ITV’s chief executive Carolyn McCall has defended Love Island, after she show received criticism following the deaths of former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon.
Sophie, who appeared on the show in 2016, was found dead in June last year. Then earlier this month Mike, who took part in Love Island in 2017, took his own life.
Following the news of Mike’s death, Love Island bosses came under fire for not offering enough support for contestants after the show.
However, ITV boss Carolyn has said, “We can do everything we possibly can to look after people and to do our duty of care but you can’t do that forever. There has got to be a framework and it will come to an end.”
The chief executive of ITV spoke out, after Love Island bosses confirmed that they would provide therapy and pre-show training to future contestants.
Speaking about Mike’s death, Carolyn said it was “devastating” – but pointed out that the star had been on two more reality shows (E4’s Celebs Go Dating and MTV’s Ex on the Beach) since he appeared on ITV2’s Love Island in 2017.
She told the Broadcasting Press Guild: “We did have a duty of care. We had clear Âprocesses and procedures. I don’t think anybody has made a direct link between what happened to Mike and Love Island and that is very important to say.”
“It would be an extremely Âtenuous thing to do given he was very happy on Love Island and all of his mates have Âactually said that, and he has done two other reality TV shows in the two-year gap.”
