UPDATE 3/5 It has been reported that Love Island stars will face new STI and mental health checks before filming starts.
A source told The Sun, 'Bosses want stars to be safe, mentally and physically. Their biggest nightmare would be someone contracting an STI, so potential contestants must have several rounds of medical tests. Advance sessions with counsellors and psychologists have been ramped up to ensure that everyone can handle the fame. They are prepared to cut potentially strong personalities from the line-up if there is any hint of mental instability.'
An ITV spokesperson declined to Grazia Daily's request for comment. In March, following Mike Thalassitis' tragic death, creative director of ITV Studios Richard Cowles said contestants would be offered therapy. Read more about the upcoming changes below.
Love Island has outlined a new strategy which will provide therapy for all Islanders, following last week’s death of Mike Thalassitis. In a letter written to The Sun, creative director of ITV Studios Richard Cowles said that makers of the hit reality programme have entered a ‘period of soul-searching’ which has prompted the change. Contestants will also be offered ‘social media and financial management’ training, and producers have said they will ensure that they check up on Islanders, so that they don’t feel the onus is on them to ask for support. In addition, six months ago, following the tragic death of Sophie Gradon, government mental health adviser Dr Paul Litchfield has been brought in to independently review the show’s arrangements.
Richard wrote: “When something so awful happens we naturally enter a period of soul searching and ask whether anything could have been done. This review has led us to extend our support processes to offer therapy to all Islanders and not only those that reach out to us.
“And we will be delivering bespoke training to all future Islanders to include social media and financial management. The key focus will be for us to no longer be reliant on the Islanders asking us for support but for us to proactively check in with them on a regular basis.”
Richard added that ITV already work with an independent GP and a psychological consultant to check whether applicants are fit for the show. This mirrors what Kendall Rae Knight told Grazia Online yesterday, as she revealed the extensive medical assessments she went through to get on to the hit programme.
Addressing Mike's death, Richard also said: "When something so awful happens we naturally enter a period of soul searching and ask whether anything could have been done to help avoid something so terrible happening. It is not for us to speculate on the reasons behind this tragedy and what is so heartbreaking is that we simply cannot know. Our show put Mike in the spotlight with all the ups and downs that brings. Mike’s TV career took off with Love Island and he went on to take part in other reality shows as his career grew."