‘Love Island’ Producer Mike Spencer & Narrator Iain Stirling Discuss Jacques O’Neill’s Emotional Exit, Concerns Over ‘Toxic Masculinity’, How The Show Is Put Together & Which Couples Could Go All The Way
15.07.2022 - 16:13
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: ITV’s popular reality TV game show Love Island is in the spotlight once again. The polarising dating program, back on UK screens for an eighth season, remains appointment viewing for its many fans. For others, the format still raises concerns.
This eight-week season began with a bang and interest has remained strong. The launch episode in early June hit 5 million views, making it the franchise’s biggest premiere since 2019.
Last week’s dramatic Casa Amor recoupling achieved the show’s highest overnight audience since the 2019 Love Island final. Almost 4 million tuned in real-time across all devices, including a TV audience of 3 million which was up on the equivalent episode last year by 800,000. Social media has been abuzz each night with memes and quips relating to the show.
Season 8 has included the perennial bust ups and love-ins, outsized characters and social media ‘villains’, hilarious and cringe moments. But this season has also deviated in a number of ways.
Firstly, it has included an above average sprinkling of stardust with contestants including Gemma Owen, daughter of soccer star Michael Owen, and Jack Keating, son of Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating. Islanders were last night treated to a live performance from Brit Award winner Becky Hill.
For the first time, producers also made the decision to bring back a former Islander in the shape of bombshell Adam Collard.
A Bombshell Returns
“This series has landed really well,” long-time Love Island executive producer Mike Spencer, tells us.
“We’ve looked at different ways to, if not rip up the rule book, then certainly adjust it. One of the ways we wanted to do that was by bringing back a former Islander, something we’ve been working on for a while. Adam is a lovely