Love Island could be pre-recorded to protect contestants

\'Love Island\' could be pre-recorded in the future to protect the contestants\' welfare.

ITV2 producers are reportedly in talks to film the next series of the reality dating show - which will be postponed until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic - in advance of it airing on TV to shield the contestants from overnight fame.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "The welfare of the Islanders is the top priority for ITV bosses and there are continual talks about it.

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"Pre-recording the show is one of the ideas to be mooted in planning meetings."

The series - presented by Laura Whitmore - is usually shot one to two days in advance, allowing fans at home to vote off the couples they don\'t like and to choose their favourite to win the £50,000 cash prize.

Following the suicides of ex-Islanders Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, show bosses had introduced psychological evaluations before contestants are allowed on the show.

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However, ITV2 has come under increased pressure since former host Caroline Flack took her own life earlier this year and producers think contestants could benefit by being at home when the show airs instead of being locked in a villa with no idea of how they are being perceived.

The source continued: "It would mean the contestants would be back in the UK when the show aired, meaning they would be more prepared for the overnight fame that comes with being on.

"This is one of many ideas that have been thrown around ahead of the next series in 2021 and it\'s proved popular with some of the team."

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Meanwhile, Montana Brown - who grew close to Mike during the third series - recently claimed that there a large number of former contestants are dealing with mental health issues, since appearing on the show.

She said: "Every single person that I\'m friends with from \'Love Island\' suffers from anxiety or depression - it\'s actually terrifying."