Love Island producers have revealed the duty of care procedures for the upcoming series of the show – and former islanders are on hand to help out.
ITV, Lifted Entertainment and Motion Content Group have unveiled the new guidelines only weeks before the 10th series returns to our screens.
New contestants on the dating series will be offered a full package of measures in order for them to be supported prior to, during and after the filming of Love Island.
The series is now set to formally introduce the guidelines after an initial trial period, asking contestants to pause all social media accounts during their time on the show to ensure both the islanders and their loved ones are protected from online hate.
The Love Island Duty of Care policies and procedures are reviewed following each season fo the show and feedback is given from previous contestants.
Tasha Ghouri, who appeared on the eighth series, said: “I think this is great and needs to be done. I believe it’s 100% the right step in the right direction, I could see there was a lot less trolling and negativity.”
While season five’s Amy Hart said: “I didn’t really take into account when I went into the villa that although my best friend was really excited to run my social media account, it was me that signed up to do the show, not my family and not my friends.
“But it was them that had to read the death threats and it was them that had to read the horrible messages.
“Whereas when I came out, I came out to a great reaction because of the way that I left, and they were the ones who had a hard time when I was in there.”
Showrunners have also added that those on the show will be given psychological support, an aftercare package and guidance on taking on management after the show.
All islanders on the series will watch a video fronted by the show’s Executive Producer and Head of Welfare ahead of the series’ start date which will see former islanders discussing their experiences.
This will include details of the two weeks before heading into the villa, how they coped being on camera 24/7, the interactions with producers in the villa, the support given to family, social media trolls and adapting to life again outside the villa.
Series seven winner Liam Reardon said: “I found the welfare chats helpful as it gave us a chance to have a small break from Villa life and being able to talk to someone off camera.
“It was nice to speak to someone every few days who wasn’t in the villa and who were there to just listen or offer advice. The psychiatrists were a big help too for when times got a little hard.”
Amy added: “The welfare team were really supportive after I left. I also had a lot of therapy with the therapist I had in the villa, so it was lovely to have that continuation of care, and ITV were really supportive of that.”
Under these new measures, islanders will now need to complete video training and guidance on varying topics including respectful behaviour in relationships, behaviour patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviour and language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions before ever meeting their fellow islanders.
