Caroline Flack defends Love Island ahead of new series launch

Caroline Flack has defended Love Island amid calls for the show to be axed.

Some have claimed the series should be dropped by ITV just like The Jeremy Kyle Show following deaths of former Islanders Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.

But host of the ITV2 series Caroline says the show shouldn’t be made a scapegoat.

“There is a spotlight on reality TV shows at the moment but sadly this is a global problem we are dealing with; a modern-day life for all that is becoming overwhelming,” Caroline said in an interview with the Metro newspaper. “We need to stop blaming and speculating without the facts.

“As a human race we all need to come together, communicate, open up, express ourselves, be kind and be understanding of what all of us are dealing with on a daily basis.”

Caroline praised the “first-class care” offered to Love Island contestants and added: “We are not robots. We are human beings with feelings and emotions. We all need to listen to one another without any judgement or discrimination.”

This week ITV detailed its duty of care processes to Islanders ahead of the new series.

Creative Director ITV Studios Entertainment Richard Cowles said in a statement: “We’re very excited that Love Island is back for another series. It is the nation’s favourite dating show and we have a fabulous new cast of young singles all looking for love and ready for a summer of romance in the iconic Love Island villa.

“The format of the new series will be familiar to Love Island viewers and we can’t wait to see how the new Islanders take to life in the villa and how relationships blossom.

“We hope that viewers will be hooked as they watch these young singles fall in love – hopefully it will be a summer to remember for both the Islanders and our viewers.”

Meanwhile Caroline has revealed she’s been doing her research on this year’s contestants.

In an Instagram Q&A, she said: “I haven’t met the Islanders, I never actually meet the Islanders until they walk into the villa and meet each other, that’s the first time I see them.

“But I know everything about them and do my research and know all about them.”

Love Island 2019 begins on TV from June 3 on ITV2 at 9PM.

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