ITV chief: I'd let my children take part in 'Love Island' if they wanted

ITV’s chief executive Carolyn McCall has said she would not mind if her children wanted to appear on Love Island.

The ITV2 dating show has faced scrutiny over its duty of care following the deaths of two former contestants.

McCall told a government inquiry into the future of public service broadcasting: “We are trying to prevent people coming back in to the world and not adapting back to it because their lives have changed a bit because of experiences they have had.

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“You asked about my children, if they were completely apprised of it, as long as they went in completely apprised, completely with their eyes open, I wouldn’t say no.”

Love Island producers drastically increased their duty-of-care procedures following the tragic deaths of former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, who both took their own lives.

Thalassitis died at the age of 26 in March 2019 after appearing on the show in 2017. Gradon was 32 when she died in 2018, two years after her appearance.

McCall said ITV had created a duty-of-care plan for participants in such shows that went well beyond regulator Ofcom’s code.

Peter Andre has previously said that while he enjoys watching Love Island, he would not want his own children to take part.

He said he told 13-year-old daughter Princess: “When they start doing Love Island based on priests and nuns and doing sermons on Sundays, you can go on.”

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Kerry Katona – who shares her two eldest daughters with former Westlife singer Brian McFadden – has said she would not mind if her children wanted to take part in the show.

She said: "It wouldn't bother me in the slightest if my Molly or Lilly wanted to give it a go.

"I'd actively encourage it! Get on the telly, make a fortune and buy me a house please, girls!"

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