool of and TikTokkers to boost ratings.
“Sam may well return as a guest, he still loves the show, but he won’t be a regular.”
A spokeswoman for Sam said: “Sam absolutely loved his time as part of the team and the show will always have a special place in his heart, but he felt 2026 was the year to concentrate on his many other projects.
“Sam is a big part of the ITV family and is looking forward to his imminent I’m A Celeb South Africa Final presenting role.”
The former last appeared on the show with co-stars , , Joe Baggs and Ash Holme, while hosted the programme.
The show didn’t air along with this year due to .
A TV insider told The Sun: “They didn’t have Aftersun last time either because Maya is based in South Africa for the duration of filming. Flying her back and forth to London for a short-run show just isn’t practical.
“It’s all about making things work seamlessly without compromising the main show.”
The news comes after ITV viewers slammed Sam’s new show, Celebrity Sabotage, when it debuted last month.
The show sees Sam, along with , and , attempt to foil the success of contestants on fake tv shows.
The celebs are given zany missions where they must sabotage the fake challenges of the unsuspecting contestants all while being directed by the other stars who are watching from a control room in ‘Celeb HQ’.
Examples of some of the stunts included Sam dressed in a suit of armour in a room with contestants who were filming a promo video and then sneakily replace the SD card in the camera when they were not there.
By successfully pulling off their mission, the celebs add to a prize point for the contestants, unbeknownst to them.
He previously starred on the show with Amy Hart, Joe Baggs, Ash Holme and Indiyah Polack Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
In the first episode of Celebrity Sabotage, former Dragons’ Den star stepped in to host The Applicant, a counterfeit version of BBC’s .
Viewers were left and they flocked to X to share their thoughts.
“How has Saturday night entertainment come to this?” asked one person on the social media platform.
Another added: “Abysmal for prime time Saturday.”
And a third wrote: “Is this what prime time Saturday night television reduced itself too? Juvenile idiot, left-wing comedians paying their bills off our misery. Sterile for the TV how far we have fallen.”
As well as Aftersun and Celebrity Sabotage, Sam also hosted I’m A Celebrity: Unpacked in 2024.
He also currently presents two shows on Hits Radio, The Hits Radio UK Chart Show and his own Saturday morning show.
It comes after his new show, Celebrity Sabotage was panned by viewers Credit: ITV
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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