Love Island: First Visually Impaired Racer Announced as New Islanders Confirmed for Winter Season | Ents & Arts News

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Love Island announced its first visually impaired contestant.

Ron Hall, 25, a financial advisor from Essex, is an islander heading to a villa in South Africa for series nine – the first post-pandemic winter show.

Hall, who lost his sight in one eye while playing football at the age of eight, says his injury has not “handled him” in his life.

He says his eyes now have two different colors, blue and green, after the accident, which he says “added to his personality”.

Last summer, Love Island had its first deaf contestant, Tasha Gorrie, who placed fourth in the final with boyfriend Andrew LePage.

Blind English footballer Rainbow Mbwangi described the inclusion of a visually impaired contestant in the show as “fantastic”, and said: “The show has been criticized in the past for its lack of diversity and it’s good that more is being done to change that.

“I really hope other TV series try to diversify the contestants and cast to challenge misconceptions about those living with a disability.”

This year, the reality show introduced new duty of care measures, which include all contestants pausing social media activity for the duration of the series, as well as enhanced behavior and relationship training.

ITV and Lifted Entertainment (which is part of ITV Studios) say the new sponsorship measures will support contributors before, during and after filming.

Photo: The new batch of islanders is ready to enter the villa. Pic: ITV

Read more: Islanders’ social media accounts disabled during the show

Prior to entering the villa, Islanders will receive training in mutually respectful behavior in relationships, an understanding of behavior patterns associated with controlling and coercive behavior, and orientation covering inclusive language around disability, gender, race, ethnicity, and microaggressions.

They’ll also watch a video fronting the show’s Executive Producer and Head of Welfare, interviewing former islanders about their experiences on the show.

There was a backlash last year, after Adam Collard, who was accused of castigating fellow contestant Rosie Williams in 2018, returned to the villa for the summer series.

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Maya Jama, 28, is the host of the winter series, which kicks off on ITV2 and ITVX next Monday at 9pm.

Other confirmed contenders include a semi-pro rugby player, a pensive farmer, and an actress who was a body double for Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson.

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