Love Island WON’T include LGBT+ contestants, despite rumours
A spokesperson for the show told Attitude the series 'doesn't really allow it'
Love Island won’t include LGBT+ contestants in this year’s series, despite rumours suggesting otherwise.
The reality television show faced backlash last year after bosses claimed they didn’t have plans to include LGBT+ contestants on the show because the format “didn’t allow it.”
An insider told The Daily Star earlier this week that bosses has changed their mind on including LGBT+ contestants.
A source close to the show said: “Love Island was undoubtably the biggest reality show this year, it had everyone talking. Even people who weren’t watching the show still heard about it.
“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. The LGBT community make up a huge part of their audience – and ITV have been called out after boss Kevin Lygo said there are ‘quite enough gay people on television’ at the Edinburgh Festival.'”
They added: “Love Island is supposed to be a reflection of pop culture and shows modern dating. Young people are becoming more and more fluid in their sexuality and gender identity, so the channel have realised they can’t alienate that audience, either.”
Despite the claims, a spokesperson for the show reached out to Attitude yesterday (January 10) and confirmed that viewers won’t be seeing gay couples on the show, despite calls from viewers.
They referred to what Executive Producer Richard Cowles said last year, saying: “The format doesn’t really allow it. If you’re familiar with the programme, it’s about coupling and recoupling.”
The show previously featured two LGBT contestants in 2016, when Liverpudlian Katie Salmon coupled up with Sophie Gradon. However, the relationship came to an end when Gradon hooked up with Tom Powell.