TV

Love Island stars ‘will have to pass new mental health tests and STI checks’

Bosses are being strict this year

It has been reported that the new Love Island wannabes will have to pass new mental health tests, following the death of Love Islander Mike Thalassitis earlier this year.

Hopefuls will also have more stringent checks for sexually transmitted infections ahead of the show, according to a source.

Stricter selection processes have apparently been put in place to make sure people are ready to handle the show and the sudden fame that comes with it.

Mike Thalassitis (Love Island YouTube))
Late star Mike found fame on the show in 2017 (Credit: ITV2/YouTube)

New measures are being taken after Mike took his life and was found hanged in woods near his London home in March.

Love Island 2016 star Sophie Gradon also took her life in  June 2018.

A source told The Sun: “Bosses want stars to be safe mentally and physically. Their biggest nightmare would be someone contracting an STI, so potential contestants must have several rounds of medical tests.

“Advance sessions with counsellors and psychologists have been ramped up to ensure that everyone can handle the fame.

“They are prepared to cut potentially strong personalities from the line-up if there is any hint of mental instability.”

Sophie tragically died last year (Credit: ITV2)

Read more: Dani Dyer ‘tells fans Love Island isn’t real’ following accusation of “double standards”

Ent Daily has contacted a representative for Love Island for comment.

ITV stated: “Our duty of care is a continuous and ongoing pro­cess for each islander. This follows three key stages — pre-filming, filming and aftercare.”

Love Islanders are expected to have extra sessions with ITV2’s mental health team this year.

Those who sign up for the show also have to hand over swab, blood and urine samples for inspection, according to the report.

Contestants may have stricter tests than last year’s stars (Credit: ITV2/YouTube)

Read more: Caroline Flack nearly had to stop Love Island filming because of painful problem

Host Caroline Flack revealed she will soon be meeting some of the hopefuls as preparations for filming are now underway.

Those rumoured to be entering the villa in Mallorca this year include axed Big Brother star Lotan Carter and Rochelle Humes’ sister Soph Piper.

The new series of Love Island is due to begin at the start of June.

Are you going to be tuning into the new series? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know.


Aaliyah Ashfield
Digital Marketing Apprentice

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