‘Love Island’ contestants to record self-descriptions for blind and partially sighted audiences

The new ‘Love Island’ contestants will record self-descriptions to offer blind and partially sighted audiences the opportunity to get to know them.

ITV2’s latest series of the dating show, which starts 5 June, will also be audio describing a tour of its villa to give visually impaired people an understanding of the visual geography of the show’s key locations.

ITV’s director of accessibility David Padmore said: “We’re always looking for ways to make our shows more accessible to our audiences.

“We hope that having these Islander self-descriptions and Villa tours available alongside the show will really help bring this summer’s ‘Love Island’ to life for our audience.”

The move has been welcomed by the blind community, with Sonali Rai, the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s broadcast and audio description manager, said: “By embracing self-descriptions on the next series of ‘Love Island’, ITV is demonstrating a great understanding of the importance of providing equal access to content.

“RNIB research shows that a significant portion of TV programmes lack traditional audio description (AD), often due to challenges such as limited pauses in which to add AD, so we welcome this creative exploration in enhancing accessibility for blind and partially sighted viewers.

“This proactive initiative sets a remarkable example for the industry, highlighting the power of alternative solutions in creating an inclusive viewing experience for all.”

‘Winter Love Island’, which aired in January, featured the show’s first partially sighted contestant.

Ron Hall, 26, from Essex, lost sight in his right eye as a child in a football accident.

The self-descriptions will be available on the ‘Love Island’ YouTube page.

ITV unveiled a similar initiative using Helena Bonham Carter for drama ‘Nolly’ earlier in the year, called ‘Meet Nolly – Noele Gordon Character Description’.

ITV said as part of “a variety of advancements to improve accessibility on the show”, it “also worked closely” with the Monterosa platform on “several design improvements across the popular ‘Love Island’ app”.

All of the forthcoming episodes of the next series, which launches this summer on ITVX and ITV2, will also be subtitled.

Specialist teams across the broadcaster work closely with Lifted Entertainment – part of ITV Studios who produce the show – to secure access to episodes as early as possible to prepare subtitles in advance of transmission.

This summer’s ‘Love Island’ contestants include semi-pro footballer Tyrique Hyde, 24, from Essex, who – like former contestant Tasha Amber Ghouri, 24 – is deaf, with the sportsman lacking hearing in one ear.

He has marked his disability with a tattoo, and said ahead of going into the villa: “I’m deaf in my right ear. I’ve got a tattoo next to my left one that symbolises strength and power in my good one.”

Doncaster-born actress and social media creator Molly Marsh, 21, whose mum Janet has had parts in a series of soaps, is also part of the line-up.

Beautician Ruchee Gurung, 24, from Sutton, Bedford-born business development executive George Fensom, 24, as well as Catherine Agbaje, 22, a commercial real estate agent from Dublin, were also announced as among the first entrants into the villa this year.

French model Mehdi Edno, 26, is being tipped to the be this season’s Davide Sanclimenti, and Glaswegian model Ella Thomas, 23, has also signed up.

Their names were released on Monday (29.05.23) after show host Maya Jama, 28, revealed on ‘Good Morning Britain’ viewers will choose who couples with who for the first time in the history of ‘Love Island’.

‘Love Island’ will air from 9pm on 5 June on ITV2 and ITVX.