EXCLUSIVE (and spoiler alert for US and other regions behind UK release)– popular ITV reality game show love island It’s on the agenda once again. Returning to UK screens for its eighth season, the polarizing dating show remains a must-watch for many of its fans. For others, the format remains a concern.
This eight-week season has kicked off and interest has remained strong. The premiere episode in early June reached 5 million views, making it the franchise’s biggest premiere since 2019.
Last week’s dramatic Casa Amor reunion generated the show’s highest audience since 2019. love island final. Nearly 4 million tuned in real time across all devices, including 3 million TV viewers, 800,000 more than last year’s equivalent episode. Social media was full of memes and jokes about the show every night.
Season 8 featured years of heartbreak and love, great social media heroes and “bad guys,” hilarious and edgy moments. However, this season has taken a few turns.
First up was a sprinkle of above-average stardust with contenders like Gemma Owen, daughter of soccer star Michael Owen, and Jack Keating, son of Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating. The islanders were greeted with a live performance by Brit award winner Becky Hill last night.
For the first time, the producers decided to bring back former Island star Adam Collard as well.
return the bomb
“This series has done very well”, long time love island to executive producer Mike Spencer.
“We certainly looked at different ways to fix it, even if it didn’t break the rulebook.” One of the ways we wanted to do this was by bringing back the old islander we’ve been working on for a while. The man is still single and a cute boy looking for love and popular with the audience.”
Spencer didn’t want to know that other contenders were vying to return, but said the move had garnered a lot of attention from previous Islanders.
“After the man returns, I will say that my phone is not connected to the former contestants. We really wanted to focus on Adam and he’s done a great job so far.
Before Casa Amor, this year’s show had a relatively slow pace, perhaps with fewer fireworks or large busts than previous editions. As the show’s unique narrator, Ian Stirling, tells us, the season up to this point had a “lighter, funnier, loving vibe.”
But as often happens, Casa Amor marked a turning point as couples’ commitment was tested as more single men and women arrived.
Proud and confident at Casa Amor, Jacques O’Neill went wild and caused turbulence in his relationship with the villa’s partner, Paige. The addition of Bombshell Collard, a rival to Paige’s affections, overwhelmed O’Neill, and he finally left the show this week under mental and emotional stress, tearfully declaring that he “couldn’t be himself”.
duty of care
This year, ITV introduced advanced maintenance protocols for the show’s producers and protagonists; This is a major step forward for the franchise after three deaths in three years: former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassit committed suicide in 2018 and 2019. And Caroline Flack, the host of the show, committed suicide in 2020.
The interest of the contestants is intense inside and outside the village. Many contestants describe this experience as the best of their lives, and some couples are still together. Others make friends for life. But academic Ian Hamilton, a senior lecturer in addiction and mental health at York University, previously described the show as “developing production conflict” and “unfortunately burdened contestants.”
Did the opening of Jacqui prompt the producers to intervene?
“Jacques is great,” says Spencer. “We love Jacques. When you’re on a date, your feelings are naturally high and low. Finding love isn’t an easy task, which is why the show portrays it that way. Jacque was on his own journey and had a strong bond with Paige, but sometimes you have to think about yourself and Jacque does that. He did. We respect his decision to go home, but I think he’s excited for Aftersun to talk about his trip on Sunday.”
When asked how the producers would intervene now when a contestant was in trouble or saw a problem, Spencer said:
“I take this very personally. We are like one big family. I still talk to the islanders every season. It is not talked about much in the press, but there are many teams that play every season. We take this very seriously and have up-to-date maintenance procedures. I think Jacques felt his time was up and as producers we need to respect his decision. The guy walked in and ran into a bunch of girls. Did this affect Jacques’ decision to leave? He had to explain this to Jacques.
Spencer, it’s clear it was O’Neill’s decision to leave the show. The contestant’s family has since explained that her volatility may be partly due to ADHD.
Can a family member remove a competitor if he deems it necessary?
“All of the competitors are adults. We talk to island families every day. They have a contact point and are updated daily. We have a good relationship with our parents. We didn’t have a parent who said they wanted to remove their child from the program. The contestants are all adults, so they depend more on the others than them.
