Love Island bosses hit back at 'fix' claims

Love Island bosses have hit back at the latest claims that the show is ‘fixed’ for a "favourite couple" to win.

It has been claimed that producers on the ITV2 dating show, which is set to air its season finale episode next Monday, organise dumpings and twists to accommodate their "favourite couple".

However, when contacted by the Standard, a spokesman for ITV refuted the claims, which were made by someone who claimed to be a former producer in a Reddit Q&A.

The alleged former staffer, who told a forum that they worked on the 2018 series, said producers often "manipulate" the show in order to get the selected couple to the final.

Asked whether producers "manipulate the show" based on "who they want to win", the insider said: "Yeah, absolutely."

They claimed: "[Producers are] deciding who makes best TV, who is the most frustrating to work with and such things. It's not just one person saying 'oh no I like them'. It's an informed decision."

They also said that the scenes are "very" constructed, with ITV staffers telling the contestants to go to start chats to create drama.

They continued: "It’s constructed reality. If a conversation is asked, by a producer, to happen to give the viewer a better experience, and a better understanding of contestants feelings, then that’s what happens.

“I find it strange how many people get aggravated over this, when they know this.

"They do intervene but it's never created an argument, only fuelled it maybe."

The alleged insider said that if there is too much content for the day, producers will send in nail technicians and hairdressers to give the stars time off.

Asked what time the bedroom lights are turned off and on each day, they added: "Different time each day dependant on how much content there was."

They clarified that "nothing is scripted per se” but that there is “a lot of producer interventions”.

In a statement to Standard Online, an ITV spokesman pointed out that Love Island has always been open about its production methods.

He said: "As anyone who watches the show regularly would know, Love Island is a combination of reality and produced elements that are reflective of what's happening in the villa, and is a fair and accurate representation of villa life.

"We have always been completely transparent about this and the way the show is produced. This is often acknowledged in the voiceover by Iain Stirling.

"The opinions they have and the relationships formed are completely within the control of the Islanders themselves. As we have said since series one, Love Island is a combination of reality and produced elements."

ITV added that they are "unable to verify the identity of the individual who has made these claims".