Love Island bosses have reportedly ramped up their psychological testing in the search to find the next batch of singletons, after the tragic deaths of Sophie Gradon, Thalassitis and host Caroline Flack.
The series is set to return this summer and ITV are said to have created a stringent process to ensure contestants will be fit and well enough to enter the villa.
After Mike’s death in 2019, producers announced key changes to islanders’ duty of care and said all would be able to access therapy sessions, social media and financial training, and a minimum of 14 months of ‘proactive’ contact.
New series: Love Island bosses have reportedly ramped up their psychological testing in the search to find the next batch of singletons (pictured host Laura Whitmore in 2020)
The Sun reports once past the audition stage, potential islanders will undergo three rounds of testing to ensure they will be able to cope with starring on the ITV2 show and the subsequent fame afterwards.
The publication also states stringent measures now require the cast to provide their doctors’ details and list and medications they are taking.
The insider added that singletons will be closely monitored with support provided to those anyone who needs it.
MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
Stringent measures: The new audition process comes after the tragic suicides of 2017 contestant Mike Thalassitis (pictured), Sophie Gradon and host Caroline Flack
The ITV show addressed their duty of care after two islanders; Sophie and Mike and host Caroline tragically committed suicide within a period of 20 months.
Sophie, 32, took her own life back in June 2018 after appearing on season two of the show two years prior. Her heartbroken boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, 25, took his own life just 20 days later.
Mike rose to fame on the third season of the show. The 26-year-old footballer tragically lost his life to suicide a year after Sophie in March 2019.
And in 2020, the host of Love Island, Caroline Flack, left her role presenting the show in the wake of her arrest over an alleged assault on her boyfriend.
Heartbreaking: Sophie, 32, took her own life back in June 2018 after appearing on season two of the show. Her heartbroken boyfriend, Aaron Armstrong, 25, took his own life 20 days later
The presenter, 40, was later found dead at her home in Stoke Newington, London, on February 15. She too had taken her own life.
Following contestant Mike’s passing in 2019, ITV stated the team had ramped up the aftercare available to stars who appear on the show.
‘We are outlining today our welfare processes follow three key stages: pre-filming, filming and aftercare,’ creative Director ITV Studios Entertainment Richard Cowles said at the time.
‘We are increasing our post filming support to help Islanders following their time in villa.’
Devastating: Host Caroline took her own life on February 15 2020
The network says each contestant now receives ‘bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home, a minimum of eight therapy sessions when they return home, and proactive contact with islanders for a period of 14 months up until the end of the next series,’ among other details.
Love Island has not aired since February 2020 after both the summer 2020 and winter 2021 editions were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The new series is rumoured to be the ‘biggest in history’, as excited ITV bosses gear up for the highly anticipated comeback later this year.
Producers are currently in the process of wading through 100,000 applications in the search to find the 2021 cast.
It’s said bosses are optimistic that plans can go ahead for the series in July and August, with strict safety provisions in place in the villa.
Off the air: Love Island has not aired since February 2020 after both the summer 2020 and winter 2021 editions were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
Hopeful comeback: The new series is rumoured to be the ‘biggest in history’, as excited ITV bosses gear up for the highly anticipated comeback later this year
However, one of the top bosses of the show recently admitted that it might not be able to go ahead this year.
Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive at ITV, was asked recently where the show stands, to which she replied: ‘I genuinely don’t know.’
As reports The Sun, McCall added: ‘We will want to put Love Island on air because it’s been off air for a while. We didn’t do it last summer.
Travel off limits: The series usually films in Majorca, with the first winter edition shot in South Africa. But travel to both locations are currently disallowed, with Brits unsure as to what summer 2021 will hold
‘We are looking at all our options at the moment. The pandemic makes it hard.’
The series usually films in Majorca, with the first winter edition shot in South Africa. But travel to both locations are currently disallowed, with Brits unsure as to what summer 2021 will hold.
It was also reported that the series could be filmed in Devon or Cornwall, as show bosses prepare to change locations to the UK seaside this year.
According to reports, those behind the scenes have been keen to line-up some locations on home shores after the show was postponed last year.
Moving to the UK? It was also reported that the series could be filmed in Devon or Cornwall, as show bosses prepare to change locations to the UK seaside this year