'I have a greater zest for life now!' Ulrika Jonsson, 55, makes bid to present ITV's 'middle-aged' Love Island since she has 'a wealth of experience in modern day dating'

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Ulrika Jonsson has thrown her hat into the ring to present ITV's latest reality show, The Romance Retreat, which has been dubbed a 'middle-aged' Love Island.

The presenter, 55, claimed she has a 'greater zest for life now', compared to her 20s as she made a bid to bag the job, during Monday's Good Morning Britain.

She said: 'If you're hosting that programme, you should have a wealth of experience in modern day dating which is very different than them olden days where you see and meet people in the pub.

Pick me! Ulrika Jonsson has thrown her hat into the ring to present ITV's latest reality show, The Romance Retreat, which has been dubbed a 'middle-aged' Love Island

'Yes, being single should be a pre-requisite. Just because you've over 50 doesn't mean you've given up in life and you don't want new adventures.

'I have a greater zest for life now than I probably did in my 20s and 30s.'

In an official call out, the network is looking to cast 'vibrant single parents from across the UK who are in search of love'.

The Romance Retreat and will see contestants stay at a luxurious villa in a bid to find love. 

Coming soon: In an official call out , the network is looking to cast 'vibrant single parents from across the UK who are in search of love' 

It seems the show is very similar to it's Love Island concept, however it remains unclear if winners of The Romance Retreat will win a cash prize at the end of the series. 

In recent weeks, fans have been saying they wanted a 'middle-aged Love Island spin off'.

'This is the ONLY dating show where single parents can search for love, by spending time in a luxury retreat, where all the parents have been nominated by their grown up children,' the casting announcement reads. 

Hopeful: The presenter, 55, claimed she has a 'greater zest for life now', compared to her 20s as she made a bid to bag the job, during Monday's Good Morning Britain

Fingers crossed! She said: 'If you're hosting that programme, you should have a wealth of experience in modern day dating which is very different than them olden days'

Producers also gave fans a glimpse at the new villa for the show, with it being a stunning ultra-modern pad in a sunny, but undisclosed location. 

Fans have up until Friday, March 31 to apply. 

It comes after Davina McCall revealed she was 'begging' ITV bosses to hire her to host a 'midlife' version of the programme.

The presenter and fitness guru was 50 when she split from her husband Matthew Roberston in 2017. She is currently dating her hairdresser Michael Douglas.

Exciting: 'This is the ONLY dating show where single parents can search for love, by spending time in a luxury retreat, where all the parents have been nominated by their grown up children,' the casting announcement reads

Davina, 55, now wants to help other older singletons to find love and said the show would be full of 'interesting people' who have 'lived a life'. 

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, she said she has 'no embarrassment or shame about emailing a TV company or the head of a TV company and going 'have you thought about this?' as she revealed she is 'literally begging ITV to let me present midlife Love Island'.

'I could fill a villa in Love Island with middle-aged people with the best back stories you have ever heard in your life,' she told host Stephen Bartlett.

'They've lived a life – they're widows, they're people who have been through horrific divorces. They are people who have split up with somebody and decided they want to try going out with somebody the same sex as them.

'They're like interesting people. I'd watch that show.' 

Davina, who is currently a judge on The Masked Singer, said ITV was looking into a similar show and that they 'might consider' her to host.

She continued: 'I was like, ''I need to present it please''. They said, ''We're looking at something else that's quite similar, we might consider you for that''.

'Well if I hadn't sent them that email in the first place, they wouldn't have thought about me for the other show maybe. 'You've got to make opportunities happen – they never just come to you. Keep walking.'

Candid: It comes after Davina McCall revealed she was 'begging' ITV bosses to hire her to host a 'midlife' version of the hit reality television show Love Island