Love Island winners Amber and Greg were handpicked and didn’t apply for the show as it’s revealed only six of the Islanders filled out applications
LOVE Island winners Amber and Greg were handpicked and didn't apply for the show, it has been revealed.
It comes after it was revealed only six of the Islanders filled out applications to appear on the show and the rest were scouted by ITV or celeb agents.
The publication reports that Islanders Joe Garratt, Michael Griffiths, Ovie Soko and Amy Hart applied through the website, while Curtis Prichard and Tommy Fury were put forward by their celebrity agents.
There were 85,000 applications from members of the public this year - but a whopping 83 per cent were found by ITV's casting team or professional agents. In total, 36 contestants appeared on the show.
In written evidence for the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee report, ITV CEO Dame Carolyn McCall said: "On series five of Love Island to date (15 July), there have been 36 contributors.
"24 were found and cast by the programme's casting team, six were put forward by professional agents, and six came through the general application."
She added: "There’s a very rigorous application and casting process.
We get about 98,000 applications for Love Island, they then take that down to about 90 to 100 as soon as they get a call back - at that stage they go through medical questionnaires, psychological questionnaires, assessments, that then goes down to about 30 or 40 who get selected to appear on Love Island."
MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee investigating reality TV had queried how many of the show’s contestants had been approached by members of the casting team in relation to the number that had applied.
A source told Mail Online: "'I'm always on the lookout for attractive people who might fit the bill for Love Island.
"It’s a very rigorous process of screening that goes on before they actually get on to Love Island."
The ITV2 show came to an end on Monday night, which saw Amber Gill and Greg O'Shea crowned season five champions.
The winter series will see hopefuls jet to a luxury villa in South Africa in a bid to find love, which voice over Iain Stirling revealed would be coming to screens sooner than we think.
Applications for the show are already , and will close on 30 November this year - although the closing date may be extended at their "discretion".
Caroline Flack - who has hosted the show since it's debut in 2015 - is already on board the following shows.
We've a special code for Sun readers to use to get 10% off everything in the official Love Island shop - from personalised water bottles, suitcases and wash-bags to Love Burst make-up. Visit and use code SUN10 at checkout. It's valid until midnight on Mon 5 August, excludes postage charges and can't be used along with any other offers.
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