The stars of the new series of Love Island, which has started tonight on ITV2, will be facing a social media ban for the first time.
Contestants on the ninth series of the hit reality show will be instructed to pause their social accounts, including Instagram and Twitter.
It’s part of ITV’s new duty of care guidelines, designed to protect and support the islanders.
In previous years, those taking part in the scantily-clad search for love handed the reigns of their social media accounts over to their loved ones, who posted content on their behalf.
Those actually in the Love Island villa have never had access to social media, leaving their families on the outside to face any trolling that has cropped up on their accounts.
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Love Island contestants’ Instagram accounts will remain silent until they leave the villa. Credit: ITV
But this year it’ll be all change, with winter Love Island contestants told to pause their social media accounts, including their lucrative Instagram platforms, to ‘protect both the Islanders and their families from the adverse effects of social media’.
The move has drawn support from former contestants and psychologists, reports the BBC, who say the show now has a ‘gold standard’ when it comes to duty of care.
ITV has thrown a huge amount of resource behind contestants’ wellbeing in recent years, following the tragic deaths of former Love Islanders Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon.
ITV said: “As part of extended measures to protect both the Islanders and their families from the adverse effects of social media, participants will be asked to pause handles and accounts on their social media platforms for the duration of their time on the show.
“Islanders’ accounts will remain dormant while they are in the Villa, so that nothing is published on their behalf.”
Also new this year will be the show’s presenter, as Maya Jama steps up to fill the stillettos of Laura Whitmore.
Those taking part in winter Love Island include Michelle Keegan‘s ‘body double’ Olivia, PE teacher and part-time rugby player from Manchester Kai, and farmer Will, who already has a massive social media following on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Despite the silence on their accounts, fans will still be able to find them and follow them, with Islanders typically leaving the show with hundreds of thousands – if not more than a million – new followers.
Featured image: ITV
TV & Showbiz
Dame Sarah Storey is going on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Danny Jones
Record-breaking local athlete and Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, is set to become the latest to join the Strictly Come Dancing annals.
With the Strictly cast for 2026 steadily being unveiled, we always keep an eye out for the Greater Manchester names in particular.
That being said, we’re buzzing to see the hugely successful Stockport swimmer turned cyclist will be swapping her Team GB kit for sparkly, sequined ballroom gowns and an entirely different type of sport and fitness.
Announced on Friday, 17 July, Storey is the seventh celebrity to be confirmed for the 24th series of the hit BBC show and dancing competition.
Having represented her country not only at nine Paralympics but across two different disciplines after switching to the racing bike back in 2005, she’s our most decorated competitor in the entire history of the Games with 30 medals to her name – 19 of which are gold.
Absolute GOAT levels.
But now the Cheadle Hulme-born is once again set to show her versatility to see how she fares on the dance floor later this year.
Commenting ahead of the new-look season which starts this September, the 48-year-old said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
“I have always loved watching Strictly, and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!”
This latest sea-change comes not long after the local legend and sporting icon officially announced her retirement from professional sport more than three decades on from first bursting onto the scene.
Thank you for taking the time to leave all the incredible messages. It’s so wonderful to read them and thank you for being the greatest supporters 🥰
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) July 9, 2026
What a career she’s had; it obviously didn’t take her long to get tired of sitting still for once, either.
She will be joined by the likes of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best.
In case you missed it, the upcoming edition of Strictly Come Dancing will be the first since Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and pro dancer Johannes Radebe stepping in as replacements.
In other starring Stockport news, we’ve finally got more info on the final season of a popular programme filmed in the area. Find out more down below.
Micah Richards reveals dad ‘unexpectedly’ died shortly before going on air for England v Argentina last night
Emily Sergeant
Micah Richards has revealed that his dad died shortly before he went on air for the World Cup semi final last night.
The former right back – who most-notably played for Manchester City for a decade from 2005-2015, and for the England national team from 2006-2012 – was one of the BBC’s pundits providing on-air analysis last night as England faced Argentina in a highly anticipated semi final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup last night.
The two teams faced off in Atlanta, and while goals came from both sides, it was ultimately Argentina that reigned supreme – securing a 2-1 win over the Three Lions.
But while much of the country is grieving the fact that football won’t be ‘coming home’ (well, for another two years at least), Richards is grieving on a deeper level.
He took to Instagram after the loss last night to share with his 1.4m followers that shortly before he went on air, his father Lincoln passed away ‘unexpectedly’ – calling him the ‘proudest parent possible’ in a touching tribute.
“He has left us all too soon,” Richards began in his tribute.
“Hwas my greatest fan. He barely missed a game my entire life. He would take me wherever I needed to go when I was a kid and he was the proudest parent possible during my professional career. It was so rare for him to not be by my side.
“I know how much watching England World Cup games means to everyone at home, and how the experience bonds families together across the generations, like nothing else.
“I know, particularly as a proud old-school Yorkshireman, dad would’ve wanted the show to go on this evening. And so it did.”
Daisy Jackson -
16th January 2023 
