'Love Island': ITV will 'sit down and review' show after 5,000 Ofcom complaints

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ITV Studios managing director Kevin Lygo has said the channel will "sit down and review" Love Island at the end of the series in the wake of thousands of Ofcom complaints.

More than 5,000 people have contacted the broadcasting regulator this summer to express misgivings about the reality dating show, in relation to several controversial moments.

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During a media briefing for ITV’s interim financial results, Lygo stressed that the broadcaster's top brass are "very happy with the way it has gone so far" despite the controversy that has greeted the series.

"We continually assess a programme as it is going on because it is one of these odd, every night live sort of shows," said Lygo.

He added: “But when the series comes to an end on Monday, we will always sit down and review what we think about it, what the reaction has been, how well it has done.

"And we have to say this year, remember, it is the best one we have had in many years and I think everyone is thoroughly enjoying it.

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"To get five million people to watch a show every night at nine o’clock is extraordinary in the modern era, so something is being done right."

The launch show of this year's Love Island series was the highest-rated since before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, with five million people tuning in for the inaugural episode.

But despite the strong viewing figures, the show has been a magnet for controversy this year, with Ofcom pondering whether to further investigate more than 5,000 complaints.

The most complained about episodes were the two focused around the 'Mad Movies' challenge, in which contestants were shown clips of their partners' actions outside of their relationships.

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These episodes drew 2,648 complaints to Ofcom, while 1,509 complaints related to allegations of bullying during the 'Snog, Marry, Pie' challenge earlier this month.

Meanwhile, spin-off talk show Love Island: Aftersun received more than 400 complaints after remarks host Laura Whitmore made about islander Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.

Love Island set a record for Ofcom complaints last year, with more than 35,000 viewers contacting the regulator during the series.

Most of the complaints related to the aggressive behaviour of Faye Winter towards partner Teddy Soares — the couple are still together a year later — in the wake of that year's edition of 'Mad Movies'.

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Ofcom ultimately found the row did not breach its guidelines, stating that the scenes "were within viewers’ likely expectations of this programme’s established format".

Love Island has been confirmed to return for two series in 2023 — a winter series filmed in South Africa in January, followed by the traditional summer series in Majorca.

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