Love Island bosses have announced a giant twist ahead of the launch show on Monday.
For the first time, the summer season will see the public tasked with deciding which Islanders couple up in the launch show.
It’s a twist that was introduced for the winter series earlier this year and instantly sparked chaos among the Islanders.
The contestants will be announced in the coming days and the public can vote for free on the Love Island app.
Voting opens on Thursday morning at 8am and will close on Friday evening at 9pm.
Watch and see: Love Island bosses have announced a giant twist ahead of the launch show on Monday that is set to leave the Islanders in chaos
Love Island bosses have also announced stars of this year’s summer series will be banned from any social media activity as they unveiled their latest duty of care policy.
Bosses trialled the new policy during their winter series earlier this year, with stars banned from having loved ones update their social media profiles while in the villa, in a bid to reduce trolling.
And in their latest policy, unveiled ahead of the new series on June 5, bosses have confirmed they’ll be keeping this new rule in place.
Stars will also complete video training on topics including mutually respectful behaviour in relationships, controlling and coercive behaviour and language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions.
It comes after the last series was hit by hundreds of Ofcom complaints over ‘toxic’ behaviour from the female stars, with exchanges leaving their male co-stars in tears.
Bosses have formally introduced a guideline asking participants to ‘pause’ their social media accounts for the duration of their time on the show.
This is to ensure the stars and their families are ‘protected from the adverse effects of social media.’
Former star Amy Hart offered her thoughts on this ban, after having her own social media run by a friend during her time in the villa.
She’s back: This summer’s Love Island will see Maya Jama make her return as host presiding over all of the Villa action in Mallorca
She 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.’
Finalist Tasha Ghouri added: ‘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.’
This year’s inclusion training will consist of conversations chaired by BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) founder Leon Mann MBE with DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) consultant Hayley Bennett, disability specialist Shani Dhanda and broadcaster Sean Fletcher.
First introduced in 2022, these discussions will tackle topics including inclusive language and behaviour, creating safe spaces and being a good ally.
Prior to appearing on the show, prospective Islanders will also watch a video fronted by the show’s Executive Producer and Head of Welfare, interviewing former Islanders about their experiences on the show.
This includes details on the two week period before they enter the Villa, how to cope being filmed 24/7, the interaction they will have with producers, the support provided to family, dealing with trolling, and adapting to life away from the show.
All of the stars wil have access to a lengthy aftercare package,which extends support to Islanders after their time on the show.
This year’s stars will also undergo training on financial management, the impacts of social media and handling potential negativity, and guidance around taking on management after leaving the show.
On the show’s welfare procedures, 2021 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 Hart 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.’
Dr Paul Litchfield said: ‘The measures put in place to safeguard the health and wellbeing of Islanders continue to evolve in the light of experience and advances in best practice.
‘Love Island is seen by many as the benchmark for the genre and its rigorous, evidence based approach has helped to raise standards across the industry.’
Dr Matthew Gould added: ‘Maintaining on-going creativity combined with enhanced duty of care is the difficult equation to balance, and significant strides have been made in this respect.
‘It is important not to stifle the spark and spontaneity that Islanders uniquely bring to the format. A determined focus on building the psychological evidence-base will help to maintain this balance.’
Update: Love Island bosses have announced stars of this year’s summer series will be banned from any social media activity as they unveiled their latest duty of care policy
It comes after Love Island’s winter series was hit by hundreds of Ofcom complaints over ‘toxic’ behaviour from the female stars.
Produced by Lifted Entertainment, this summer’s Love Island will see Maya Jama make her return as host presiding over all of the Villa action in Mallorca.
Famed comedian and narrator Iain Stirling returns to voiceover each and every episode of the much-loved format.
Also set to make its return this summer is the official Love Island podcast, Love Island: The Morning After, hosted by Sam Thomspon and Indiyah Polak as they chat through their thoughts on the latest couplings, dumpings and bombshell antics.
Love Island returns on Monday, June 5 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