Sterling points out that today’s islanders may be better equipped to understand when enough is enough.
“I think the young people in the village grew up in an environment where people were more sensitive to their mental health, so they’re not afraid to talk about things. Even seven years ago, I wouldn’t have seen two 23-year-olds talk about their feelings together. The show knows better, but people in general. ”
During his time on the show, O’Neal himself was called the “bad guy” on social media for the way he treated Paige. As in the past, the terms “toxic masculinity” and “flatulence” swirled around among those who were disappointed with the behavior of many male contestants.
Spencer recognizes this behavior and believes Shaw can handle it.
“I think that’s incredibly subjective,” Spencer says. “Everyone has a different interpretation of behavioral traits. I think the show shows normal relationships. There are also very strong women in the show. ”
The charity Women’s Aid has repeatedly expressed concerns about Collard’s quirks, but Spencer thinks the term “toxic masculinity” goes too far when it comes to it. love island.
“I would be careful using a term like toxic masculinity. We represent real relationships and real people, so the show is relatable. Every relationship has its ups and downs. We care about our islands and care about protecting them. I don’t want to talk about a term like toxic masculinity, which is very serious when there are people all over the world going through very extreme situations in their relationships.”
After O’Neal’s emotional debut, the mood of the show brightened up with Becky Hill’s performance that defied low stakes and drama-free matchmaking. Perhaps the manufacturers understood that this was necessary.
written? Favorites?
A frequently asked question love island Screenplay or stage direction for the BAFTA-winning show?
“For me, I haven’t heard anyone say you have to do anything,” says Sterling, who spoke to us after he finished recording the show for that night. What the viewers saw in the village mostly happened 24 or 48 hours ago.
“We have producers from Villa helping us tell the story,” Spencer explains. “They chat with the contestants to see where things are going. These conversations will haunt us. We never tell anyone how to think or what to feel. We give them a minimal address. We ask boys and girls to go to the terrace or the pool at most in the mornings.”
So it was a coincidence that Luke returned to the villa this week just as he was talking to Adam’s partner, Gemma?
“He was playing on the field as soon as he walked in,” Spencer says. “He spent a lot of time with Gemma that afternoon. It wasn’t as organized as you might think. I think the reality gods are watching over us this season. “
A clearly regulated element of the show is what the islanders can eat and drink. They are checked regularly for dehydration and are only allowed to have two alcoholic drinks per night.
Do creators develop favorites?
“Me too,” Sterling admits, “but my favorites vary, as do most people. I try to be neutral, but sometimes you get involved. “
This season, stand-up star Sterling (who is married to hosting Laura Whitmore) has been particularly photographed with hot couple David and Eakin-Sue, as well as Scot Jamie (who was eliminated this week).
Who do you think can leave at the end of this year?
“I loved Pre-Casa Amor Jacques and Paige; Both India and Denmark. Luke and Gemma are interesting. After doing so many times, it is always difficult to win if you have a pair too early. It’s not the same journey up and down. The initial welcome Davide and Ekin-su both received when they arrived was controversial, but now they both seem like national treasures.
Kashkov
most love island The brand remains an advertising and distribution asset for ITV and most of its shareholders. The format was sold in 20 territories.
love island usa Ready to start over with narration by Sterling, who was always popular in Peacock. Meanwhile, ITV recently announced that the UK version will shoot two seasons next year. There are also numerous spin-offs featuring previous characters.
As for what kind of music the actress will watch Ekin-Su, Spencer says, “There’s a wide variety of people this year, I’m sure there may be other shows on the horizon for them.”
Inclusion was an important part of ITV’s updated terms of maintenance. Some fans have called for a queer or LGBT version of the show. That’s something Sterling appreciates.
As a country, as a society, we are always trying to be more inclusive and in my opinion, everyone is welcome.” That’s fine, absolutely.”
“We’re constantly developing different shows,” adds Spencer. “We always try to be as inclusive as possible, but we are not currently working on queer or LGBT issues.” love island Not exactly, but we hope to have exciting news soon. “
most love island The final will begin on August 1st.
Source: Deadline
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
