Convicted criminals have been caught trying to snag a spot on Winter Love Island after show bosses included the government’s disclosure and blocking service in their background checks.
All potential contestants go through a rigorous screening service before being accepted on the show, including STD tests and criminal background checks.
The show bosses are also scrutinizing the islanders’ social media for disturbing material and conducting assessments of the islanders’ physical and mental health.
Several former offenders attempted to star in the show during applications for this year’s series, which ended Monday when Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan were crowned the winners.
A source told The Sun: “We’ve never had a #MeToo horror pop-up because we don’t move on with a potential candidate if we find anything disturbing about their story along those lines.”
Banned: Convicted criminals have been caught trying to snag a spot on Winter Love Island after show bosses implemented the government’s disclosure and blocking service into their background checks (pictured: Love Island host Maya Jama)
The insider continued, “We’ve tightened all controls even further as part of a pledge to do more to protect our islanders.
“It also sets a clear standard that certain behaviors are not accepted or ignored when they occur.”
ITV has been contacted for comment.
Ahead of the start of the winter series, ITV shared its comprehensive package of welfare measures for program contributors to ensure stars receive full support before, during and after filming.
As part of expanded measures to protect islanders and their families from “the adverse effects of social media,” contestants were asked to pause handles and accounts on their social media platforms for the duration of their time on the show.
In addition, before entering the villa, the islanders received guidance and training on how to behave in mutually respectful relationships.
Resource links were offered to participants to “educate themselves before meeting their fellow islanders to help them identify negative behaviors in relationships and to understand the behavioral patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviors”.
ITV added that stars would continue to be offered video training and guidance on inclusive language relating to disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggression.
The policy change comes after Love Island received more than 5,000 Ofcom complaints during last year’s series, with viewers sharing their concerns about “misogynist behavior and bullying”.
Shocking: Applications for this year’s series – which ended on Monday when Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan were crowned the winners – saw several former offenders attempting to apply
Full Love Island due diligence protocols – ahead of the 2023 series
The full due diligence process is detailed below:
Pre-filming and shooting
– Registered psychiatrist serving throughout the series – from filming to aftercare.
– Thorough psychological and medical assessments prior to filming, including assessments by an independent doctor, psychological counselor and reports from each islander’s GP to review medical histories.
– Prospective islanders must disclose fully and confidentially all medical histories that would be relevant to their acceptance into the villa and the production’s ability to provide them with a suitable environment.
– Managing Cast Expectations: Prospective cast members receive detailed verbal and written explanations of the pros and cons of participating in the series throughout the casting process and are reaffirmed in the contract so this is clear.
– Cast members are told to consider any potential implications of participating in the show and to work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them to ensure they feel it is the right thing for them is.
– Senior team on site received training in mental health first aid.
– A welfare team dedicated exclusively to the islanders, both during and after the show.
post-treatment
– Tailored training on how to use social media and advice on finances and how to adapt to life at home.
– Each islander will be offered at least eight therapy sessions upon their return home.
– Proactively engage with islanders for a period of 14 months after the end of the series in which they appeared, with additional assistance where necessary.
– We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent and manage them after the show should they decide to participate in other TV shows, promotional campaigns or other public appearances opportunities.
The Winter Love Island stars are expected to feel a massive impact on their reach after bosses imposed a social media ban on the cast’s families who represent them while at the villa.
Many are no doubt hoping to pursue lucrative influencer careers and land clothing brands, and they’ll have to work fast to try and build their online following once they get their phones back.
Just 1.1 million people tuned in to see Kai and Sanam crowned the Love Island winners in this series.
This was the lowest for a finale on the show since the show’s second series and a huge drop from last year’s 3 million.
Love Island was also beaten by The Last Of Us finale on Sky Atlantic on the night with 1.2million.
Low Ratings: Just 1.1 million people tuned in to see Kai and Sanam being crowned the Love Island winners in this series
Despite the low viewership, it was revealed that Kai and Sanam won by a landslide victory, garnering a whopping 44 percent of the vote.
Ron Hall and Lana Jenkins got 30 percent of the vote, while Samie Elishi and Tom Clare got 24 percent.
Tanya Manhenga and Shaq Muhammad only got 2 percent of the final vote.
Love Island’s winter series pulled in around 1.2 million for the series opener, another drop from last year’s 2.4 million.
