SLIM PICKINGS FOR ITV
Love Island bosses defend lack of plus size cast for new series and say ‘we want them to be attractive and fall in love with each other’
LOVE Island bosses have defended this year’s line-up of slim and chiselled contestants after saying they wanted different “shapes and sizes”.
In a U-turn on their body-positive vow to be more representative, they insist the boys and girls must be as good looking as possible.
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The latest series of ITV’s hit dating reality show features the usual mix of preened and athletic-looking wannabes.
They include Scots gym owner Anton Danyluk, 24, Geordie beauty therapist Amber Gill, 21, and Irish scientist Yewande Biala, 23.
Love Island boss Richard Cowles said: “We try and be as representative and diverse as possible but first and foremost it’s an entertainment show.
“It’s about people wanting to watch and them reacting and falling in love with another. Yes, we want to be as representative as possible but we also want them to be attracted to one another.
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Caroline Flack gives fans a tour of her Love Island dressing room, the contestants bedroom, and the villa garden
“I’m not saying everyone that’s in there is how you’re supposed to look, what we’re saying is they are a group of people we want to watch for eight weeks and we want to watch them fall in love.”
This year’s line-up includes a scientist, businessman, beauty therapist and a boxer – while in previous series the show has been famed for featuring models and personal trainers.
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Angela Jain added: “We’ve really tried again to have a real range of personalities, people, hopefully there’s somebody in there for everyone and a bit of a slice of British life.
There were calls for Love Island to be axed after the former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis committed suicide.
Bosses issued a statement earlier this year outlining changes made to their aftercare program, which now includes “pre-filming psychological and medical assessments” and at least eight therapy sessions.
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In light of the new procedures, Angela said: The level of scrutiny has changed and the profile of the show has changed – its entirely normal to keep evolving those after care procedures that in no way is going to impact the editorial.
Our duty of care is always first and foremost. We really care about the show and those islanders.”
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