Love Island returns to screens with new host Maya Jama and rule change | Love Island

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As gloomy winter weather descends upon the UK, what better way to cheer yourself up than to tune in to the trials and tribulations of a group of tanned singletons and enthusiasts desperate for love?

The winter series of Love Island – the UK’s most popular dating show – returns to screens on Monday night, as new host Maya Gama introduces a new cast who will spend up to eight weeks in a sun-drenched luxury villa in South Africa, meeting each other to “chat”, and “turning their heads” and “making bits” when lights out.

The line-up includes Will Young, a 23-year-old farmer with a million followers on TikTok, and Olivia Hawkins, a 27-year-old Fight Progress director and actress who can be seen in the background of Daniel Craig’s latest James Bond film No Time to Die, once serving as a body. Double for Emma Watson and Michelle Keegan.

Also on screen will be the show’s first visually impaired contestant, Ron Hall, 26; Tanya Manhenga, 22, a biomedical sciences student; Kay Fagan, 24, physical education teacher; Lana Jenkins, 25, makeup artist; Anna Mae Robbie, 20, payroll assistant; Taniel Revan, 26, hairstylist; Shaq Muhammad, 24, airport security officer. and Haris Namani, 21, a TV salesperson.

For the first time, all contestants on this series are required to keep their social media accounts in a dormant state to protect them from the “negative effects”. Previously friends and family members have taken over accounts to post content including memes and statements on behalf of the islanders, they have often had to deal with any negativity or trolling and have in the past posted pleas to viewers to be kinder.

The new rule is part of an overhaul of measures taken by ITV in relation to the duty of care for contestants.

The islanders will also receive guidance and training on “mutually respectful behavior in relationships” after the latest series prompted thousands of complaints to broadcast watchdog, Ofcom. Several of these relate to “alleged misogynistic and bullying behavior”, although they are not endorsed.

The show’s duty of care has been under the spotlight following the deaths of previous contestants Sophie Gradon in 2018 and Mike Thalassitis in 2019, as well as the deaths of former host Caroline Flack in 2020. In recent years, Love Island bosses have introduced minimal contestants. Eight therapy sessions after their time on the show.

On Monday, domestic violence charity Women’s Aid urged producers to “observe their duty of care”, adding: “The real women at the center of these events should not be ignored for the sake of entertainment. We are in touch with women who have appeared on reality TV and had experiences that were traumatic and potentially avoid it.”

But Joe Hemmings, a psychologist who has worked behind the scenes on several reality TV programmes, told the BBC that Love Island now had a “gold standard” when it came to duty of care. “I think the protocols, especially those around stopping social media accounts, will definitely help families or people who manage these accounts,” she said.

The shooting of the series happened in chaos after 50 mph winds hit the area, which made filming the opening scenes very difficult. An insider told The Sun: “Every circuit was affected – sound, lighting, cameras, wardrobe…none of the islanders expected to shiver around the fire pit either, but it just came into its own.”

Gamma, who takes over from former host Laura Whitmore, launches her big helicopter intervention – making it the “biggest budget opening” in the show’s history.

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