Love Island could finally include LGBT contestants
Love Island (ITV)
We were all pretty taken with the last season of Love Island.
Whether we had a soft spot for Kem, muggy Mike or even Marcel and his underhand tactics, we found ourselves glued to the show in spite of ourselves.
Yet beyond the fake tan and the eight-packs laid one gnawing problem – not a single gay person was included in the show.
Even in 2016, bi contestants Sophie Gradon and Katie Salmon paired up on the programme, but were told to romance a man if they wanted to be in with a chance to win the £50,000 cash prize.
But now, a source close to the series said that LGBT singletons will be cast in the 2018 series.
(ITV2)
“Love Island was undoubtedly the biggest reality show this year, it had everyone talking. Even people who weren’t watching the show still heard about it,” said a source to The Daily Star.
“The main thing they came under fire for was sex on TV, which people have now started to accept, so come next series people won’t really care about that. ITV want to increase the shock factor of the show and keep people talking, by having LGBT people included,” they added.
Although we’re not entirely sure what is shocking about the inclusion of LGBT people, it makes for a welcome u-turn from the bigwigs behind the programme.
Previously, the show’s creator said that the format ‘didn’t allow’ for gay couples.
“The format doesn’t really allow it. If you’re familiar with the programme, it’s about coupling and recoupling. To complicate it with same-sex relationships is to take something away from the format,” said ITV 2’s Head of Digital Channels, Paul Mortimer.
“I know Richard (the show’s exec producer) said, maybe with tongue-in-cheek, that we might do a gay version one day.”
Think you’ve got what it takes to make the 2018 series? You can apply here.
