Love Island producers ‘accepting gay contestants for this year’s series’ – Daily Mail

Love Island producers are reportedly accepting gay contestants for this year’s upcoming series.

According to sources, TV executives could potentially include homosexual singletons on the show for the first time.

Despite the claims, a representative for ITV told MailOnline: ‘Our only stipulation for applicants on Love Island is that they are over 18, single and looking for love.’ 

An insider told Daily Star: ‘ITV and Love Island teamed up with Tinder earlier this year to find a new batch of islanders.

‘They have been placing the ads strategically inside the app so you have to swipe left or right. 

‘The ads have been showing up on both male and female gay accounts as well as on those of straight people.’ 

On including versatile couples, executive producer Richard Cowles previously said: ‘You are trying to create couples. It is not impossible and it is not something that we shy away from… but there is a logistical element which makes it difficult.’

The programme has featured bisexual contestants in the past, including Megan Barton-Hanson, Katie Salmon and the late Sophie Gradon – who became the show’s same-sex pairing in 2016.

Love Island will return to Majorca this year, with bosses even arranging for extra cast to fly out in May and quarantine like the main set of singletons as a Covid precaution, reports The Sun. 

Although usually filmed in a villa near Sant Llorenç des Cardassar on the Spanish isle, UK locations including Jersey, Cornwall and Devon had been tipped for 2021.   

A source told the publication: ‘All precautions have been taken to make sure it goes smoothly. Besides the extra cast, they’ve incorporated Covid safety measures and increased checks on contestants’ mental health.

‘Everyone is very excited. Restrictions are easing, the Euros football is on and Love Island is back in Majorca. What more could you want?’

The launch date of Love Island 2021 has been delayed by three weeks due to overseas travel restrictions as ITV confirm they plan to base the show in Majorca.   

The 2019 season started on June 3 but this year the crew will not fly out to the Spanish Island until the end of the month – with ITV intending to air the popular dating show for a duration of eight weeks. 

The summer series of Love Island 2020 was cancelled after production found it ‘logistically impossible’ to organise the show as the pandemic raged on. 

Applicants for the next series have reportedly been told they’ll have to be free for 10 weeks abroad and undergo a psychological and physical assessment. 

A sexual health screening and an unannounced drugs test is also set to be required and the cast will have to declare if they live with anyone who’s clinically vulnerable, according to the publication.

Bosses will also ask contestants for their mental health histories and for permission to contact their GPs and in another move to help support them on the show. 

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