If you're as obsessed with Love Island as we are, then you'll know that a new series is coming this summer. But one thing that might surprise you is that the recruitment process - currently ongoing - is open to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Whether or not that's as exciting as it sounds is a matter of opinion - and some headlines have certainly suggested that this is a major shake up - but here are the facts.
This year, potential contestants have been able to apply via Tinder, with ads showing up on the dating platform. Many of those using Tinder do so to seek same-sex partners, and have expressed surprise that they have seen these ads. The show, after all, seems pretty heteronormative in its pursuit of true love between a man and a woman. But ITV has confirmed that this is merely a case of a rule that has always been in place: being straight has never been a condition of being on Love Island. ‘Our only stipulation for applicants on Love Island is that they are over 18, single and looking for love,' an ITV representative states.
That makes sense. Katie Salmon and Sophie Graydon coupled up in the 2016 season. But it's never been made quite so clear that you can be LGBTQ+ and enter the show. It's nice to see that established, at least.
So, how does the recruitment process via Tinder work? 'From the 22nd March, singletons on Tinder can apply for this summer’s series by making just one Swipe Right in-app, making their Tinder profile the first audition,' Tinder says.
'Swipe Cards will appear in between Tinder{
'If the Tinder profile is then selected by the Tinder team, Love Island hopefuls will be contacted via email by Tinder. The email will ask for confirmation of details, and as soon as these are completed and returned, the Tinder member will be added to a prioritised list for the Love Island casting team.'
Sounds like a speedy way to get noticed by the casting team, tbh.
If you're not on Tinder, then you can still apply the old-fashioned way, via the ITV2 website, if you're over 18 and single.
As usual, there's expected to be a huge deluge of applicants - some reports estimated that for the 2018 series there was around 85,000 hopefuls. (Remember the uproar when it was thought that more people applied for Love Island than Oxford or Cambridge university?!)
Right, we better get our profiles in order as the show is returning this summer for an extended run.
READ MORE: 17 Love Island Bombshells Who Well And Truly Shook Up The Villa
READ MORE: Why Love Island 2019 Was The Best Series