Love Island contestants are to be banned from social media during this upcoming series to shield themselves and their families from online abuse.
In a move that was trialled for the first time during the winter series earlier this year, ITV bosses have announced restrictions on social media usage for the cast of the hit reality competition show’s highly-anticipated upcoming 10th season – which is due to start in just a few weeks time.
It’s part of the broadcaster’s new duty of care guidelines and procedures.
As contestants have no access or contact with the outside world while they’re in the villa, this has often meant that in previous years, the reigns of their social media accounts have been handed over to loved ones to post content on their behalf – but the show has been heavily criticised for this, as it has tended to subject their families to having to deal with trolling and abusive comments.
This is on top of the the criticism the dating show has faced following the highly-publicised deaths of former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, as well as former presenter Caroline Flack – who all took their own lives.
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Love Island contestants will be banned from social media while in the villa / Credit: ITV
The show has also been the subject of widespread discussion, criticism, and subsequent Ofcom complaints over alleged toxic or abusive behaviour among participants.
In an attempt to address the issue of trolling and abuse aimed at Islanders, ITV instructed the contestants of its ninth series earlier this year to either suspend their accounts or prevent loved ones from posting content during their time in the villa.
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Following the success of this trial, the move is to be made permanent.
As part of the new duty of care procedures, ITV has now formally introduced the social media ban for the summer series – which is due to begin airing on ITV2 on Monday 5 June – and will be asking participants to pause their accounts for the duration of their time on the show to ensure that both they and their families are protected as best as possible.
The move has been welcomed by former contestants including Amy Hart, Tasha Ghouri, and Liam Reardon – who have branded it as “great” and “needs to be done”.
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Elsewhere in ITV’s duty of care guidelines, before going on the show and before meeting their fellow contestants, islanders will complete video training and guidance across a range of topics including mutually respectful behaviour in relationships, behaviour patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviour, and language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions before they meet their fellow contestants.
Prospective islanders will also watch a video of the show’s executive producer and head of welfare interviewing former contestants about their experiences in the villa.
ITV says the social media ban is to shield contestants and their families from online abuse / Credit: ITV
As well as the in-house therapists who have been present in the villa for several seasons now, psychological support and an aftercare package is also to be provided contestants when they leave the villa.
This will include how to cope with being filmed 24/7, and the interactions they will have with the show’s producers.
Support is also given to family members of contestants about how to deal with social media trolling, and adapting to life away from the show.
Featured Image – ITV
TV & Showbiz
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Will Mellor’s new BBC documentary about real-life Post Office scandal victims airs tonight
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC documentary about real-life victims from the Post Office scandal fronted by Will Mellor is hitting TV screens tonight.
As the country finally starts to wake up to the full scale of the Post Office scandal – which involved the British postal service pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in an accounting software system between 1999 and 2015 – actor Will Mellor is on a mission to find out what happened to the real-life sub-postmasters in this new BBC documentary.
The Stockport-born actor famously played the part of Lee Castleton in the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, and says he feels a “real affinity” will the families he spoke to for the programme.
For the new documentary and accompanying five-part BBC Sounds podcast series – which is titled Surviving the Post Office – Will actually speaks to Mr Castleton himself, as well as four other affected people and their families whose lives have been “torn apart”.
Will Mellor has fronted a new BBC documentary about real-life Post Office scandal victims / Credit: ITV
Surviving the Post Office ventures to all four corners of England, including East Yorkshire, County Durham, Lincolnshire, West Sussex, and Cornwall, as Will discovers that many of the sub-postmasters want to “take back control of their lives”.
According to the BBC, for some facing the past, that proves to be a “troubling experience”, while for others, it ends up being a “liberating” step forwards.
As well as exploring the financial losses for many, including the people featured in the documentary and podcast series, Will also gets to find out how they are coping with their emotions, trying to move on from the whole ordeal, and how the victims are finding support in unexpected ways.
📢 Actor Will Mellor meets the real-life victims of the Post Office scandal in a brand new documentary from BBC Local
Surviving The Post Office is coming to @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer tonight at 8.30pm. The podcast series is on @BBCSounds now
“I feel a real affinity with these families, so it was a privilege to hear their stories for this documentary and podcast,” Will said ahead of the documentary airing on BBC One.
“What shocked me the most after meeting so many sub-postmasters is just how far the impact and trauma has spread – the effect it’s had on people’s health, their children, and their whole communities has been massive.”